The Port of Malaga is one of the most important cruise ports in Spain, with over half a million passengers every year. Interestingly, there is a significant increase in luxury and premium ships every year.
Malaga is both a port of departure and an important port of call for Mediterranean and even transatlantic cruises.
- No refuelling fee
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High season for cruises in Malaga
There are actually two peak cruise seasons in Malaga. The first is in spring, from March to June. And the second is in autumn, from September to November.
2026/2027 Autumn-Winter Season
For the 2026/2027 cruise season, more than 50 cruises – either departing from or calling at the Port of Málaga – are scheduled by cruise lines such as Costa Cruises, MSC Cruises, Azamara, and Explora Journeys. In fact, the figures for October are approaching the record set in October 2018.
Featured cruises
Notable port calls include the arrival of the Orient Express Corinthian on October 9. The Orient Express Corinthian is the world’s largest luxury sailing yacht. It measures 220 metres in length and features 54 ultra-luxury suites accommodating up to 110 guests.
On October 25, the Celebrity Xcel will arrive in Malaga for the first time. The vessel is making a transatlantic crossing and boasts, among other features, an extraordinary exterior elevator.
The majority of the October port calls are by Viking Cruises, involving five visits and four different ships. Costa Cruises is making three calls with the Costa Diadema, as is the Emerald Sakara, a 110-metre-long cruise yacht.
The adults-only Marella Explorer 2 will arrive in Malaga on October 29, 2026. This marks Marella’s first return to Tunisia in 10 years. It is part of the “Mediterranean Moments” itinerary, featuring stops in Malta, Alicante, and Almería.
The Marella Discovery 2, also an adults-only vessel, will depart from the port of Malaga on November 13, 2026, bound for Las Palmas. The “Treasures of the Atlantic” itinerary will include stops in Tangier, Lisbon, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Tenerife.
Major Shipping Lines and Ships
- Costa Cruises: Will operate the Costa Diadema and Costa Fascinosa, offering autumn and winter itineraries across the Western Mediterranean, Gibraltar and Morocco.
- MSC Cruises: Has scheduled departures for the MSC Virtuosa in November 2026 and voyages for the MSC Sinfonia planned from April 2027 onwards.
- Luxury and Expedition Lines: Companies such as Azamara (Journey, Quest, Onward), Ponant (Le Bougainville), and Explora Journeys (Explora II) will make selected port calls and operate departures of varying durations.
Cruise ship “sighting”
Each season, we see impressive ships docked here – some visiting for the first time and others returning regularly.
For instance, in March 2022, the world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, made its first European port call during its maiden transatlantic voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
This impressive vessel from Royal Caribbean measures 362 metres in length and 66 metres in beam.
In Malaga, there are several scenic spots where you can take a souvenir photo with one of these impressive ships in the background.
- For example, from the Gibralfaro, the Palmeral de las Sorpresas, the Farola Lighttower. Or the popular La Malagueta beach.
Luxury and premium cruises
A new trend is also emerging. In addition to large tourist cruise ships, more and more premium cruise ships, with a capacity of fewer than 1,000 passengers, are docking.
As previously mentioned, a highlight of this autumn season is the arrival of the Orient Express Corinthian on October 9. The Orient Express Corinthian – the world’s largest sailing ship – embarked on its maiden voyages in May 2026. It measures 220 metres in length, accommodates just 110 guests, and features a design that brings the iconic elegance of the historic Orient Express to the water.
Voyages aboard the Orient Express Corinthian fall into the ultra-luxury category. Starting prices for a one-week cruise typically range from €15,000 to €20,000 per person. Or from approximately €11,000 to over €70,000 per suite, depending on the season.
You can see this beautiful cruise ship from the inside in this video.
Cruises from Malaga
Malaga´s port is the departure point for numerous cruises to destinations such as: The Canary Islands, Spain, Italy, France, Morocco, Portugal, Gibraltar, England, Puerto Rico, Amsterdam, to name but a few.
The Port of Malaga
The Port of Malaga closed 2025 with its best year for cruises in the last fifteen years. There was a 21% increase in cruise passenger arrivals, exceeding 570,000, 40% of which were on luxury ships.
The port of Malaga has good connections with other cities thanks to the airport and the high-speed train.
- Malaga and its port are well connected by road, rail and air. The train station Maria Zambrano (with AVE, suburban train and metro) is 2 km away. The international airport Malaga-Costa del Sol is only 12 km away.
- The AVE high-speed train links Malaga with Cordoba, Seville, Madrid and Barcelona, among other major cities. In addition, Malaga-Costa del Sol International Airport offers a very high number of regular flights both nationally and internationally.
East dock
All the large cruise ships arriving in Malaga dock at this dock. The cruise terminal is also located here.
The special charm of cruises in Malaga is the enormous proximity of the port to the historic city centre, full of monuments, museums, beautiful squares and full of life, cafes and bars.
The distance from the East dock is just over 2 km. Cruise passengers are normally taken on a courtesy bus, but you might fancy a little independence and enjoy a scenic walk into the centre, past the iconic Lightower Farola de Malaga. You can even hire a bike.
Palmgrove of Surprises and Pier One
The port of Malaga was completely renovated ten years ago and turned from an ugly dockland into a beautiful marina, now known as Muelle Uno (Pier One).
The area is full of shops, bars and restaurants and throughout the year there are a number of activities, such as street markets and live music among others.
Next to Pier One is situated is the Palmeral de las Sorpresas (Palmgrove of Surprises), a beautiful open space for strolling next to the centre and the park, a bustling place at all hours. It is also home to the Alboran Sea Museum and the Pompidou Museum.
Palmeral de Sorpresas is also a berthing area for exclusive ships, just a few metres from the historic centre of Malaga.
This makes it one of the most attractive berths in the entire Mediterranean. The terminal is operated by Cruceros Málaga.
Livecam at the Port of Malaga
It’s worth checking out this live webcam located at Muelle Uno (Pier One).
Besides the megayachts, the webcam not only offers views of the famous Pompidou Centre, the Alcazaba and Malaga Cathedral. But also beautifully captures the clear, sunny atmosphere of Malaga’s beautiful bay, almost always bathed in sunshine under a clear blue sky.
What to see in Malaga in one day
We’re not going to fool you, if you can only spend one day in Malaga, you don’t know how many great things you’re going to miss. If you come to Malaga by cruise ship, we help you to make the most of your stay in our beautiful city.
- In this article we have prepared some nice suggestions for you to visit Malaga in one day. Without rush.
Rent a car in Malaga
Hiring a car in Malaga is a very convenient option for visitors on cruises to Malaga who have more time to explore our beautiful province. Take a look at our comprehensive Costa del Sol Guide with lots of ideas!
Don’t want to hire a car? No problem, you can also hire a private transfer with us, we will take you wherever and whenever you want.
Tourist Boat Malaga
Maybe you’re not going on a cruise this time, but would you like to go on board and take a trip around the bay of Malaga? No problem! There are several companies that offer sightseeing tours with panoramic views to discover the city from the sea.
Another option is to book a catamaran tour and go further out to sea to see dolphins, celebrate a birthday or watch the sunset. And there’s even a sunset ride with DJ, what a great idea! The prices are very affordable, it might be a good idea to surprise someone.
We went for sunset with Dj and we can 100% recommend this experience.
You can also book an excursion with swimming, evening parties, stargazing with guitar accompaniment or watch the fireworks in Malaga at this link.
And finally, if your pocket allows it, you can rent a catamaran for you and your friends for an unforgettable day out.
A once in a lifetime experience: Solar eclipse in Malaga!
Best Kids attractions in Malaga and on the Costa del Sol
Billiards, Darts, Bowling, Karaoke & Football on the Costa del Sol
