Santander Cruise Deluxe participated this week in a training trip aboard the MSC Splendida organized by Cruise Europe, an association to which the port of Santander belongs.
The event offers an opportunity to discuss the main challenges and opportunities facing a constantly evolving sector in the coming years. It also provides a platform to learn about the latest developments in cruise operations, port interactions, sustainability, and onboard products, as well as to hold professional meetings with industry professionals.
During the training trip, which departed from the port of Barcelona last Saturday, the delegates were able to visit the most important ports in the Mediterranean and visit the headquarters of Costa Cruises in Genoa, where they were able to meet with representatives of the shipping company and those responsible for planning itineraries, shore excursions and destination development.
In addition, the company's executives have participated on board in meetings and conferences on topics related to regulatory and environmental issues affecting the sector, onshore activities, and sustainability practices.
The aim, as Sophie Lanos, head of cruises at the Port Authority of Santander, points out, is "to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among professionals and to obtain a broader operational and strategic perspective on the cruise business."
“These types of activities also give us the opportunity to establish links with the main shipping companies and maritime agents in the sector, something fundamental to putting us on the map and positioning Santander as an eligible cruise destination, he adds.
Lanos asserts that “there is a lot of competition and it is a very demanding sector. We must ensure that those responsible for designing itineraries are aware of the advantages of climbing in Santander.” “We have a wonderful entrance to the port through the Bay, a Maritime Station right in the city center, and exclusive experiences within easy reach of the dock.”
Santander Cruise Deluxe plans to increase from twenty cruises and 29,862 passengers in 2025 to thirty calls and 50,000 passengers in 2026.
The goal is "to make Santander the leading port for premium cruises in northern Spain and to promote the reduction of seasonality in tourism in the region," Lanos concludes.
The brand carries out numerous promotional activities such as familiarization trips for shipping companies, maintaining constant contact with ship captains, marketing new experiences, publishing articles in specialized media, preparing brochures for luxury cruises, increasing digitalization, and creating new merchandise.
In addition, it participates in the main trade fairs in the sector such as Seatrade Miami, Seatrade Europe or International Cruise Summit and is a member of associations such as Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) or Cruise Europe.
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