Lisbon Port Strike Disrupts Calls And Embarkations

Published on Nov 6, 2025, 10:34 am CST

4 min read

Key points

Portuguese port worker stoppages have hit Lisbon across multiple dates since late October 2025
Cruise lines including MSC and Ambassador have altered Lisbon calls and embarkations
Notices cite SNTAP and stevedore unions, with actions staged over several two-day periods
Cargo movements and pilotage have faced slowdowns or pauses during strike windows
Travelers should check cruise line emails for revised boarding ports and times

Impact

Cruise Itineraries: Expect call cancellations or replacements and occasional embarkation moves to Spanish ports such as Málaga or Cádiz
Embarkation Times: Report early to revised terminals and reconfirm luggage tags and boarding groups issued in updated emails
Port Transfers: Cruise lines may arrange coaches from Lisbon to alternate embarkation ports, build extra time for traffic and border checks
Independent Plans: If you arranged your own Lisbon hotel or transfers, contact providers about change and refund options tied to the disruption
Cargo & Logistics: Forwarders should anticipate berthing delays and re-routing during the remaining strike windows, with priority to essential services

A rolling series of work stoppages by Portuguese port workers has disrupted operations at the Port of Lisbon since late October, with knock-on effects for both cruise and cargo movements. Several cruise lines have skipped Lisbon or shifted embarkation to Spain on short notice, while logistics operators report slowdowns and temporary halts in vessel movements during the declared strike windows. Travelers with near-term Lisbon cruise plans should monitor line communications closely and be prepared for alternate ports and revised check-in times.

Port of Lisbon, what changed

Union notices issued in mid-October set out staged stoppages across continental Portuguese ports, including Lisbon, carried out over multiple two-day periods beginning October 23 and continuing into early November. Industry circulars and maritime advisories describe the action as involving port-administration workers, with separate stevedore actions also reported, creating overlapping operational constraints at key gateways.

Latest developments

Cruise itineraries were among the first visible impacts. On October 23, trade reporting noted cruise calls canceled at Lisbon during a two-day strike window. By October 28, additional coverage detailed a Lisbon strike disrupting cruise operations for two days, including MSC's decision to cancel a planned Lisbon embarkation and complete boarding in Málaga, Spain. Community and line communications around the same period referenced bussing arrangements from Lisbon to alternate ports for affected departures.

Freight and short-sea operators likewise flagged interruptions. One carrier update on October 23 highlighted closures at Leixões and Sines with altered calls while noting Setúbal remained open that day, illustrating how operational status varied by port and window. Regional press reported that minimum-service levels were set, but that ship entries and exits were at a standstill during certain periods, with financial impacts already mounting. While those reports centered on Setúbal, they form part of the same nationwide action periods that included Lisbon.

Analysis

For cruise passengers, the practical risk is late itinerary switches, embarkation relocations, and revised boarding times. When a Lisbon embarkation is moved to Málaga or Cádiz, lines typically issue new meeting points, baggage tags, and coach departure schedules. Build in buffer time for highway traffic, border controls, and comfort stops on the roughly 370 to 390 miles between Lisbon and the Andalusian ports. Always keep passports and medications in your carry-on and reconfirm your cabin number, muster station, and luggage tag color after the line reissues documents.

Cargo shippers should expect berthing priority rules to favor essential services during strike windows, with pilots and tugs working to minimum-service mandates where applicable. Even when Lisbon resumes between stoppages, backlogs can cascade, which means schedule reliability and berth windows may remain tight for several days after each action. Adjust cut-offs, consider contingency routings via Setúbal or Spanish ports, and coordinate closely with forwarders on customs timing.

Background

Portugal's current disruptions involve more than one union family. Notices from SNTAP, which represents port-administration workers, laid out several two-day stoppage blocks from October 23 onward. In parallel, reports referenced actions by stevedores in Lisbon that compounded the effects on cruise and cargo. The layered nature of these actions explains why some ports remained open on a given day while others were effectively closed, and why cruise lines took conservative decisions to skip or relocate Lisbon turnarounds.

Final thoughts

The phrase "Lisbon port strike" currently covers overlapping stoppages that have already altered cruise plans and slowed cargo. If your trip involves Lisbon, keep a close watch on official updates from your cruise line or freight partner, and plan for alternate ports and revised times during the remaining strike windows.