The Hanseatic Nature, handled by Marmedsa and owned by Hapag-Lloyd, docked today at the Raos 2 pier, marking its maiden visit to the region. It carries 116 passengers, mostly German, and 151 crew members. Following the Amera cruise ship, which arrived on September 18, it is the second vessel of its kind to visit Cantabria since cruise activity was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
To commemorate the ship's first stop in the port, the President of Cantabria, Miguel Ángel Revilla, accompanied by the President of the Port Authority, Francisco Martín; the Director General of Tourism, Marta Barca; the Councillor for Social Development of the City of Santander, Lorena Gutiérrez and the Director of the Port Authority, Santiago Díaz Fraile, presented the captain, the German Ulf Sodemann, with a commemorative plaque and some books about Santander and Cantabria for the onboard library.
The president of the Port Authority of Santander (APS), Francisco Martín, emphasized that the port “will continue analyzing the market and trying to attract new cruise ships” because “we need to remain top of mind for shipowners to maintain our target of 25 cruise ships per year.” Martín also noted that “we have many attractions and potential” and that, “in such a challenging year due to the pandemic, it is excellent news that we have had new clients who have decided to call at our port.”
The port authority's top official also pointed out that "the continuous growth of activity at the port" means the Maritime Station is "constantly" occupied by the ferry, "which is why the cruise ship docked in Raos." Martín emphasized that "although cruise passengers are perfectly served at this location," with the construction of the new ferry terminal, the Maritime Station, "much more pleasant for tourists," will be dedicated "exclusively" to cruise ships.
The president of Cantabria, Miguel Ángel Revilla, also referred to the growth of the port and the "spectacular change in appearance" that will take place with the planned investment of 100 million euros.
Revilla also highlighted "the need to continue promoting the port as a cruise and ferry stop" since they provide an "excellent" image for tourism.
The Hanseatic Nature, 138 meters long, entered the port at eight in the morning, coming from Cherbourg (France) and is scheduled to depart for Leixões (Portugal) at five in the afternoon.
A significant portion of the cruise passengers on this ship, built in 2019 and considered a luxury vessel, will take advantage of their stay to make excursions to Santander, Santillana or the Altamira Caves.
On the other hand, on October 15th, another cruise ship will visit the port for the first time, the Spirit of Adventure.
This ship, from the British shipping company Saga and consigned by Pérez y Cía, will dock in the Cantabrian port, coming from the port of Le Verdon (France) and bound for the port of Leixões (Portugal) at five in the afternoon.
The ship, measuring 236 meters in length and 31.2 meters in beam, was launched from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany last year. Its maximum capacity of 1,000 passengers has been reduced to a maximum of 800 due to COVID-19 restrictions, and it will have a crew of 550. It is a luxury vessel and offers some of the largest suites in the industry.
To organize port calls and promote cruise tourism, the Port Authority of Santander (APS), the Government of Cantabria, and the Santander City Council have created the Santander Cruise Deluxe brand. The goal is to attract new cruise traffic to the region.
