MSC Cruises, one of Europe’s largest cruise operators, has formally agreed to increase its passenger volumes and maintain Arrecife as a home port until at least 2028.
The confirmation came during a meeting at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) between Arrecife’s Mayor, Yonathan de León, the Councillor for Trade and Tourism, Eli Merino, and the General Manager of MSC Cruises for Spain, Fernando Pacheco.
Pacheco stated that Arrecife is now considered “a strategic port for MSC Cruises,” where passengers consistently find “highly valued tourist experiences” both in the city and across Lanzarote.
Increased Capacity
As a direct result of this commitment, MSC will significantly increase its capacity from Arrecife in 2026. The company will deploy a larger vessel capable of accommodating over 4,400 passengers per cruise, up from the current 3,700. This ship will operate several Canary Islands itineraries with Arrecife as its home port.
Demonstrating long-term planning, MSC Cruises is already marketing cruises for 2028 that feature Arrecife as a home port, including combined routes with Rome.
For the 2026 season, MSC plans more than 600 calls at Spanish ports, with Arrecife remaining a central home port location.
Record Pace for Cruise Calls
Mayor Yonathan de León, who also sits on the Board of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, highlighted the growing momentum. He confirmed that Arrecife is scheduled to welcome a record 170 cruise ship calls between January and April 2026. “More shipping companies are interested in incorporating Arrecife as a home port because it has a great competitive advantage,” de León explained at FITUR. “We are the closest island to the large ports of Morocco and the south of the Iberian Peninsula, we have cruise terminals, a city undergoing urban transformation, and a good range of shopping, hospitality, and leisure options. In addition, many shipping companies position their ships during the fall and winter seasons in the Canary Islands due to the good weather, which sets us apart in the northern hemisphere.”
