The world's third largest cruise shipowner, MSC Cruises, has formalised an agreement to sustain and expand operations from Arrecife on Lanzarote Island (the Canaries), confirming that the port will serve as a homeport for its vessels through at least 2028.
MSC's commitment was outlined during discussions at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid between Arrecife’s municipal leadership and Fernando Pacheco, the General Manager for MSC Cruises in Spain, who described Arrecife as a strategically significant maritime facility where embarkations consistently generate valued visitor experiences on both the island and in the city itself.
Under the terms of the arrangement, MSC’s deployment from Arrecife will expand from 2026 onward, with a larger class of vessel scheduled to be based there, increasing potential passenger capacity to 4400+ per sailing, compared with the previous figure of ~3700. MSC ships will operate a series of Canary Islands circuits and related routes, with the company already offering 2028 itineraries that tie Arrecife with ports such as Rome in combined maritime schedules.
MSC’s Spanish schedule for 2028 foresees 600+ cruise ship calls at domestic ports, with Arrecife maintaining its status as a key homeport.
Officials in Arrecife signalled that this development reflects an upward trend in cruise activity for the harbor, noting an unprecedented pace of some 170 ship calls scheduled between January and April 2026. They attributed part of this momentum to the port’s advantageous position relative to major North African and Iberian Peninsula harbours, its modern cruise terminal infrastructure and the favourable climate that draws operators to base vessels in the Canary Islands during the northern winter season.
The extension of MSC’s homeport commitment at Arrecife aligns with broader expansion of cruise infrastructure in the region, where recent investments in terminals and passenger handling facilities are designed to accommodate growing traffic and support the operational needs of large ocean-going cruise vessels calling in the Canary archipelago.