Sea cruises from Canary Islands — page 13

The peak season runs from November to March: every cruise line operates, departures are at their most frequent, and daytime temperatures sit around 22 °C. April to June and September to October offer the same weather with fewer ships and shorter queues ashore. In July and August the fleet moves to the Mediterranean and choice is minimal.

No. The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the Schengen area, so Ukrainian citizens with a biometric passport travel visa-free — 90 days within any 180-day period. Travel insurance with at least €30,000 of cover is mandatory. Holders of older non-biometric passports still require a visa. If the itinerary calls in Morocco, entry conditions for that country are checked separately.

A seven-night round trip usually covers Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, often adding La Palma. Nearly all itineraries include Funchal on Portuguese Madeira. Such a loop contains one sea day, rarely two, because the islands lie close together.

MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises carry most of the volume — mass-market, large ships, a base fare covering meals but not drinks or excursions. The German lines AIDA Cruises and TUI Cruises also keep a winter fleet here. Ultra-luxury appears only occasionally, mostly on transatlantic crossings.

In autumn the cruise lines reposition ships from Europe to the Caribbean and South America, and return them in spring. The Canaries sit on that route as the last European port. These crossings run 10 to 20 nights, contain up to five consecutive sea days, and cost less per night than a round trip. They suit passengers who value time on board.

A call lasts eight to ten hours, which allows one substantial excursion. In Las Palmas the terminal stands within the city and the centre is walkable. In Santa Cruz free port shuttles run to Plaza de España. On Lanzarote a trip to Timanfaya National Park will take almost the entire call.

A Canary round trip usually runs seven nights. Iberian–Canary sailings departing from Barcelona, Málaga or Lisbon last 9 to 12 nights. Transatlantic itineraries calling at the Canaries run from 10 to 20 nights.

Yes, and on Tenerife it is worth doing: the ascent of Mount Teide takes half a day and is difficult to fit into a port call. Two or three nights before the cruise solve that and protect against a delayed flight at the same time. One night is the minimum.