This double call took place last Saturday, coinciding with the arrival of the Spirit of Discovery and Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ships in the same pier.
The port hosted over 1,200 tourists and 700 crew members, who had the opportunity to visit and take guided tours around the city.
The Port of Ceuta experienced, for the first time, the simultaneous arrival of two cruise ships at the España Dock since it has been adapted for cruises. This event highlights the growing interest that major international cruise companies are showing in Ceuta as a destination and confirms the port’s ability to efficiently manage multiple berths.
The Spirit of Discovery, from Saga Cruises, is arrived on the east side of the España Dock at 8:00 a.m., with departure set for 5:00 pm. Coming from Mahón, the cruise ship continued its journey to Portsmouth (United Kingdom), where it will conclude its itinerary. It’s worth noting that this ship previously visited the Port of Ceuta on October 1st, just like its sister ship, the Spirit of Adventure, which called in Ceuta on September 17th, reflecting Saga Cruises’ confidence in the Port of Ceuta.
Meanwhile, the Villa Vie Odyssey, from Villa Vie Residences, docked on the west side of the España Dock at 8:00 a.m., with departure scheduled for 10:00 p.m. towards Gibraltar. This cruise ship arrived in Ceuta for the first time from Tangier. Additionally, it’s important to note that during its inaugural voyage, this luxury ship will sail to 425 destinations in 147 countries over three years. It left Belfast on October 3rd and will visit ports in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Senegal, and others.
On this occasion, we welcomed around 1,200 tourists, apart from 700 crew members which supposed a great opportunity for local businesses, restaurants, and other tourism services such as excursions and guided tours. Moreover, these types of berths allow Ceuta to position itself as an attractive cultural and leisure destination with great potential in the international cruise itineraries.
Collaboration and support from the Tourism Services of the Autonomous City of Ceuta.
The arrival of these two cruise ships not only highlights the excellent work done by the Port Authority of Ceuta in attracting this type of tourism, but also the fundamental role that Ceuta’s Tourism Services play in offering visitors an unforgettable experience.
From the logistical point of view, the Port Authority of Ceuta prepared an operation to ensure safety during both calls. Additionally, coinciding with the visit of the AMERA cruise ship last Friday, October 11th, the port set up new signage aimed at improving operations and helping tourists navigate the dock area more easily.
For its part, the Tourism Services offered, as usual, several information points in some languages, shuttle buses, guided tours to the city center and other points of tourist interest, etc., which allowed cruise passengers to enjoy Ceuta.
