The President of the Port Authority, Carlos Rubio and the Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, presented today at FITUR what will be one of the milestones related to cruise tourism in the capital during 2023: the luxury shipping company Scenic will celebrate the christening of its new ship, the 'Scenic Eclipse II', next June.
The president of the Port Authority, Carlos Rubio, emphasised that "the commitment of this cruise line is important for our port and destination because luxury cruise tourism is a strategic activity. We would like to prioritise this segment of higher purchasing power which, in addition, has less overcrowding in the city although it has a positive economic impact on it".
For his part, the Mayor of Malaga, Francisco de la Torre, said that "tourism and the activity of 'premium' cruise ships, which comes from the hand of ships like the Scenic in the city, is good for Malaga". And he added that "Malaga is open from its maritime station, in the heart of the city, to receive these initiatives that contribute to strengthening our commitment and positioning in cruise tourism, a segment that helps to increase tourist spending and enhances the quality and excellence of the destination".
Christening in the Port of Malaga
The Scenic Eclipse II joined the Scenic Luxury & Tours fleet in April 2022 and, after a series of exploratory voyages to Mediterranean destinations, including Malaga, will celebrate its christening on 3 June at the port facility.
The event will also have a godmother worthy of what it means to sail on a ship like this. It is NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan who, according to the company, embodies the values of "self-improvement, passion for adventure and curiosity to discover the world around us", having had a successful career in research and exploration.
The christening will be celebrated by the passengers on board, as well as 80 other VIP guests and international media who will travel to the capital of Malaga to witness this event and get to know first-hand the possibilities of the destination, which is a very interesting positioning opportunity.
The ship, which is 168 metres long and has a maximum capacity of 228 passengers, is expected to call at the Palmeral Terminal. This ship has 2 helicopters on board and a submarine for tailor-made excursions.
Currently, the shipping company is working together with the port and the destination to offer a unique experience to these exclusive passengers, organising activities committed to sustainability, which is a very important pillar for the company. In this sense, it has fundamental objectives such as protecting the places they visit, collaborating with their communities and leaving the smallest possible footprint.
Scenic considers Malaga to be "an ideal port with very good facilities for both passengers and crew. With its walking distance to the city, it is the perfect place for our guests to experience the vibrant atmosphere of the old town and open-air restaurants. We believe Malaga is an important port for an ultra-luxury Mediterranean cruise and that it attracts a global audience with passengers from the UK, USA, Canada and Australia".
About Scenic Luxury & Tours
Scenic is a shipping company that comes from the inland waterway sector, with more than 30 years of history in this field. In 2022, it entered ocean expedition shipping with its first vessel, Scenic Eclipse, christened in New York. And in 2023, the Scenic Eclipse II, which will soon be christened in Malaga, will be launched.
The Australian company stands out for its continuous innovation in terms of the size of its ships, technology and safety.
