The growth figures for the Port of Motril in cruises support the commercial strategy of recent years, with a growth in 2024 of 74.4% compared to the already historic 2023.
Nearly 60,000 cruise passengers aboard 39 ships will have visited Motril by the end of the year, with 58.98% of these calls corresponding to luxury, premium or expedition cruises, such as Silversea Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Sea Cloud or Star Clippers.
“We are facing a truly good year that opens up enormous possibilities and expectations for the port, Motril, the Costa Tropical, Granada and the rest of the province, and that consolidates us as a destination for the major shipping companies.”
José García Fuentes, president of the Port Authority
This year new shipping companies have joined, such as Explora Journeys, Marella, and National Geographic Explorer.
Norwegian Cruise Line has brought its most modern ship, the Norwegian Viva, to Motril, in addition to the Norwegian Getaway and the Norwegian Sky.
There is no doubt that the star excursion in Motril is the Alhambra of Granada, just 70 km away, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second most visited monument in Spain after the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
However, the shipping companies also offer excursions to the city of Granada, with its spectacular monumental, gastronomic, shopping and cultural offerings, with the flamenco of Sacromonte as its greatest exponent; the Alpujarra, a peculiar landscape dotted with unique local architecture, the Lecrín Valley, where you can enjoy its wine cellars and olive oil mills, the Nerja Cave, one of the most spectacular in Spain; Salobreña; and even to Malaga.
It should not be forgotten that, next to Granada, there is one of the most important ski resorts in Spain, Sierra Nevada, at an altitude of 3500 m, which offers a unique combination of going from the sea to the snow in a few hours.
Cruise passengers receive a map with places of interest in Motril when they disembark the cruise ship, and there is a free shuttle service from the dock to the center of Motril.
Motril enjoys an exceptional microclimate with 320 days of sunshine a year and an average annual temperature of 20ºC, allowing you to enjoy its beaches year-round. These beaches have been awarded the highest quality certifications. Some are completely unspoiled, such as Playa de la Joya, nestled beneath a cliff, or the nearby Playa de las Azucenas, surrounded by native vegetation, including the lilies that give it its name.
Motril is situated on a small stretch of coastline called the Costa Tropical, between the Costa del Sol and the Costa de Almería, a privileged location historically inhabited by Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs. Their presence in these lands has left a rich architectural heritage, such as the Arab Castle of Salobreña, the impressive aqueduct of Almuñécar, and the Pre-Industrial Sugar Cane Museum in Motril.
The coastline is dotted with magnificent cliffs and secluded caves, but also boasts excellent resorts. Visitors can enjoy all kinds of water sports.
Motril surprises shipping companies and cruise passengers with its great cultural, natural, activity and gastronomic offerings.
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
