After a sixteen-year hiatus, the port of Tazacorte (La Palma) welcomed the MS Island Sky, from Noble Caledonia, last Thursday, October 4th. The 90-meter-long vessel, with a capacity of 108 passengers, perfectly embodies the type of ships the regional government has focused on. Since the port's expansion, inaugurated in March 2015, the municipality hadn't seen such a festive atmosphere on its dock as the one experienced last Thursday. Puertos Canarios, in conjunction with the City Council, organized a craft fair featuring typical Canarian products, as well as dances and performances that entertained the more than one hundred tourists and crew members. Upon returning from their organized excursions, they received a bag of local culinary samples, along with maps and caps as a token of appreciation for their visit. The same cruise ship will repeat its stay on October 10th, and on November 12th the MS Serenissima, also from the Noble Caledonia company, will arrive from the port of Vueltas, in La Gomera.
These first three stops at the port of Tazacorte complete a great cruise season in the regional ports, which will add two more stops in Vueltas (La Gomera) and four in Gran Tarajal (Fuerteventura).
For Manuel Ortega, Managing Director of Puertos Canarios, these port calls mean much more than the simple arrival of cruise ships. “We want to consolidate these three ports as regular stops for these vessels. We work closely with the port authorities of Las Palmas and Tenerife, as we consider ourselves complementary, not competitive. Due to the characteristics of our ports, we must focus on vessels no longer than 180-200 meters, which gives us a fairly specific target. I believe we are on the right track in terms of work and promotion. Since last January, we have been part of the leading global association in the sector, Medcruise, and we are actively participating in forums and summits. At every opportunity, we present our facilities to those who decide the destinations for the upcoming seasons. Our ports are located away from industrial areas and in a region with strong ties to the fishing industry. To offer better service, we have established collaborative relationships with the Canary Islands port authorities.”
