CANARY ISLANDS CRUISE ITINERARY
DAY 1 – SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the port capital of Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s seven Canary Islands. The city showcases incredible sights such as the Plaza de Espana, the church of St. Francis of Assisi, and the soaring white wave auditorium, the Auditorio de Tenerife. This quintessential Canary Island’s town is a colourful Canary Islands & Madeira Cruise destination where you can soak up the sun, dine in style, or take a dip in glittering waters.
DAY 2 – ARRECIFE DE LANZAROTE
Reaching Arrecife de Lanzarote in the Canary Islands on an MSC Cruise will be an engaging and unique experience that will take you to a natural paradise in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of the seven spectacular islands that make up the Canary Islands. This cruise will be a unique opportunity to discover the beauty of the fourth largest island, declared a “biosphere reserve” by UNESCO for its mild climate and its natural wonders. It is where the Camelus dromedarius, the only native European breed of dromedary, chose its home. You will discover an unforgettable island where the core soul of the harbours has remained unchanged, still dynamic and vibrant as in the past.
DAY 3 – AT SEA
DAY 4 – PUERTO DEL ROSARIO, FUERTEVENTURA
In Puerto del Rosario, the capital of Fuerteventura, you will realise that you already have all the you need to enjoy your vacation in Fuerteventura. Immediately to the south, sits Playa Blanca (White Beach), the most famous and largest beach on the island, famous for its waves and excellent conditions for surfing, windsurfing and sunbathing. Puerto Escondido and El Pertito, two beaches of untarnished beauty, are situated slightly farther away.
DAY 5 – SANTA CRUZ DE LA PALMA
Arriving to the Port of Santa Cruz de la Palma in the Canary Islands on an MSC cruise ship is an incredible feeling. The city was founded inside the Calderata, an ancient volcanic crater that rises to a height of 1800 metres, protecting the sailing vessels of the past, and the cruise ships of today, from the wind. The history of Santa Cruz de la Palma, once an important stop on the trading route to the East Indies, has enriched it with fortifications, such as Castillo de Santa Catalina and Castillo de Santa Cruz del Barrio, constructed in the second half of the 16th century to defend Santa Cruz de la Palma from attacks by pirates. However, the historical heritage of the city centre, which is encountered at practically every corner, dates back to the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical periods. It will be worth your while to loose yourselves among the streets, if for nothing else, than to simply admire their unique balconies, such as the one in Avenida Maritima.
DAY 6 – LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA
Gran Canaria holds a myriad of things to see for those visiting the Canary Islands on an MSC cruise. Small towns that appear and disappear, such as Tejeda in the mountainous area of Gran Canaria, which is periodically swallowed by a sea of clouds. When the clouds lift, they expose the proud peak of Roque Nublo, the alien landscape along its slopes and, further on, an infinite expanse of conifer woods. While staying at Gran Canaria, you will also discover rare miniature costal desserts, with dunes unrolling in front of the sea in Maspalomas, a beach and surfing holiday destination. To experience the millennium-old history of the island, consider going on an excursion to the northern side of Gran Canaria, to the Cueva Pintada Museum, the “Sistine Chapel” of the Prehistoric Period. Decorated with geometrical designs, it is thought to be a calendar.
DAY 7 – FUNCHAL, MADEIRA, PORTUGAL
As you arrive in Funchal, your ship will cast anchor in a bay protected by mountains rising straight up behind the port. The name, Funchal, derives from that of the fennel plant, the funcho still used today in the traditional sweets known as rebuçados de funcho, that one can find anywhere on the island of Madeira. An excursion will take you around the town centre, to visit historic churches, from the A Sé Cathedral, with its inlaid ceiling, to the majestic Church of the Incarnation, to the church of Carmo without a vault. Another MSC excursion will take you up to the village of Monte, from where one can admire a spectacular view of the Funchal bay. You can visit its 18th century church and the tomb of the last Austrian emperor, Charles I, and stroll around the magnificent botanic gardens. But if you like heights, there’s nothing more impressive than the Cabo Girão and its 589 metre tall cliffs, amongst the highest in the world, at the foot of which lie the cultivated lands known as Fajãs do Cabo Girão.
DAY 8 – SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE
Return flight to Dublin
