MSC expects to make about 200 calls at the Port of Barcelona during this 2025

MSC Cruceros reaffirms its commitment to Barcelona. The world's third-largest cruise company and leader in Europe has detailed its plans for summer 2025, which include a 28% increase in its calls in Spain compared to 2024. In total, the company will have 23 active ships, eight of which will depart from Spanish ports, with routes from Barcelona, Tarragona, Valencia, Alicante, Mallorca, Malaga, Las Palmas, and Tenerife.

"We are proud to be the only shipping company that offers eight embarkation ports in Spain," emphasized Fernando Pacheco, General Director of MSC Cruceros Spain. "This commitment to Spain responds to the growing demand from travelers, who see cruising as a convenient and attractive holiday option thanks to the innovation in our itineraries," added Pacheco. Spanish ports registered up to 6.7% more passengers in 2024 compared to the previous year, with up to 12.8 million tourists, according to figures from Puertos del Estado. Furthermore, Barcelona continued to be the main port, with a total of 3.6 million passengers.

For this reason, MSC will continue to bet on Barcelona as one of its main ports for this summer. Thus, five cruises will depart weekly from Barcelona during the summer of 2025, which will allow discovering Mediterranean cities such as the Italian Florence, Rome, or Naples, the French Marseille or Cannes, and even travel to Tunisia. The forecast is to reach about 200 calls in the Catalan capital this year.

Specifically, the vessels MSC World Europa, MSC Seaview, MSC Magnifica, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Seaside will offer itineraries of up to seven nights. From the port of Tarragona, the MSC Splendida will depart every Friday, also stopping in Valencia, and will visit cities in Italy and France.

Thus, the MSC World Europa will continue to depart every Friday from the Catalan capital until winter 2026, when it will be replaced by the company's new vessel, the MSC World Asia. This new cruise, which will begin sailing from Barcelona in December 2026, will offer itineraries of up to seven nights through the Western Mediterranean, with stops in Marseille, Genoa, Civitavecchia (Rome), Messina, and Valletta (Malta). The vessel will feature more than 30 bars, lounges, and dining areas.

On the other hand, the cruise company will also officially inaugurate its new cruise terminal at the Adossat Quay of the Port of Barcelona, which has involved an investment of fifty million euros. The terminal has been in operation since mid-February, where the first passengers of the MSC Fantasia disembarked, but it will be officially inaugurated on April 3. In total, this new space has an area of 12,500 square meters, has been designed by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura (RBTA) and will serve as a base for both MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys ships.

The new terminal should improve the experience even before boarding for Spanish and international passengers, as 50% of passengers embarking from Barcelona are international, mainly North American or British. In addition, this new terminal will also be environmentally sustainable when the first Onshore Power Supply (OPS) point is in operation, which allows electricity to be supplied to moored cruise ships, which will allow them to stop their engines and thus reduce the emissions they generate. This new system is expected to be ready by the end of 2026 or early 2027.