Turizam brodskih kružnih putovanja je skup odnosa i pojava koje proizlaze iz krstarenja turista putničkim brodovima radi razonode, dokoličarske edukacije, zabave, odmora i slično. Takva krstarenja su najčešće povezana s pristajanjima broda u jednoj ili više luka, odnosno turističkih destinacija, u kojima putnici i posada silaze na kopno radi turističkih obilazaka. Brod na brodskim kružnim putovanjima predstavlja plutajući hotel koji prevozi putnike s jednog mjesta na drugo, odnosno od luke do luke, a u širem smislu kod velikih brodova, zbog raznolike ponude na brodu, ima i karakteristike pokretne destinacije. Cilj kruzera jest uţivanje na moru, oceanu ili rijeci u luksuznom okruženju, kao u hotelu. Kruzing turizam je specifični oblik turizma koji se svrstava pod nautički turizam jer se temelji na brodu I plovidbi, ali je toliko specifičan I zahtjeva specifične resurse da bi se mogao promatrati zasebno. Dubrovačka regija odlikuje se povoljnim poloţajem na krajnjem jugu hrvatskoga dijela jadranske obale pa je time i važna točka razvoja kruzing turizma. Dubrovnik prema posjećenosti zauzima visoko peto mjesto na Mediteranu prema statističkom pregledu udruženja mediteranskih kruzing luka. Ovaj završni rad upoznaje nas sa samim počecima razvoja kruzing turizma u Hrvatskoj, današnje stanje te prikazuje zašto je Dubrovnik toliko važna strateška luka za razvoj takvog specifičnog oblika turizma.

Tourism of cruising round trips is a set of relationships and appearances which come from cruising tourists with passenger ships for the sake of pleasure, leisure education, entertainment, relaxation, etc. This type of cruise is mostly connected with the calls of the ships in one or more ports, as in touristic destinations in which the passengers and the crew of the ship get down to the shore for a travel tour. The ship on the cruising round trips represents the floating hotel which transports the passengers from port to port, from one touristic destination to the next one and in a broad sense with larger ships; because of the diverse offer it has characteristics of a mobile destination. The goal of the cruise ship is to enjoy the sea, ocean, or river in the luxury surrounding, like in a hotel. Cruise tourism is a specific type of tourism which is classified as nautical tourism because it is based on ships and navigation but it is so much more specific that it can be considered separate from the nautical tourism. The region of Dubrovnik is characterized by the favourable position in the south of Croatian Adriatic Sea which makes it a very strategic and important part of developing the cruising tourism. Dubrovnik, according to the statistics of association of Mediterranean cruising ports takes a high fifth place in the Mediterranean Sea considering the attendance. This final work introduces us with the early beginnings of development of cruising tourism in Croatia, the situation today and it shows us why Dubrovnik is such an important strategic port for the development of this kind of tourism.