MSC Cruises today shared its strategy for Spain in 2022 at a press conference. The company has placed a strong emphasis on Spanish coastal destinations this year, in line with its ongoing commitment to Spanish ports. The post-pandemic recovery of the tourism industry has positioned Spain as one of the most popular destinations in Southern Europe, and MSC Cruises has responded to this market interest with a range of itineraries and ships to suit all types of travelers.
During the press conference, Fernando Pacheco, Managing Director of MSC Cruises in Spain, commented that “Spain is one of the most important markets for the company and, therefore, the attention we give it is crucial. We work hand in hand with port authorities and other partners to offer the best possible experience.”
During 2022, MSC Cruises will make 414 port calls in Spain, representing a 2% increase compared to 2019. Of these, 311 will take place during the summer season on itineraries operated by more than 13 ships, including the MSC Meraviglia from Barcelona and the MSC Seaside from Valencia. Some of the most significant ports of call include Barcelona, Cádiz, Alicante, Málaga, and Valencia, as well as Mahón, Ibiza, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Vigo, Bilbao, Ferrol, Las Palmas, Lanzarote, and A Coruña, among others.
Among these, Barcelona stands out, serving as the embarkation port for more than five different itineraries during 2022. Furthermore, MSC Cruises is developing an exclusive 11,670-square-meter cruise terminal in the Port of Barcelona, which MSC Cruises will operate and manage for a period of 31 years. This project represents an estimated investment of €33 million by the company, and the new terminal, designed by the recently deceased Ricardo Bofill, is expected to be operational by 2024.
Fernando Pacheco said , “We are very pleased with our collaboration with the Port of Barcelona, and especially with the terminal project, which will be at the forefront of sustainability and innovation. This will also allow us to dedicate more new ships to Barcelona, including the MSC World Europa, which will become one of the most environmentally friendly ships in the world when it enters service later this year and will be in Barcelona in the summer of 2023.”
Damià Calvet, president of the Port of Barcelona, stated: “In 2020, we found ourselves in an uncertain and unprecedented situation, but thanks to companies like MSC Cruises, protocols were developed that allowed us to resume operations. We believe that 2022 will be the season in which the industry will definitively recover.”
MSC Cruises' strong confidence in Spain will be highlighted by MSC Orchestra, which will include four Spanish ports in its Mediterranean itinerary this summer. Of the eight calls scheduled for this 10-night, 11-day Western Mediterranean cruise, half will take place in the Spanish ports of Málaga, Cádiz, Alicante, and Mahón. The itinerary will also include visits to Olbia, Genoa, Marseille, and Lisbon, as well as full days at sea. Of these destinations, Málaga and Alicante will be the MSC Orchestra's embarkation ports a total of 12 times
Fernando Pacheco, Managing Director of MSC Cruises in Spain, commented, “We are very pleased to continue demonstrating with this type of action the enormous commitment that the company has to offering new opportunities to bring cruise passengers from all over the world closer to the ports of southern Spain.”
Carlos Rubio, president of the Port Authority of Malaga, declared , “ We are proud to know that MSC Cruises will have the most port calls in Malaga in 2022, with 50% more calls than we had in 2019. Our intention is to continue working hand in hand with MSC Cruises in our goal of consolidating Malaga as an essential destination on the map for all cruise passengers worldwide.”
Carlos J. Eleno, director of the Port Authority of Alicante, commented, “For us, MSC Cruises choosing Alicante as its port of embarkation is great news. The Port Authority would like to thank MSC for the confidence they have placed in the city, and we are certain that this new phase will further strengthen our relationship with them, increasing the number of ships, like the MSC Orchestra this summer, that embark their passengers from our terminal.”
For her part, the president of the Port Authority of Cádiz, Teófila Martínez, emphasized that “MSC Cruises’ commitment to us is key for the port and the city of Cádiz. For several years now, the company has scheduled more than 20 annual port calls in Cádiz, and for us, this only confirms the attractiveness of the destination and the excellence of the port services and facilities, which meet the high standards of a shipping company like MSC.”
For the first time ever, two ships, the MSC Magnifica and the MSC Poesia, will circumnavigate the globe in 2023 as part of the MSC World Cruise. These two flagship vessels of the MSC Cruises fleet will sail around the world, departing from Barcelona on January 7th. Prior to their departure from Barcelona, the voyage will also include embarkation in Civitavecchia and Genoa on January 4th and 5th respectively, and in Marseille the following day, just before arriving in Barcelona.
