The Port of A Coruña has started the new cruise season, after the forced break due to the pandemic, with the prospect of being positioned once again as the first port in number of calls on the entire Cantabrian-Atlantic coast, from Lisbon to the border with France.
This was announced today by the President of the Port Authority, Martín Fernández Prado, following the plaque exchange ceremony with the captain of the “Mein Schiff 6,” which made its maiden call in the city this morning with over 1,100 passengers and 900 crew members. Fernández Prado welcomed the ship's captain, Simon Botgger, at an event also attended by representatives from the Tourism Consortium, the National Police, the Civil Guard, and the shipping agency Rubine e Hijos.
Speaking to the media, the Port President explained that 38 cruise ship calls are expected by December 31st. Adding the "Mein Schiff 6" and the "Viking Sky", which kicked off the schedule last Saturday, will bring the total to 40 ships this year. Based on current data, this figure will allow the port to reaffirm its leadership in the northwest of the peninsula.
Thus, the Port Authority has received 10 requests for port calls in September, 20 for October, 4 for November and 6 in December, although Fernández Prado noted that there may still be additions and removals due to the evolution of the health situation.
This coming Saturday, the “Borealis” will arrive, and on Monday the 20th, the first double call of the year is expected, with the “Marella Explorer” and “Mein Schiff 3,” two large vessels approaching 300 meters in length. Six more double calls and one triple call are scheduled before the end of the year, on October 20th, when the ships “Aida Sol,” “Bolette,” and “Norwegian Star” will all be in port.
Furthermore, at the end of the year, specifically on December 15th, the Port of A Coruña will receive the traditional visit of one of Cunard's impressive ships. This time it will be the "Queen Victoria," whose elegant classic design will once again grace the Transatlantic Pier in the lead-up to Christmas.
Another classic that will undoubtedly visit the city is the Balmoral, and the presence of the Aida Cruises line will be a highlight. Their ships always attract attention with their striking, colorful hulls, such as the Aida Mar, the Aida Diva, and the Aida Sol. The largest ocean liners expected this year are the Aida Cosma, the Regal Princess, and the Sky Princess, all over 330 meters long.
As the cruise terminal resumes its pre-pandemic pace, the Port Authority continues working to attract traffic, receiving an excellent response from shipping lines already operating in the Port of A Coruña, as well as other companies that have expressed interest in this destination. The goal is not only to recover the figures recorded in recent years, but also to surpass the all-time record of 120 port calls achieved in 2017.
Martín Fernández Prado emphasized the social and economic importance for the Port and the city of having resumed this positive pace in cruise traffic, which, under normal circumstances, generates an economic return of 15 million euros, including spending by passengers and crew, ship supplies, provisions, port fees, excursions, and so on. He also noted that this is a highly safe form of tourism, as all passengers and crew are vaccinated and undergo COVID-19 testing during the voyage.
The “Mein Schiff 6” arrived at the port of A Coruña at seven o'clock this morning, coming from the French port of Le Havre. It will set sail for Lisbon around six o'clock this evening.
