Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is Canary Islands' largest cruise port and principal homeport (for roundtrip itineraries). Tenerife Island is largest in the Canaries, located approx 300 km (190 mi) from North Africa’s coast. The island has total area approx 2034 km2 (785 mi2) and population around 890,000, which is ~43% of Canaries' total population.

As cruise port, Tenerife is also ranked Spain's second busiest - after Barcelona, handling nearly 1 million cruise ship passengers annually. Tenerife Island is visited by around 5 million tourists annually, making it archipelago's most visited. The island is served by two airports - Tenerife South (aka Reina Sofia) and Tenerife North (aka Los Rodeos).

One of cruise port's busiest days was September 26, 1993, when over 45,000 tourists came to Michael Jackson‘s concert (part of the "Dangerous World Tour"). The port has capacity to accommodate the world’s largest passenger ships of Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class (LOA length 362 m, max capacity 6780 passengers plus 2400 crew).

In 2016 was inaugurated the new cruise terminal. There are plans for developing LNG bunkering capabilities (liquefied natural gas fueling for LNG-powered cruise liners) via truck and barge. In 2016-2017 season were handled nearly 618,000 passengers. For winter season 2017-2018, here were homeported AIDAblu and AIDAprima (AIDA Cruises), TUI Discovery and Thomson Dream (Marella Cruises) and Pullmantur Horizon. For season 2018-2019, in Tenerife were homeported Marella Dream, AIDAnova, Pullmantur Zenith.

In early-December 2018, Carnival Corporation announced a concession agreement with the port authority company to become the operator of Tenerife cruise terminal - currently Canary Islands' newest and largest. Following the terminal operation deal, the first Carnival Corporation-owned vessel docking here was AIDAnova (December 12). Of all the nine Carnival Corp brands, 7 were scheduled to visit Tenerife - AIDA, Cunard, Costa, Holland America, P&O UK, Princess and Seabourn. Port Tenerife is the 8th Carnival-operated cruise terminal - joining the seaports Barcelona (Spain), Savona (Italy), Amber Cove (Dominicana), Puerta Maya (Cozumel, Mexico), Grand Turk Island, Mahogany Bay (Isla Roatan, Honduras) and Long Beach (California USA).

The seaport is managed by Autoridad Portuaria de Santa Cruz de Tenerife (port authority company). The cruise port is located just 10 km (6 mi) from Tenerife North Airport and approx 60 km (37 mi) from Tenerife South Airport. The city's bus service is excellent, and it is also easy to pick a taxi almost everywhere.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the island's main city and also the capital (shared with Las Palmas) of Canary Islands - an autonomous territory of Spain. In the period 1833-1927, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was Canaries' sole capital. La Laguna University (in San Cristobal) is the archipelago's oldest (founded in 1792).

Teide National Park (World Heritage Site) is in the center of Tenerife Island and has Spain's highest elevation point (Mt Teide - 3718 m / 12198 ft), which is also the highest of all Atlantic Ocean islands. In 2015, Macizo de Anaga mountain (northeastern Tenerife Island) was designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, having Europe's largest number of endemic species.

Santa Cruz de Tenerife cruise terminal

Santa Cruz de Tenerife tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Museum of Open Air Sculptures: discover great Henry Moore, Miró, Alfaro and Chirino exhibitions. Start you art tour in Las Ramblas, pass trough the Las Asuncionistas School and finish at the Park García Sanabria.
• Tenerife Auditorium: Santiago Calatrava designed that trendy Santa Cruz building. You can spend you time listening to live musical performances right on the sea promenade.
• Santa Cruz Public Library: La Granja Park houses the great documents collection of all times and all kinds. You can find local authors works, visit an exhibition or go to a theater.
• Fine Arts Circle: a center for avant-garde artworks. You can visit painting and photography exhibitions.
• Plaza de la Candelaria: located right across the famous Plaza de España. On the small area of the both squares you will find Olympo Building, Casino Cruz, Carta Palace, Chamber of Commerce and more Santa Cruz de Tenerife sights.
• San Cristóbal Castle: fot those who love history – a section of the castle, who defended Santa Cruz. You can reach the castle from the underground exhibition from Plaza de España.
• Museum of Man and Nature: discover the Guanches, the Canary Islands aboriginal inhabitants, and the Canary’s history through artefacts exhibitions. The Museum of Man and Nature is situated at the Plaza de Europa.
• San Cristobal de la Laguna: the original capital city of Tenerife. Probably the island’s most charming town. You can see the oldest university, cathedral and church of Tenerife. Also you can enjoy traditional cuisine at the local restaurants or rest at the amazing beaches on the coastline.