Getting ashore
Cartagena is usually a dock stop.
Most ships dock at Cartagena, which usually makes the day simpler: walk off the ship, meet your tour, and get back on board without tender queues.
Colombia
Cartagena Cruise Port
Cartagena is a solid port day with regular dockside arrivals and lighter cruise traffic throughout the year, but concentrated in January, March, April, and December.
Usually docks
Usually quiet
~9h typical visit
Mid-size ships
What to expect in Cartagena
How much time will you have?
About 9h is typical
Most cruises spend 8h to 9h 52m in Cartagena, which makes it a solid port day compared with many stops.
How busy does Cartagena get?
Some dates are noticeably busier than others.
Multiple ships overlap on roughly 15% of days, so most dates should feel manageable.
- Typical day: ~3,500 passengers
- Busy day: 6,450+ passengers
- Multiple ships on 15% of days
Check your date
September 2026
Jump
Quieter
Busier
Ships
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Where Cartagena fits into a cruise
Cartagena is most commonly visited on ABC Islands itineraries, often alongside Colón (Panama Canal) and Ocho Rios .
Commonly arrives from
Cartagena
Commonly continues to
When to cruise to Cartagena
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from January, March, April, and December.
Cruises visit year-round, with the busiest season from January, March, April, and December.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Visits
84
51
73
68
17
13
12
15
13
39
27
76
Who sails here?
Ships visiting Cartagena typically carry around 1,994 guests, with Grandeur of the Seas, MSC Poesia, and Norwegian Sun calling most often.
Most frequently visiting ships
- 1 Grandeur of the Seas 51 calls
- 2 MSC Poesia 31 calls
- 3 Norwegian Sun 13 calls
- 4 Vasco Da Gama 12 calls
- 5 Norwegian Bliss 4 calls
- 6 Brilliant Lady 3 calls
Next port calls
Sep 20 Grandeur of the Seas
Sep 27 Grandeur of the Seas
Oct 4 Grandeur of the Seas
Oct 8 Carnival Miracle
Oct 11 Grandeur of the Seas
Cruises that visit Cartagena
Once the port-day tradeoffs look right for you, here are some good sailings that feature Cartagena.
MSC Poesia
Seattle → Los Angeles → Cartagena → Miami
Sep 28 · 19 nights
Visits Cartagena on day 18
$708 inside · $37/night
Limited price history
Vasco Da Gama
Hamburg → Vigo → Raiatea → Papeete
Nov 3 · 80 nights
Visits Cartagena on day 39
About average
$12,658 oceanview · $158/night
Carnival Spirit
Mobile → Cartagena → Cabo San Lucas → Seattle
Mar 29 · 16 nights
Visits Cartagena on day 5
Good value
$1,441 balcony · $90/night
12% below typical · 6-month low
Carnival Miracle
Seattle → Cabo San Lucas → Cartagena → Galveston
Sep 26 · 16 nights
Visits Cartagena on day 13
Good value
$3,189 suite · $199/night
15% below typical
Norwegian Sun
Miami → Great Stirrup Cay → Georgetown, Grand Cayman → Miami
Nov 18 · 11 nights
Visits Cartagena on day 5
Good value
$1,099 inside · $100/night
17% below typical · 6-month low
Norwegian Sun
Miami → Great Stirrup Cay → Georgetown, Grand Cayman → Miami
Nov 29 · 11 nights
Visits Cartagena on day 5
Exceptional value
$1,109 inside · $101/night
26% below typical · 6-month lowCruise routes that include Cartagena
These route families show how cruise lines usually package Cartagena, so you can compare the whole trip instead of judging this stop by itself.
Panama Canal One-Way via Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas & Panama Canal
From $708
$708
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Transatlantic Crossing via Vigo, Lisboa & Mindelo
From $12,658
$12,658
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Panama Canal One-Way via Cartagena & Panama Canal
From $981
$981
·
1 upcoming sailing
·
1 ship
1 upcoming sailing
1 ship
View itinerary →
Panama Canal One-Way: Cabo San Lucas & Panama Canal
From $888
$888
·
2 upcoming sailings
·
2 ships
2 upcoming sailings
2 ships
View itinerary →
Panama Canal Loop via Great Stirrup Cay, Cartagena & Panama Canal
From $1,099
$1,099
·
2 upcoming sailings
·
1 ship
2 upcoming sailings
1 ship
View itinerary →
Mexican Riviera Repositioning via Santa Marta, Panama Canal & Acapulco
From $1,076
$1,076
·
2 upcoming sailings
·
1 ship
2 upcoming sailings
1 ship
View itinerary →
Related ports near Cartagena
Compare nearby cruise ports with active sailing coverage.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
Tap to view port guide, ship schedules, and best time to visit.
FAQ about cruises visiting Cartagena
Short answers for common search intent around the best time to visit, itinerary patterns, and how to compare cruises that include Cartagena.
What is the best time to visit Cartagena on a cruise?
The best time to visit Cartagena depends on both schedule density and live pricing. Use the calendar above to compare exact port-call dates and the featured cruises section to see which sailings currently stand out.
When is Cartagena busiest for cruise traffic?
Traffic patterns are still building as more schedules get indexed. Jibhop will surface the busiest months as upcoming port-call coverage expands.
Which cruise itineraries usually include Cartagena?
Common upcoming itinerary families that include Cartagena include Panama Canal One-Way via Los Angeles, Cabo San Lucas & Panama Canal, Transatlantic Crossing via Vigo, Lisboa & Mindelo, and Panama Canal One-Way via Cartagena & Panama Canal. Open any itinerary card to compare route mix, next departures, and which sailings look strongest on price.
How should I compare cruises that visit Cartagena?
Start with the best cruises section to see today's strongest pricing signals, then use the port-call calendar to find the exact visit dates that fit your trip. Once you narrow the timing, compare itineraries and ships rather than choosing on this stop alone.
Plan your route
Explore cruises that visit Cartagena
See itineraries, compare routes, and find the best way to include Cartagena in your trip.