The Incheon Port Authority (www.icpa.or.kr, President Lee Kyung-Gyu) announced that three cruise lines, including the U.S.-based Norwegian Cruise Line, have x-confirmed 15 cruise homeport calls at Incheon Port in 2025, up from 5 in 2024, following the successful pilot operation of fly & cruise services linking Incheon Port and Incheon International Airport.

The Incheon Port Authority became the first in Northeast Asia to conduct pilot operations for a fly & cruise homeport by leveraging the strengths of its port and airport infrastructure. In this operation, approximately 2,000 cruise passengers arrived by cruise and departed via the airport, while another 2,000 entered Korea via the airport and then embarked on cruise ships from the port.

A representative of Norwegian Cruise Line has expressed great satisfaction with last year’s pilot program and officially designated Incheon Port as its homeport for 2025. The company is also reviewing plans to increase to over 30 homeport calls by 2026 and over 50 by 2030. Passenger interviews conducted onboard the cruise highlighted highly favorable impressions of Incheon Port, citing exceptional services from related agencies and the convenience of airport-port shuttle buses.

In addition, premium U.S.-based cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises will also deploy fly & cruise homeport itineraries at Incheon Port this year. Citing the port’s efficient, dedicated cruise terminal operations and strategic location, these developments further solidify Incheon Port’s emergence as Asia’s central cruise home port.

Among the 15 homeport calls scheduled for 2025, Norwegian Cruise Line, which completed pilot operations last year, has expanded its number of calls from 4 to 12. Two other cruise lines, Celebrity and Azamara, have each x-confirmed pilot operations in 2024 with two and one calls, respectively, indicating interest in expanding their presence in the future.

As cruise lines typically require more than three years to establish new routes, proactive long-term marketing strategies are necessary. IPA has consistently engaged in multifaceted promotional efforts, including participation in World Cruise expos and high-level meetings with cruise executives and owners.

In particular, thorough analysis and targeted marketing of Incheon as a cruise destination, highlighting its key strengths such as ▴proximity to Incheon International Airport, ▴ the largest cruise infrastructure in Korea, ▴ tourism routes based in Incheon, ▴ operational know-how in cruise terminal homeporting, contributed to the successful pilot operations in 2024 and laid the groundwork for expanded operations this year.

Building on the momentum from last year, IPA visited Miami again in 2024 to intensify marketing to both existing cruise partners like Norwegian and potential new partners such as Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, with the goal of securing over 100 homeport calls by 2030.

Furthermore, through individual meetings with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, each of which visited Incheon Port this year, IPA has been discussing future calls next year and actively promoting local tourism and familiarization tours (fam tours) to encourage additional homeport deployments.

By promoting Incheon Port as the optimal cruise homeport integrating both seaport and airport functions, the successful operation of homeport calls in 2024 laid the foundation for growth in high-value industries such as tourism, ship supplies, and intermodal passenger transport services, ushering in a new era for Incheon Port as the cruise homeport hub of Northeast Asia.

According to statistics, operating a cruise homeport generates more than three times the economic benefit compared to a simple port of call.

First, cruise tourists using Incheon Port as a homeport tend to stay in the greater Seoul Metropolitan Area, including Incheon and Seoul, contributing significantly to the regional and national economy through spending on tourism, dining, and other services.

Second, cruise ships procure meat, fruits, vegetables, and various onboard supplies locally. This year, an average of 70 tons of supplies worth over 400 million won were loaded per call at Incheon Port, significantly contributing to the revitalization of both the regional and national economy.

As a result of its global marketing efforts to position Incheon Port as a hub for marine tourism and attract more global cruise liners, the Incheon Port Authority secured a total of 32 cruise calls in 2025. Of these, 15 are fly & cruise homeport calls, 1 is a homeport call for Korean passengers, and 16 are international cruise calls.

Kim Sang-ki, Executive Vice President of Operation Division at the Incheon Port Authority, stated, “By strengthening cruise attraction efforts in collaboration with the Incheon Metropolitan Government and the Incheon Tourism Organization, we aim to expand homeport calls to over 30 by 2026. We are committed to transforming Incheon Port into a Northeast Asian cruise hub where the port and city coexist in harmony, while also contributing meaningfully to both regional and national economic development.”