MSC Cruises participated this morning in a round table discussion at the International Tourism Fair alongside key companies that collaborate with the cruise line to connect passengers with Spain's main ports. This commitment allows MSC Cruises to offer connections to its eight embarkation ports year-round, both in winter and summer, thus ensuring continuous, high-quality service for its passengers.
The round table was moderated by Amparo Polo. Participants included: Álvaro Rodríguez, president of Puertos del Estado (State Ports Authority); Fernando Pacheco, general manager of MSC Cruises in Spain; Félix Martín, intermodal manager at Renfe (Spanish National Railway Network); José Luis Román, director of intercity mobility at Avanza (Spanish public transport company); and Guillermo Castrillo, director of strategy and sustainability at iryo (Spanish National Railway Network).
During the meeting, representatives from each company shared their perspectives on how collaboration between shipping lines, rail operators, mobility companies, and Spanish ports can enhance the passenger experience, ensuring faster and more comfortable connections for those who choose to travel by cruise ship. They also highlighted how, thanks to the improved connectivity with ports, there has been a noticeable increase in cruise market penetration in Spain.
Fernando Pacheco, Managing Director of MSC Cruises in Spain, commented: “At MSC Cruises, we understand that the passenger experience doesn't begin on board, but much earlier, when they plan their transfer to the port of embarkation. Therefore, we work closely with transport operators such as Renfe, Avanza, and iryo, as well as with ports, to guarantee seamless, comfortable, and accessible connections that facilitate our passengers' journeys to our eight current ports of embarkation in Spain. This collaborative effort allows us to offer a comprehensive service that ensures a simpler, more efficient travel experience tailored to each passenger's expectations.”
In this regard, Álvaro Rodríguez, president of Puertos del Estado, highlighted the importance of “public-private collaboration to improve the offering and services of state-owned ports, and ultimately to continue adding value to society.
Thanks to MSC Cruises' strategic alliances with transport operators such as Renfe, Avanza, and iryo, the company facilitates high-speed rail access from more than 20 Spanish cities to major embarkation ports including Alicante, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Valencia. These collaborations, which combine rail and road transport, reinforce MSC Cruises' commitment to intermodality, ensuring convenient, fast, and efficient access to its eight embarkation ports in Spain and significantly enhancing the passenger travel experience even before boarding the cruise ship.
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