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The summer crowds have thinned, but Newport Harbor’s heaviest cruise traffic of the year is still ahead.

Between today and Nov. 12, 29 cruise ship calls are scheduled at Perrotti Park, according to the 2026 schedule from Discover Newport and the Newport Harbor Master. October alone accounts for 21 of them — more than the rest of the year combined outside of September.

It’s the pattern every fall. Most of Newport’s cruise visits come between September and early November, when New England and Canada itineraries peak with the foliage season. Larger ships anchor in the harbor and tender passengers ashore at Perrotti Park, putting them on foot along America’s Cup Avenue and Thames Street within minutes. Smaller ships tie up at the South Alofsin Pier at Fort Adams State Park.

Five October days have two ships in port at once: Oct. 7, 12, 18, 25 and 28. Majestic Princess is the most frequent visitor, calling every Sunday from Oct. 4 through Nov. 1. Silver Shadow makes four stops over the stretch, and Seabourn Ovation, Viking Mars and Azamara Journey each return twice.

The season’s final call is Victory I on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Remaining September

  • Tuesday, Sept. 22 — Silver Shadow; Arcadia
  • Thursday, Sept. 24 — Amera; Arcadia
  • Sunday, Sept. 27 — Regal Princess

October

  • Sunday, Oct. 4 — Majestic Princess
  • Wednesday, Oct. 7 — AIDAdiva; Vista
  • Thursday, Oct. 8 — Azamara Journey
  • Sunday, Oct. 11 — Majestic Princess
  • Monday, Oct. 12 — Silver Shadow; Norwegian Breakaway
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Silver Shadow
  • Thursday, Oct. 15 — Le Bellot
  • Saturday, Oct. 17 — Viking Mars
  • Sunday, Oct. 18 — Seabourn Ovation; Majestic Princess
  • Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Seabourn Ovation
  • Friday, Oct. 23 — Victory II
  • Saturday, Oct. 24 — Viking Mars
  • Sunday, Oct. 25 — Majestic Princess; Crystal Symphony
  • Wednesday, Oct. 28 — Azamara Journey; Orient Express
  • Friday, Oct. 30 — AIDAdiva
  • Saturday, Oct. 31 — Sapphire Princess

November

  • Sunday, Nov. 1 — Majestic Princess
  • Monday, Nov. 2 — Silver Shadow
  • Thursday, Nov. 12 — Victory I

The schedule is subject to change. The current version is at discovernewport.org.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...