Top 10 Spanish Islands Cruise Ports
From the history and culture of the Balearic Islands to the volcanic natural beaty of the Canary Islands, visitors can enjoy lots of new experiences no matter if you prefer to cruise the Med or the Atlantic Ocean.
One of the great advantages of visiting the Spanish Islands on a cruise holiday is that each is the perfect size for exploring on a day visit and with each offering lots of familiarities from one to the next, each is also different enough to make each day onshore interesting and exciting.
Finally, both the main island archipelagos of the Balearic Islands, located in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands, located off of the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean, are popular cruise destination for many cruise lines including those operating out of the major British cruise ports.
That gives lots of choice in all aspects of cruising, from the ship to the holiday length and there are also lots of great stopping off ports near to the island to make for complete holiday.
For this list, we have taken lots of aspects into account including the number of cruise itineraries visiting each island, what is available on shore and our own personnel view of each Spanish Island.
Our Top 10 Spanish Islands Cruise Ports
Palma de Mallorca, Majorca, Balearic Islands
Palma is the capital of Mallorca (Majorca) and is one of the most popular holiday destination in the Balearic Islands.
The city is famed for its stunning Cathedral and its hill top Bellver Castle but there is so much more to the historic city that means visitors will more than likely find something of interest to them there.
From a cruising point of view, it is one of the leading cruise ports in the Mediterranean, which is itself one of the world leading cruise regions.
Lots of lines offer holiday starting or ending there which allows you to add some extra days to your holiday to enjoy all that the island has to offer whilst the city of Palma itself is the perfect size to explore on your own during a port of call.
Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital city of not only the island of Tenerife but of the Canary Islands as a whole but despite that, it retains a small town charm and it is easy to explore on your own.
Many visitors will head to the iconic Mount Teide on an excursion but for those staying local, it is often the beautiful architecture found throughout the city that grabs your attention, including the Auditorio de Tenerife.
From a cruising point of view, the city is almost always a port of call on Canary Islands itineraries and there are also a growing number of cruises starting out at the port allowing you to spend more time in exploring the region.
Ibiza Town, Ibiza, Balearic Islands
The Balearic island of Ibiza maybe best known for its nightlife and huge nightclubs but away from the party resorts, there is lots to enjoy including its beautiful capital of Ibiza Town.
Its hilltop Cathedral stands out to all visitors and is a popular attraction but for many it is the chance to walk around the tight and narrow streets of the old town that is the highlight of a stop at Ibiza.
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Las Palmas is known for its beautiful sandy beaches and is arguably the best port of call on a Spanish Island for a day at the beach but there is a lot more awaiting visitors.
The city has a long history and has been one of the most important cities in the region for some time and that fromer wealth can be seen at sites such as the Parque San Telmo, the Castillo de la Luz, and the Cathedral of Santa Ana.
From a cruising point of view, the port is one of the most popular in the Canary Islands which gives plenty of choice when it comes to lines, ships, and itineraries.
Puerto de Rosario, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands
Puerto de Rosario is the small capital city of Fuerteventura that is a great place to relax, simply walk from the ship into town and take in all that is on offer including lots of local bars, cafes, and restaurants.
The views from most parts of the city are stunning but it is also easy to explore the whole island via public transport or on an excursion for those wanting to see more of the island.
Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Arrecife is a relatively large city in the Canaries and offers a number of sights for visitors to take in but it mainly acts a gateway to many must see attractions on the island.
The Timanfaya National Park is a must visit destination for those new to the island as it offer a truly unique landscape due to volatile volcanic nature of the island.
Santa Cruz, La Palma, Canary Islands
The entrance into the Santa Cruz port is one of the most stunning in the Canary Islands as the whole city is backed by large mountains that gives it an intimate feel.
Despite its relatively small size even by the standards of cities in the Canary Islands archipelago, there is still lots awaiting visitors in and around the city.
The Ruta Sur Volcanes, Pico de la Nieve and the famous Mirador del Roque de los Muchachos viewpoint are all well worth visiting.
San Sebastian, La Gomera, Canary Islands
The island of La Gomera is simply stunning and most visitors will head out on an excursion to see the islands rainforest and maybe even experience its historic El Silbo whistling language, all of which starts by docking or tendering at its capital of San Sebastian.
As one of the smaller Canary Islands to accept cruise passengers, it can be difficult to find an itinerary stopping there but it is well worth the effort to find one that fits your budget and availability.
Mahon, Menorca, Balearic Islands
Mahon is the capital of Menorca and is its main port thanks to having one of the largest natural harbours in the world at 3 miles long and 900 metres wide.
The Balearic Island has a long history which has included the likes of the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Vikings, and the Moors all having control of the city which has left visitors today with plenty of sites of interest to view or visit.
La Estaca, El Hierro, Canary Islands
El Hierro is one of the smallest Spanish Islands and stands out from most others in the Canaries due to its abundance of greenery but unfortunately it is often only smaller and more luxurious cruise ships that call into the port city of La Estaca.
