The Canary Islands have always been a popular destination for cruises, especially in the winter. This season, there are even more ships than usual cruising the Canaries. Because of safety issues in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, many cruise lines have decided to offer Canary Islands itineraries instead. As a result, the islands will host seven mainstream cruise lines with eight ships offering one-week itineraries, in addition to the ships visiting from other parts of Europe.
Perhaps you have been planning a cruise in this region for a long time but have not yet decided on a specific cruise line or a particular ship. In this article, we would like to give you an overview of which ships will be operating in the Canary Islands in the upcoming winter season.
As a native of the Canary Islands and a travel journalist, I have prepared some insider information for each island that many of the passengers on your cruise ship may be unaware of.
Do you have questions about an offer, the booking process, or are you looking for a cruise that suits you? Feel free to contact us via our inquiry form, email at anfrage@travel-dealz.de, or WhatsApp. We are happy to advise you personally.
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Canary Islands Cruises
This winter, cruise tourism has experienced an explosion of ships in the islands. There will be five different mainstream cruises for the German market, two for the British market, and two for the European market, in addition to luxury cruise lines and cruises departing from the European mainland to visit the Canary Islands and return. We have reviewed all the options so that you can make an informed decision about which cruise might be ideal for you to escape the European cold and enjoy the Canary Islands.
AIDA
The German market leader AIDA, part of the Carnival group, will be operating in the Canary Islands during the winter of 2025/2026 with the ships AIDAcosma, AIDAbella, and AIDAluna. This year, they have added a third cruise that was originally scheduled to be in the Arabian Emirates.
The AIDAcosma will primarily offer one-week cruises from November 2025 to March 2026. You can start or end your journey in either Gran Canaria or Tenerife. On the 7-night tours, the ship also calls at Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Madeira, and La Palma. At the end of the season, there will be a one-off repositioning cruise to the Mediterranean in March 2026, where you can disembark in either Barcelona (9 nights) or Palma de Mallorca (10 nights). The AIDAcosma is a sister ship to the Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana, so you can expect a similar experience.
f you prefer to travel on a smaller cruise, AIDA will have the two sister ships, AIDAbella and AIDAluna, from the Sphinx class, which are typically sent by the German cruise line to the islands every winter. With these cruises, you can depart from Fuerteventura or Tenerife for some sailings, but the majority of departures are from Gran Canaria. The itineraries vary, with some sailings visiting continental Africa and the standard itinerary visiting the Canary Islands and Madeira.
TUI Cruises
Mein Schiff is a joint venture between the German tour operator TUI and Royal Caribbean, positioned slightly more premium than AIDA. This winter, due to the situation in the Middle East, it is deploying its two most newest ships, the Mein Schiff 7 and the Mein Schiff Relax, in the Canary Islands. Like AIDA, Mein Schiff primarily operates in German, although the staff usually speaks English; however, you should keep in mind that it is an experience designed for the German market. One of the positive aspects of traveling with this cruise line is the all-inclusive package, which includes over a hundred brands of alcohol and tips included in the price.
The Mein Schiff 7 will be based in the port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria for the upcoming winter season. The program includes various cruises lasting from 7 to 14 nights. In addition to the Canary Islands, the ship will, depending on the route, either stop in Madeira or Agadir. It is possible to combine both routes.
Furthermore, you can also opt for a cruise on the newest fleet member, Mein Schiff Relax. Here, embarkation is possible not only in Gran Canaria but also in Tenerife. This ship offers one-week trips. In April 2026, there will be a one-off repositioning cruise lasting 9 nights from Tenerife to Mallorca.
MSC Cruises
If you prefer a less German atmosphere during your cruise vacation, both MSC and Costa Cruises will be operating in the islands. In the case of MSC, it will operate with the MSC Musica, one of the smaller ships in the fleet, but ideal for a relaxing vacation.
To ensure maximum flexibility for arrival and departure, MSC allows embarkation in Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife. The trips last for one week, and the ship calls at destinations including Madeira and Fuerteventura. Departures are available until April 2026.
Costa Cruises
Additionally, the Italian cruise line Costa will also be present in the Canary Islands this winter with the Costa Fortuna. If you are nostalgic for the old Costa Cruises, this is one of your last opportunities to travel on this classic ship, as it will be sold to Margaritaville at Sea in 2026 to offer cruises in the Bahamas.
The Costa Fortuna will offer one-week cruises with embarkation in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria or Santa Cruz de Tenerife from December 2025 to April 2026. You can also book the positioning cruises from Europe to the Canaries in December, returning in April.
Additionally, due to the cancellation of Emirates cruises for the Costa Toscana, there will be a trip in November from Europe to the Canary Islands with Costa’s flagship.
P&O Cruises
If you don’t want to be listening to German during your vacation or feel like you’re in the European Parliament in Brussels hearing announcements in five languages, you have two British options for visiting the islands, departing from the Canary Islands.
On one hand, you have the P&O Azura with one-week itineraries from Tenerife. Although it is a ship from 2010, it will be refurbished in April 2026. On the other hand, Marella (TUI UK) will have one of its cruises with weekly departures in the Canary Islands.
Luxury Cruise Lines
For those seeking a more intimate cruising experience without the large crowds and with a more flexible budget, there are two alternatives to consider:
MS La Belle des Océans: This ship, operated by CroisiEurope, has a maximum capacity of 130 passengers and operates open jaw itineraries starting or ending in Lanzarote or Tenerife.
Windstar: The American luxury cruise line Windstar is launching 10 night itineraries this season for the first time departing from Tenerife with stops in La Gomera, La Palma, Madeira (with an overnight stay), Lanzarote, and Gran Canaria.
Cruises to the Canary Islands from Europe
If health issues or fears prevent you from traveling by plane but you want to visit the Canary Islands without spending almost two days on a passenger ferry, there are options available for the winter season.
From Barcelona: The Celebrity Infinity will have 10-11 day routes to the Canary Islands and Morocco during the months of December and January.
From the United Kingdom: P&O Cruises will offer several cruises on this route from Southampton this winter. We recommend doing it with Iona, as it is the newest ship. If you are looking for a premium experience, Cunard will have several trips this winter with the brand new Queen Anne and Queen Victoria. Although it is not the cheapest cruise of the season, this sailing of the Queen Victoria coincides with Carnival week.
Tips for the Ports in the Canary Islands
As a local of the Canary Islands, I would like to provide some information that I hope will help you during your cruise in the Canary Islands. You will need to choose whether your cruise departs from Santa Cruz de Tenerife or Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. If you purchase your cruise with flights, you don’t need to worry, but if you’re traveling independently, you should be aware that Tenerife has two airports (North and South), and only the South has direct flights outside of Spain. You can fly into Tenerife North, but you will typically need to connect through Madrid or Barcelona.
If it is up to you where your cruise starts, either of the two islands is a good starting point for your cruise. However, my personal recommendation, whether you decide to take just the cruise or stay longer, is to start from Gran Canaria. That said, if the combination of flight prices plus the cruise is more economical from Tenerife, it is also a good option.
How to Get to The Canary Islands
Unless you are coming to the islands on a passenger ferry from Huelva or a repositioning cruise, you will take to take a plane to get to your cruise. Fortunely the Canary Islands has an outstanding connectivity and you can find all sort of options from the cheapest low cost flight with extras to fly on business class on a lie flat seat with Finnair or EDELWEISS with their Airbus A350.
Low Cost Carriers
The Canary Islands welcome more than fifteen million tourists, and most fly on low-cost airlines. Practically every regional airport, even the smallest in Europe, offers flights to the Canary Islands in winter. Keep in mind which airline you choose based on how convenient it is for you, and if you have several airlines with the same price, compare the cost of extras (seats, checked baggage) to make your decision.
Flag Carriers
Slowly but surely, flag carriers are starting to have more connections with the islands. The Lufthansa Group offers the most options, both via Zurich with EDELWEISS and with Lufthansa or Discover Airlines in Germany, as well as Brussels Airlines or Austrian Airlines. In Northern Europe, you can fly with SAS or Finnair to the Canary Islands on the Airbus A350, with plenty of connections, while Aer Lingus and British Airways also offer flights to the islands. The downside is that all international flights arrive at Tenerife South.
The other option is to fly via mainland Spain, particularly if your cruise departs from Tenerife, because most flights from mainland Spain arrive at Tenerife North. In this case, the best choice would be Iberia due to its number of connections and hand luggage policy. If you have status with SkyTeam, Air Europa is another option to consider, which allows a free bag for SkyTeam Elite holders. My personal recommendation is to avoid Vueling, unless the price of extras and connections works in your favor.
How to get from the airport to the port
If you fly to Gran Canaria: If you want to go directly to Las Palmas, you will need to take the local bus (guagua) 60 to Santa Catalina for €2.95, and it will drop you off near the cruise terminal. A taxi will cost between €30 and €40; if you go directly to the cruise, ask the driver to leave you at “centro comercial el muelle,” which is next to the cruise terminal, and you won’t have to pay the extra fee.
If you fly to Tenerife: Fom Tenerife South, you will need to take bus 111 for around €10 or pay €80 to €100 for a taxi for a 45 minute ride to get to Santa Cruz. If you choose to fly to Tenerife Norte, the taxi ride will take 10 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic, and it will cost around €30. Alternatively, you can take bus line 20 to the capital for €2.65.
Public transport in the Canaries is not designed for tourists, and although it is technically possible to do sightseeing this way, I personally do not recommend it. A good hack is to reserve a rental car at the airport with return at the port. In January, you can book a car with Cicar for three days from Tenerife South to the port of Santa Cruz for €100. This might be the first time you hear about this rental agency, but it is a staple in the Canary Islands. For €25 to €40 a day, you can rent a car with a second driver included, no credit card needed for the reservation, zero deductible, and even pay with cash.
Cicar is the largest car rental company in the islands, but you can also check TopCar, AutoReisen, or Plus Car, although the latter is a budget option. At the cruise terminals of all the islands, you can rent cars for €80, which, while not the cheapest price, will be less than a taxi. The current price of 95-octane gasoline in Tenerife is €1.10 per liter.
Both ports have accommodation options for all budgets, although if you plan to stay one night in Tenerife before your cruise, I recommend staying in La Laguna instead of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
What to Do During Your Cruise Stop
Tenerife: If you don’t want to complicate things, you can visit La Laguna by taking the tram (45 minutes, €1.35), which is a UNESCO World Heritage site where you can enjoy its historic center and gastronomy. If the weather is nice, you can go to Playa de Las Teresitas, which is just a few kilometers away.
Personally, I would take advantage of the layover time and rent a car. If you’re traveling with kids, you should head to the South to Siam Park, one of the best water parks in Europe, and eat in Tajao, a fishing village very close to Tenerife South airport. Another option is to visit the north of the island, reaching Garachico and the area known as “isla baja.” Along the way, you can try a “guachinche,” which are restaurants that only sell their own harvested wine and homemade food.
Gran Canaria: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has plenty to offer for your day stop. You can visit the historic old town in Vegueta or enjoy Playa de Las Canteras. That said, if you feel up for it, I would rent a car to visit the village of Teror, the Cruz de Tejeda, the village of Artenara, and the dunes of Maspalomas.
Fuerteventura: Locals refer to the island’s capital as “Muerto del Rosario” (Dead of the Rosary) due to the limited activities. If you don’t want to rent a car, the excursion I would recommend is to the north of the island to Corralejo on line 6. To visit the dunes, you will need to get off at “los hoteles” (the hotels). The bus runs every half hour during the week.
Lanzarote: If you don’t want to go too far, you can stay in Arrecife and visit Charco de San Ginés, Castillo de San José, and, if the weather is good, take a swim in the urban Playa del Reducto. Like in the other islands, I recommend renting a car to make the most of the day and visit some works by the local artist César Manrique, such as the Cueva de los Verdes, the Jardín de Cactus, or the Jameos del Agua. If you want to eat, search for “teleclub” on Google Maps; these places used to be social clubs 50 years ago where people went to watch television, but nowadays they are run by locals with very affordable prices and typically good quality.
La Palma: If you don’t want to rent a car, you can visit the historic center of Santa Cruz de La Palma. If you want to go hiking, you have the Cubo de la Galga, which is less than half an hour away by bus from the capital. After the hike, you can eat at Casa Asterio, which is right in front of the bus stop to return to Santa Cruz de La Palma. If you rent a car and the weather is nice, I recommend driving up to Roque de los Muchachos and returning through Garafía to explore the northwest region. If you don’t have much time on your stop, you can return to Santa Cruz.
La Gomera: This stop is not typically on most cruise itineraries. If you are in Tenerife, you can book an excursion for €100, which includes the bus, ferry to La Gomera, and a tour. The roads in La Gomera are narrower than on other islands, so it may not be very comfortable to visit by car; you can always book an excursion.
On all the islands, you will find taxi drivers offering routes, which can be a more comfortable option but more expensive; however, if you have a group of 6 to 8 people, this is ideal. To get an idea of local prices in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the flag fall during the week is €3, the kilometer costs €0.85, and the hourly waiting rate is €17. Therefore, if you research the route before negotiating, you’ll know whether you’re being offered a good or bad price.
One last recommendation is for shopping. Although the Canaries are no longer a free port, there are still items where prices will be better than in Europe. Perfumes are usually cheaper, so check their prices before purchasing, and you might find a good deal. Photography equipment in stores run by the Hindu community often has better prices; I recommend checking the websites of Orly or Duke Fotografia to compare prices with those in your area. Everything you purchase will have a 3-year warranty in Spain. Lastly, my recommendation is to buy local wines if you are checking in luggage, or local rum (Ron Aldea 8 Barricas for around €18) if you are shopping at the Duty Free store at the airport.
Conclusion
If you’ve been dreaming of a Canary Islands cruise, this winter is a truly great opportunity. A shift in global itineraries has turned the region into a buzzing hub for ships, which means more choice in styles and experiences than we’ve ever seen. Whether you’re looking for the high energy of a mega-ship or the quiet elegance of a smaller luxury vessel, a perfect sunny escape is waiting for you.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to leave them in the comments, and I will try to answer as soon as possible.
Comment (1)
Also, a good idea is a flight with LOT Polish Airlines via its hub in Warsaw(WAW). If you have even the lowest Miles&More status (FTL Frequent Traveler) you get free standard seat and free first checked bag in Economy Saver tariff.