Santa Cruz de Tenerife Expects 10,151 Cruise Passengers Sunday
October 10 is among the busiest dates, with two ships scheduled to bring up to 9,334 passengers; MSC Virtuosa accounts for up to 6,334 of them.
Up to 10,151 cruise passengers are expected in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Sunday, when three ships are scheduled to dock. Costa Cruises’ Costa Smeralda, MSC Cruises’ MSC World Europa and P&O Cruises’ Ventura are due in the island’s capital.
The calls form part of an October schedule listing 23 cruise ships with capacity for up to 67,270 passengers. The arrivals follow a decline in Tenerife’s cruise passenger traffic that was steeper than on any other Canary Island, according to data from the Canary Islands Statistical Office.
October traditionally opens the Canary Islands’ cruise season as European operators move routes south for winter. The port authority’s monthly passenger projection is based on scheduled capacity, rather than a count of completed visits.
Calls are scheduled on 15 days during October, with multiple ships arriving on some dates. Visitor traffic in Santa Cruz’s old town and at attractions elsewhere on the island will therefore be concentrated on particular days.
One of the busiest dates is October 10, when two ships are expected to bring up to 9,334 passengers, about 14% of the monthly projection. MSC Virtuosa accounts for up to 6,334 of them. Both vessels are scheduled to disembark passengers at almost the same time.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez has previously described cruise passengers as “high-value tourists.” The city expects their short visits to generate spending with tour operators, retailers and restaurants without requiring hotel accommodation.
The port authority’s earlier forecasts place the seasonal peak in ship calls in November.
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