~30 cruise ships laid up in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands since March 2020

   May 16, 2021 ,   Cruise Industry

Since the pandemic hit the world in March 2020, Port Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canaries Spain) has been the refuge for numerous passenger ships, working hand in hand with shipowners to repatriate passengers and crew via Tenerife Island's two airports - South Airport (Reina Sofía) and North Airport (Ciudad de La Laguna).

Offering sheltered anchorage to lay up the vessels after all cruise companies stopped operations, including services like general maintenance or crew change, ~30 cruise vessels have been laid up in Santa Cruz de Tenerife since March 2020. You can see which boats are currently in the area at the port's map (CruiseMapper satellite AIS data).

The Port has also been one of the first in the world to welcome cruisers after the pandemic, via cooperation with cruise lines, national authorities, and local health authorities to welcome passengers since the beginning of the cruise line activities resumption.

Since last November, Tenerife has handled 70+ cruise ship calls and welcomed 108,000+ cruise passengers, offering monitored activities and controlled shore excursions to visitors. Moreover, the Port is handling ~10 homeport operations monthly and many other transit calls, adapting its facilities to the requirements of the health and safety protocols of each line.

Despite the situation and due to the lines’ enhanced health and safety protocols, cruisers have the chance to enjoy the Canaries safely when visiting the destinations in the different islands, without contagions or incidents.

Some of the companies that are currently sailing on 7- and 14-day cruises around the Canary Islands are going to extend their season through July, as published by AIDA.