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Alicante Cruise Holidays

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Alicante Cruise Holiday Guide

Alicante, Spain

As a holiday destination, it is perhaps as a beach resort that Alicante is more known for but over the past few years, it has started to develop as a cruise port for itineraries of the Western Mediterranean.

It is the resorts seafront and beautiful beaches that attract many cruisers to choose to visit the port and it is those beaches were many will find themselves after a day of exploring but if you would like to see some of the city itself or if beaches just are not to your liking, the port is a great place to stop off.

Located between the ports of Cartagena and Valencia, the whole region is full of history and fascinating places to visit but you don’t have to venture too far from the port to enjoy its history as a trip up Mount Benacantil gives access to the Santa Barbara castle.

One of the best aspects of the port is that there are not only a wide range of cruise ships and lines that call into the port on cruises around the med but there are a number of options for those wanting to visit directly from the United Kingdom.

Cruises To Alicante






Alicante Cruise Guide

If you are at the research stage for your next cruise holiday and are trying to decide whether an itinerary including a stop in Alicante is right for you or not, our guide gives you all of the information needed to make that decision.

On the other hand, if you are in the fortunate position to have already booked a cruise to the resort and are wanting to make the most of your time onshore, our guide will help you to do just that.

Type of Cruises Available

If you are still to book a cruise to the south of Spain and are wondering what your options are, the great news is that your options are plentiful.

When it comes to choosing a cruise to the holiday resort of Alicante, there is lots of choice for those who prefer not to fly on holiday but who would still love to explore the history and culture of the Western Mediterranean on holiday.

There are a number of differing cruise lines that offer a variety of ships heading to the Med from the UK, so not matter the type of cruising experience that you enjoy, you will more than likely be able to enjoy a No Fly cruise from the UK to Alicante.

For the widest range of options, holidaymakers can choose to start and end their holiday in one of the larger cities in the region, with the likes of Barcelona and Civitavecchia (Rome) been the most popular.

Another option is choose a re-positioning cruise that starts in the UK and then ends in the region (or vice versa) to give cruisers the best of both world’s.

Alicante Cruise Port Location

The resorts cruise terminal, the Terminal de Cruceros de Alicante, is located close to the city centre on the outer wall of the Port of Alicante and its marina.

That allows visitors to simply walk into town and back for a day of exploring on their own or if you are heading out on an excursion, you can also spend some time in the city, if you have time.

Alicante Attractions

One of the most popular attractions in the resort is its incredible Explanada de Espana, which is a palm tree lined promenade that is one of the longest in the country.

The seafront gives access to the resorts beautiful sandy beaches and you can also head for the historic Castle of Santa Barbara that sits atop the Mount Benacantil at the far end of the prom.

The great news for those who struggle with long walks or who like to take it easy in the heat of the Med is that there is a modern tramline that follows the promenade, from the port down past the Castle and out to the San Juan beach.

If you would like a more traditional experience, the Barrio Santa Cruz ‘old town’ is the place to head, as is the Mercat Central d’Alacant market.

There are 2 standout museums in the resort with the MARQ Museo Arqueologico de Alicante (archaeology museum) and the Museo The Ocean Race (ocean sailing museum) been great places to head, especially if the heat gets to hot or the weather isn’t at its best.

If the beaches in the resort are crowed or if you prefer to relax away from the sand, the resorts Parc El Palmerar is a great place to unwind amongst its waterfalls, flowers, and trees.

Alicante Shorex

There are a number of great options for those wanting to head away from the resort including visiting the stunning Algar Waterfalls.

The surrounding region is perfect for off-roading and there is lots of opportunities to hire a 4×4 and take a tour exploring or for those who prefer a slower pace of life, there are a number of wineries located near the resort that offer tours and tasting opportunities.

Best Time To Visit

As mentioned, the resort of Alicante is a hugely popular holiday destination for those wanting to take advantage of the sunny Mediterranean weather and the beautiful beaches found in the city.

That means the resort gets incredibly busy during the school holidays and especially during the summer school holidays when it is crowed throughout and so we would recommend visiting out of those periods.

With many of the main attractions in the resort been outside, you still want the best of the weather so it is probably best to visit in June/early July or September although it is possible to visit almost all year around.

Transport

Although much of the resort can be explored on foot directly from the centrally located cruise port, the city does offer a good selection of transportation option for those wanting to explore more of the city or for those with limited mobility.

The most popular mode of transport for visitors is the Alicante tram that takes in many of the major tourist attractions and beaches as well as having a stop close to the port’s entrance within walking distance of the cruise terminal.

Alicante Cruises From UK

If you would like to visit the port of Alicante on a cruise directly from the United Kingdom, the great news is that not only is it possible, but there are lots of options in doing so.

All of the cruisers are heading to the same region, with most either re-positioning to the Western med or offering round trips there, but you can choose from a number of lines and from a number of ships.

Cruise From Southampton

If you would like to cruise to Alicante directly from the UK, it is from the port of Southampton that you will find the widest range of itineraries, ships and lines sailing to the Spanish port.