More than 15,500 cruise passengers are set to descend on Cadiz over three consecutive days, it has emerged.

The Port of the Bay of Cadiz is preparing for a particularly busy period between Saturday, August 15 and Monday, August 17, when seven international cruise ships are scheduled to call.

The rush begins on Saturday with 3,743 passengers arriving aboard two vessels.

The MSC Opera is scheduled to dock at the Alfonso XIII quay at 7am carrying 2,393 passengers, many of them Italian. It will remain in Cádiz until 5pm.

An hour later, the Borealis will arrive carrying another 1,350 passengers, predominantly British tourists, and will remain until 6pm.

Sunday will see three cruise ships in port simultaneously, bringing a combined 1,932 passengers.

The Crystal Serenity will arrive with 634 passengers, followed by the Sea Cloud Spirit with 136 and the Silver Muse with 1,162. Passengers aboard the three vessels are predominantly from the United States.

Almost 10,000 arrive on Monday

The biggest influx will come on Monday, August 17, when two huge cruise ships are expected to bring 9,991 people into Cadiz in a single day.

The MSC Virtuosa is scheduled to arrive at 8am carrying 5,840 passengers, followed an hour later by P&O Cruises’ Britannia, carrying another 4,151.

Passengers aboard both ships are predominantly British.

The MSC Virtuosa is scheduled to remain until 5pm, while Britannia will stay until 8pm, giving thousands of visitors several hours to explore Cádiz and potentially providing a major boost to local bars, restaurants and shops.

Across the three-day period, the seven ships are expected to bring a total of 15,666 passengers to the city.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.