Star Clippers has become the first cruise line ever to call at the Port of Barletta, putting one of Puglia’s most historic and underexplored towns firmly on the international cruising map.

The line’s flagship clipper, carrying up to 166 guests, was met by a local band on the quayside as it arrived into the Apulian port. The inaugural call is a notable one for the operator, which has built its reputation on seeking out destinations well beyond the crowded mainstream circuit and giving guests a closer look at places that larger ships cannot reach.

Leading the arrival alongside the local pilot was Captain Vadim Novikov, at 37 the youngest Master in the Star Clippers fleet. He was presented with a commemorative plaque by Mr Pietro Bianco, Head of the Port Operations Department for Barletta. Local authorities and port representatives welcomed the visit warmly, viewing it as a valuable opportunity to showcase the town’s cultural, historical and economic appeal to an international audience.

For travellers, the draw is clear. Barletta sits on the Adriatic coast in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, roughly midway between Foggia and Bari, and packs a remarkable amount into a compact, walkable centre. Its headline sights include the 12th-century Castello Svevo and the Colossus of Barletta, a 4.5-metre late-Roman bronze thought to be the largest surviving statue of its kind from the late Roman Empire. It is the sort of authentic, low-density destination that increasingly appeals to discerning travellers looking for substance over scale.

The call formed part of an 11-night Rome to Venice sailing that recorded a strong proportion of repeat guests on board. The same itinerary also took in Crotone, another port new to the line, along with Monopoli and Otranto in Puglia and Rovinj in Croatia.

This is unlikely to be a one-off. Star Clippers will return to Barletta in July 2026, with further calls already scheduled for 2027. The new port is one of many recent additions for the operator, which announced 27 new ports of call in December 2025 as part of the unveiling of its summer 2027 Mediterranean programme.

Fay McCormack, General Manager of Star Clippers’ UK GSA, said: “First calls are exceptionally rare in today’s cruise industry, which makes this achievement especially significant. As the first cruise line ever to visit Barletta, Star Clippers is not simply adding a new port to an itinerary, we are helping place a remarkable destination on the global cruise map. Throughout our history, we have sought out remarkable destinations beyond the traditional cruise circuit, and Barletta embodies exactly the kind of authentic cultural discovery our guests value. This milestone reflects the pioneering spirit that has always defined our company and our passion for bringing guests to extraordinary places that larger ships often cannot reach.”

The development adds to a busy period for Puglia, a region that continues to attract growing interest from the executive travel market. Hotel groups have been expanding their footprint there, with properties such as Rocco Forte’s Masseria Torre Maizza reopening for the season with new experiences aimed at business travellers extending a stay or seeking downtime between meetings. Access is improving too, with United Airlines launching nonstop summer flights from New York to Bari, the nearest major gateway to Barletta.

The line’s profile has been rising more broadly. Its largest vessel, Royal Clipper, recently featured in a Channel 4 series on the world’s most luxurious experiences, underlining the appeal of small-ship, sail-powered cruising at a time when many operators are building ever larger ships. Full details of the fleet and its Mediterranean itineraries are available via the Star Clippers website.