Croatia's Vukovar welcomes first river cruise ship in 2026

The first river cruise ship of the year, AmaVerde, carrying 150 passengers -- mostly from the United States -- arrived in Croatia's Vukovar, where a special programme was organised for the visitors upon docking.

Vukovar Mayor Marijan Pavliček, who welcomed the passengers at the Danube quay, said this is the first of 557 river cruise ships expected in the city this year, marking a 35 percent increase compared to last year, CE Report quotes HINA.

"I'm particularly pleased with the growing number of tourists staying for day trips in our city, and the fact that the new visitors include children," Pavliček said, adding that Vukovar is increasingly positioning itself as an important tourist hub in continental Croatia.

"Guests visit cultural institutions such as the City Museum, the Museum of the Vučedol Culture, and the Vukovar Water Tower. It's crucial to have attractions to offer, and I'm confident that the number of cruise ship arrivals will continue to grow year by year," the mayor noted.

Marina Sekulić, director of the Vukovar Tourist Board, recalled that river cruise ships have been arriving in Vukovar since 2001.

"This promises to be a record-breaking season. It's estimated that a single ship generates around 10,000 euros for guides, excursions, tickets, souvenirs, and the wider local economy," she said.

Sekulić emphasised that river cruising and nautical tourism are a vital segment for Vukovar, contributing not only to promoting the city as a destination but also to the local economy and Vukovar's international visibility in the global cruising map.

"These are guests who, by visiting Vukovar for the first time, are actually discovering Croatia for the first time," she added.

foto; Gordan Panić