Port Ceuta (Spanish Morocco) marked a significant milestone by accommodating simultaneously two cruise ships - Spirit of Discovery and Villa Vie Odyssey, at Espana Dock.
The event, which occurred last Saturday, October 19th, underscores Ceuta’s growing appeal as a cruise destination and its enhanced capacity to manage multiple berths efficiently.
Spirit of Discovery (operated by Saga Cruises UK) berthed on the Dock's east side at 08:00 a.m., continuing her journey later in the day to Portsmouth UK. This visit marks a return for Spirit of Discovery, which previously called at Ceuta on October 1st, further affirming Saga Cruises' confidence in the port. The sistership Spirit of Adventure also stopped in Ceuta recently, reflecting the increasing frequency of Saga vessels in the region.
On the Dock's west side berthed the luxury residential ship Villa Vie Odyssey (operated by Villa Vie Residences) making a maiden call at Ceuta, arriving from Tangier. This ship is on a 3-year world voyage, covering 425 destinations in 147 countries. After departing Ceuta at 10 p.m., Villa Vie Odyssey headed towards Gibraltar UK.
In total, 1200+ passengers and ~700 crew visited the exotic Spanish city during this dual call. This influx of tourists provided a considerable boost to local businesses and services, with guided tours, excursions, and hospitality venues benefitting from the surge in visitors.
The coordination between Ceuta’s Port Authority and the city’s Tourism Services was instrumental in ensuring the smooth handling of these simultaneous calls. Enhanced signage and improved logistics facilitated passenger navigation around the port, while multilingual information points, shuttle services, and guided tours were available to help visitors explore the city.
This event underscores Ceuta’s growing prominence in international cruise itineraries, positioning the port as a key cultural and leisure destination in the Mediterranean. It also highlights the collaborative efforts between the Port Authority and Ceuta’s tourism sector in creating an inviting experience for cruise passengers.