The Spanish cruise sector is currently focused on the Port of Las Palmas and the reactivation of activity in the Canary Islands, following the pandemic-induced hiatus, by TUI and its flagship ship, Mein Schiff 2. This business venture incorporates all current health and safety measures, both on land (coordinated by the governments of the Canary Islands and Spain and the Port Authority of Las Palmas) and on board the ship and during excursions organized by the cruise line itself.
The welcoming ceremony for the Mein Schiff 2 at the Santa Catalina Dock, prior to its departure for its first stop in the Port of Arrecife, was attended by various personalities such as Ángel Víctor Torres, President of the Canary Islands; Chano Franquis, Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Canary Islands; Carlos Álamo, Minister of Tourism of the Gran Canaria Island Council; Augusto Hidalgo, Mayor of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; and Pedro Quevedo, Second Deputy Mayor of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council and Councillor for Tourism, Employment and Local Development and Equality, Diversity and Solidarity.
Luis Ibarra, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas (APLP), expressed his satisfaction and said that "the recovery of cruise traffic is a call to hope for many companies in the large port family, but also for other sectors of the islands that need the reactivation of the economy.".
Ibarra highlighted TUI's commitment to the home port of Las Palmas, and to illustrate this, he borrowed recent statements from the president of State Ports, Francisco Toledo, who predicted that the restart of cruise activity in the Canary Islands would be a "pilot test" for the rest of the country
The APLP acknowledged TUI's efforts and presented a commemorative plaque to the captain of the Mein Schiff 2, Tom Roth.
This ship arrived last night directly from the North Sea to begin the winter season in the Canary Islands. The Mein Schiff 2 currently has (in accordance with current health regulations) a capacity to embark 60% of its passenger capacity (approximately 1,200 passengers), but on this initial voyage it will carry 900.
Passengers arrive on the same day as departure by air on seven planes chartered by TUI from seven different German cities. The Santa Catalina Pier passenger terminal has been reconfigured according to current health regulations and incorporating additional safety measures requested by the airline.
Of the four cruise lines that completed the necessary paperwork months ago to restart cruise operations in the Canary Islands, only TUI is now beginning service. The others have decided to postpone their return, initially until December.
TUI has stated that the safety of passengers (896 on this first route through the Canary Islands), crew (740 people) and the population of the islands (these new routes will only touch Canary Island ports) is a priority in its protocols.
It adds that these health and safety protocols have been applied since last July on the company's routes through northern Europe, with more than 40,000 passengers, without any incidents being recorded.
In 2019, 1,438,630 cruise passengers called at APLP ports. So far this year, the figure is 465,366 passengers due to the shutdown imposed by the pandemic since March.
