British cruise line Marella Cruises has chosen Málaga as its home port to launch two new itineraries next October. The company plans to make four weekly calls departing from the port from October 3rd to 24th, 2021.
The ship 'Marella Explorer 2', which was christened in the Port of Malaga in 2019, will combine two itineraries that will alternate (one per week) with the beginning and end of the journey in the capital:
- 'Continental Coasts' itinerary: which will visit other ports on the Mediterranean coast, such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante and Almería.
- 'Spirit of Iberia' itinerary: which will visit the ports of Valencia, Ibiza, Cartagena, Cadiz and Gibraltar.
Chris Hackney, TUI UK and Ireland's Director of Cruises, highlighted that "these itineraries include some of the most beautiful scenery in the Mediterranean, with Spain being a very popular destination for our customers. We are very excited to be able to offer them the opportunity to visit this country.".
This ship, acquired and refurbished by Marella Cruises, is 246 meters long and has a maximum capacity of 1,814 passengers. Furthermore, it offers a very attractive option for a growing segment: it is a cruise ship exclusively for adults.
The 'Marella Explorer 2' will exclusively accommodate passengers residing in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, passengers and crew must have completed Covid-19 vaccination guidelines at least 14 days prior to boarding.
Marella Cruises, part of the TUI Group, is actively committed to the Port of Malaga: two of its ships were christened at Cruise Terminal A and in 2019 it visited the port 10 times, with a movement of 16,000 passengers.
The connection between port and airport is a key element for this shipping company, which offers the passenger a complete package of flight to/from their place of origin and cruise trip.
Marella Cruises, specifically, offers the 'Cruise & Stay' experience, which combines holidays on board the cruise ship with hotel stays, resulting in a positive economic impact for the destination where the ship is located, which in this case is Malaga.
Thus continues the work and coordination of the port and destination institutions, such as the Port Authority, Malagaport, the Tourism Area of the City Council of the capital, Tourism and Planning Costa del Sol, Ministry of Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía and Malaga Cruise Port to promote cruise tourism in a staggered and safe manner.
