An analysis of the determinants of cruise traffic: An empirical application to the Spanish port system

•Cruise traffic is linked to ports in populous areas and close to large airports.•Cruise traffic is related to ports not specialized in container traffic.•Cruise traffic is determined by facilities shared with other types of port traffic.•Having cruise traffic is related to ports with a minimum depth of water.•The amount of cruise traffic is determined by the tourist appeal of the area. We study the determinants that affect the capacity of ports to attract cruise ships in Spain. The conclusion is that the likelihood of having cruise traffic is linked to ports located in populous areas and close to large airports, ports not specialized in container traffic but sharing facilities with ferries traffic and ports having a minimum depth of water. The amount of cruise traffic that a port can generate is also related to the population and the air connections, along with the tourist appeal and the facilities shared with other types of port traffic, namely roll-on roll-off and ferries.