MSC Cruises maintains Malaga as its home port, but reduces stopovers and passengers

MSC Cruises, which is the leading passenger shipping company in the port of Málaga, has announced that it will maintain Málaga as its home port this year, but will reduce the number of stops and passengers. At a presentation in Barcelona, the company revealed its operations for this summer across the country, which includes a 28% increase in its stops in Spain compared to 2024. However, in the port of Málaga, the trend is reversed. Forecasts indicate that the four ships operating will make five fewer stops, reducing passenger movement to about 96,000, which is approximately 15,000 fewer than in 2024.

The company, celebrating its fourth consecutive season as the home port in the capital of the Costa del Sol, explained that four cruises will dock at this port on 26 occasions. These include 'MSC Grandiosa', 'MSC Magifica' during its world tour; 'MSC Musica', which will embark every week during the summer months, and 'MSC Virtuosa' which will be present at the Málaga docks in July and September.

MSC Cruises noted that the decrease in stops and passengers is justified by the positioning of the ships, which have changed destinations due to different itineraries. It is also worth mentioning that this shipping company will inaugurate a new cruise terminal at the port of Barcelona on April 3rd. MSC Cruises emphasized that it is important that the company maintains Málaga as its home port and that these facilities are "some of the most significant for the company".

Four company cruises will operate at the port of Málaga throughout 2025

Fernando Pacheco, General Manager of MSC Cruises in Spain, stated that "Spain is a market with enormous potential and is constantly growing. After an excellent 2024, we continue to increase capacity and are proud to be the only shipping company that offers eight embarkation ports in the country, thus bringing the cruise experience closer to a greater number of travelers. Undoubtedly, this commitment to Spain responds to the growing demand from travelers, who see cruising as a convenient and attractive vacation option thanks to innovation in our itineraries, our constantly growing fleet, and a travel plan full of comfort and accessibility adapted to all audiences."

At the presentation, it was stated that "MSC Cruises anticipates a good year, in which the customer is at the center of its strategy." It was affirmed that the company is expanding itineraries and strengthening its commitment to the Spanish market with more capacity and new operations, driven by the growing demand from travelers for routes outside of Spain, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and the Caribbean. This year, it will have 23 active ships in five geographical areas, eight of them departing from Spain, reinforcing its commitment to bringing Spanish ports closer to travelers with operations from Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Alicante, Mallorca, Málaga, Las Palmas, and Tenerife.

It was also highlighted that on April 9th they will welcome MSC World America. "It is a ship that will redefine the experience of traveling through the Caribbean Sea thanks to spaces and activities never seen before on a cruise. With an innovative design, cutting-edge technology, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, MSC World America promises to be the new dream of Caribbean cruises," it was specified.

To ensure a more comfortable and accessible travel experience, MSC Cruises has enhanced its land transportation options. This summer, a train service from Madrid, Zaragoza, and Andalusia to the ports of Valencia and Barcelona will be inaugurated, providing a faster and more efficient connection. In addition, new operations will bring destinations and itineraries around the world closer to Spanish travelers more comfortably. Among them, Northern Europe and the Norwegian Fjords, aboard MSC Euribia, with direct flights from Málaga to Copenhagen due to the growing interest in nature-immersive trips.