On Tuesday, the Port of Motril welcomed its first mystery cruise, a type of voyage in which passengers discover the destinations and ports of call on their itinerary as the trip unfolds. Leading the way was Star Legend, one of US operator Windstar Cruises’ exclusive luxury ships. The call marked Windstar’s return to the port in Granada province after 18 years. The cruise line last called at Motril in 2008. Passengers received a special welcome as soon as they stepped ashore, with a tasting of locally made chocolates accompanied by Spanish guitar music. Windstar’s Product Manager, Rocky Trautwein, joined the quayside reception.
The reception brought together representatives from across Granada province, led by the Motril Port Authority, the Regional Government of Andalusia, the Granada Provincial Council, the Association of Costa Tropical Municipalities, the Alhambra Board of Trustees, the Archdiocese and Motril Town Council.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to using cruise calls as an opportunity to promote tourism and support the economy of the Costa Tropical and Granada province,” said Port Authority President José García Fuentes, who added, “With its first mystery cruise call, the Port of Motril adds a distinctive experience to its cruise offering and strengthens its position as a destination that can offer something different to high-spending travellers”.
Star Legend is a luxury cruise ship, with fares of more than €445 per day. Its passengers, mainly from the United States and the United Kingdom, enjoy an experience that combines exclusivity and personalised service with access to smaller destinations and ports.
During his first official visit to the Port of Motril, José Manuel López Suárez, the Regional Government of Andalusia’s delegate for tourism in Granada, stressed the importance of public authorities working together “to promote high-quality, sustainable tourism that generates wealth for the local area”. He highlighted how cruise calls in the quieter months help spread tourism throughout the year and support the local and provincial economies when visitor numbers are lower.
Mónica Castillo de la Rica, First Vice-President of the Granada Provincial Council and councillor responsible for tourism, said, “A company like Windstar fits particularly well with the kind of tourism we want to develop. We focus on quality, personalised experiences and making the most of our heritage, so we can offer visitors something different at each port of call.”
Rafael Caballero, President of the Association of Costa Tropical Municipalities, said, “Every cruise ship that arrives in Motril gives hundreds of visitors the chance to discover what our region has to offer, explore our towns and enjoy their heritage, food and shops. That generates business that directly benefits local businesses and workers. We also hope that people who come here for a few hours will want to return for a longer stay”, extending those benefits over time.
Susana Peña, Motril Town Council’s councillor for trade, highlighted the port’s efforts to win back the confidence of cruise lines and bring back ships that had last called there nearly two decades ago. She welcomed the return of this service and said she hoped passengers and crew would enjoy Motril’s attractions, shops, food and heritage, helping raise the town’s profile as a tourist destination.
The itinerary includes Barcelona, Mahón, Castellón, Cartagena, Gibraltar, Motril, Puerto Banús and Málaga. The ship arrived from Gibraltar and its next port of call will be Puerto Banús.
