Valencia, November 27, 2017 – The MSC Magnifica made its maiden call at the Port of Valencia. This stop is part of a repositioning cruise that will take the ship to South America, where it will remain for the winter season. To commemorate this visit, the Port Authority of Valencia (APV) presented the ship's captain, Francesco Saverio, with a commemorative plaque. The ceremony was attended by the President of MSC Cruises, Emiliano González, and the President of the APV, Aurelio Martínez.
During the event, the president of MSC Cruises indicated that the MSC Magnifica is the company's fourth Musica-class ship, has 1,250 cabins, and typically sails routes in Northern Europe and South America. Emilio González also highlighted the company's strong commitment to Valencia. “We have had a presence in the port of Valencia for twelve consecutive seasons and intend to increase it in the coming years. In 2018, two ships will regularly call at this port: the MSC Divina, which will operate from March to September, and the company's flagship, the MSC Meraviglia, which has 2,200 cabins and will call in October and November,” he stated. He also highlighted that “this commitment will allow us to exceed 40 port calls in Valencia in 2018 and increase the number of passengers by 20%. We believe that Valencia's potential as a cruise port is limitless, and therefore, we want to continue increasing our presence in this port.”
For his part, the president of the Port Authority of Valencia (APV), Aurelio Martínez, expressed his gratitude for MSC Cruises' decisive commitment to Valencia, “a commitment that has materialized into concrete actions. Their plans for the coming years are beneficial not only for the port but, above all, for the city.” Likewise, the APV president emphasized Valencia's key assets as a cruise destination: “It is a highly competitive city due to numerous factors, including safety, as it can be explored freely on foot or by bicycle, which is greatly appreciated by tourists; it is not congested, given the size of the historic center and the numerous points of interest; and, moreover, the tourist offerings are extensive, diverse, and authentically Mediterranean.”
Cruise traffic and supply
At the close of 2016, the Port of Valencia welcomed 403,264 passengers across 181 different cruise lines, representing a 7.66% increase over the previous year. In 2017, through October, the city has received over 350,000 passengers, a 2.17% increase compared to the same period in 2016.
The port of Valencia has two docks that allow the berthing of ships up to 300 meters in length and two other berthing lines located in the northern extension of 430 and 440 meters in length respectively and a draft of 14 meters.
The city's cruise offerings, developed jointly by the Port Authority of Valencia and Turismo Valencia, are extensive and varied. This year, in addition to the traditional routes through the Albufera lagoon, the historic center, and the City of Arts and Sciences, new itineraries have been added. These include the Religious Art Route, which features a visit to the Cathedral and other churches such as the recently restored San Nicolás and San Juan del Hospital; the Silk Route, which explores the historical legacy of this industry in Valencia with visits to the Silk Exchange (Lonja de la Seda), the recently restored Silk Museum, and the Velluters neighborhood; and the Valencia and Fallas Route, which allows tourists to delve into the main hubs of these festivals, declared a World Heritage Site.
