Cartagena Cruise Holidays
The historic port of Cartagena on Spain’s Murcia coastline is a popular choice for those with an interest in history after been founded around 227 BCE.
The city arguably had its heyday during the Roman era, when it was known as Carthago Nova (or New Carthage) and enjoyed a prosperous time under Roman rule.
That has left a number of historic sites that can be explored by visitors, including a beautiful Roman Theatre, but there is a lot more to the city than its past.
Located close to the entrance to the Med in the South of Spain, Cartagena enjoys year round sun which can be enjoyed on the cities beaches whilst the city centre is full of a good range of shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, and attractions.
The port of Cartagena, as well as been popular with cruise lines, is also a Naval port, which can lead to some interesting welcome but from a cruise holidaymaker point of view, one of the best aspects of the port is the fact that you dock right in the middle of town and can simply disembark and stroll around town in your own pace.
Cruises To Cartagena
Cartagena Cruise Guide
If you have already booked a cruise to the city and are now researching what there is to do for your day ashore, or if you are currently trying to decide whether a cruise to Cartagena is right for you and your family, you are in the right place.
In a region that is dominated by the beaches of the Spanish Costas, the culture of Italy and the metropolitan cities of Barcelona and Rome, Cartagena offers a different experience on a Mediterranean cruise where visitors can enjoy a more relaxed day ashore simply strolling around the streets and enjoying the any sites of interest that await.
Our cruise guide brings you all of the information that you need for a day ashore in Cartagena in Spain.
Type of Cruises Available
When it comes to cruises to Cartagena in Spain, not to be confused with the cruise port of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia, there are two options for those of us based in the United Kingdom- a NoFly cruise and a Fly Cruise.
As you would likely expect, a no NoFly cruise is where you start and end your cruise holiday from a UK port and the great news for all of you who would prefer not to fly when cruising, there is a wide range of cruise holiday that go to the city throughout the year.
Cruises have a great selection of cruise lines, ships, and itineraries to choose from, so there is likely the perfect option for you and your budget.
If you do not mind flying or if you prefer to have more port days than sea days, you can miss out the travel to and from the Iberian Peninsula on board your ship by simply flying to one of the popular cruise ports in the Mediterranean such as Barcelona, Palma, or Civitavecchia.
By starting your holiday in the region, you can often visit more ports and you can also add on a few days before or after your cruise and enjoy a short break in a great city such as Barcelona or Rome.
Cartagena Cruise Port Location
The port is only capable of taking cruise ships that are stopping in the port with no holidays starting or ending there, so in some ways it is a basic cruise terminal but it has everything that you could ever need.
The best aspect of the dock is its location just a short stroll from the town centre and within easy walking distance of all of the cities key tourist attractions.
The port is located in a sheltered harbour that makes for an interesting arrival and departure and helps to make sure of a smooth docking even if the weather is not at its best.
The cruise pier in Cartagena can accept up to 2 cruise ships at a time after a relatively recent upgrade and extension and is located right next to the cities Marina and Yacht Club.
Cartagena Attractions
The main attractions that await visitors to the city stem from the regions past as a thriving city during the Roman period.
One of the highlights in the city is he incredible Roman Theatre that is remarkably intact and can be experience via the Museo Del Teatro Romano.
Other historical sites of interest include Barrio del Foro Romano (Roman ruins museum), the Museo Nacional de Arqueologia Subacuatica and the Punic Wall.
For many visitors, simply strolling around the streets and taking in the many beautiful buildings in part of the attraction of a stop in the city with the Calle Mayor (main street) amongst the most popular districts for holidaymakers to take in and enjoy.
There are also a small number of modern attracts that can be enjoyed including Experiencia 43 which is a museum and tour dedicated to the popular Spanish liquor of Licor 43, which is made on site, and the Museo Naval which is a museum dedicated to the Naval history of the city which can often include a look at current Naval ships docked in the port.
Cartagena Shorex
Although Cartagena is a city that you can enjoy on foot without the need for an excursion, there is still a range of options for days out of the city.
One of the most popular options is to head south-west of the city to the stunning Bateria de Castillitos, which is a seafront fortress that offers a great insight into the turbulent history of Murcia but also a stunning view.
The Bacteria de las Cenizas offer a more modern look at the military defences of Murcia and great views out over La Manga.
Best Time To Visit
The city is relatively small and the main tourist attractions are all within easy reach of the cruise dock, so few visitors will need to use public transport in the city, although there are buses and taxis that are found near to the cruise quay.
For those in need of help when walking distances, especially over uneven ground, there is a land train that takes holidaymakers from the cruise ship to the key attractions for a relatively low cost.
Transport
The city is relatively small and the main tourist attractions are all within easy reach of the cruise dock, so few visitors will need to use public transport in the city, although there are buses and taxis that are found near to the cruise quay.
For those in need of help when walking distances, especially over uneven ground, there is a land train that takes holidaymakers from the cruise ship to the key attractions for a relatively low cost.
Cartagena Cruise From The United Kingdom
There are lots of options for those wanting to enjoy a cruise to Cartagena from the United Kingdom as not only is it located in one of the world’s most popular cruise regions, the Western Mediterranean, it is also one of the most popular reports in the region.
Numerous itineraries of the region stop there but there is also the option to enjoy stops in the port on itineraries heading to the Canaries and on transatlantic journeys.
Cartagena Cruise From Southampton
If you are searching for a cruise to Cartagena in Spain from the UK, we would recommend searching for cruises out of the port of Southampton as it is the UK’s leading cruise port that offers the widest range of itineraries, ships and lines sailing to Cartagena.
