In short
Gran Canaria is the Canaries' second big cruise port: about 4.5 hours' flight from the Netherlands and Belgium, then 25–30 minutes from the airport to the terminal in Las Palmas. The season runs from December to March, busiest in January, usually 7 nights around the islands. November and April bring some one-way sailings; summer has almost none.
Port at a glance
Gran Canaria
Spain · Canary Islands
- Where ships go
- Canary Islands and Madeira
- Usual length
- 6–9 nights
- Terminal
- Santa Catalina quay in Las Palmas; new terminal since 2025
- Getting there
- 4.5-hour flight; airport to port in 25–30 minutes
Good to know: cruises from Gran Canaria are almost all in winter — from May to October hardly any ships leave here, so plan for November to April.
Pick a month in the cruise finder →Why Gran Canaria
- Port, airport and beach close together. The airport is about half an hour from the terminal, and the terminal is about ten minutes' walk from Las Canteras, the city beach.
- A new terminal. In October 2025 a spacious new cruise terminal opened on the Santa Catalina quay, built to handle several ships at once.
- Winter warmth without jet lag. Winter days are around 21–22°C, and the clock is one hour behind the Netherlands.
- A real city. The old Vegueta quarter, markets, museums and promenades — Las Palmas is worth a visit in its own right, before or after the cruise.
Where cruises from Gran Canaria go
Schedules change every year, but the pattern is fairly stable. These are the main options:
| Route | Typical length | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canaries, Madeira and Morocco | 7 nights | December to March, busiest in January | The signature route: a round trip back to Las Palmas, often calling at Madeira or Agadir |
| Christmas and New Year | 7 nights | Late December | The same island routes, but the festive dates are the first to sell out |
| Across the Atlantic to the Caribbean | 1–2 weeks | November and December | A few one-way voyages as ships head to the Caribbean for the winter; you fly home |
| Spring one-way sailings | 3–14 nights | April | End of the season: ships leave the Canaries and the voyage ends in a different port |
Based on cruise line schedules for 2026–2027. From May to October there are almost no cruises from Gran Canaria. Ships, ports and dates change; always check the specific sailing.
Which season to choose
Season start and the way to the Caribbean
The first island cruises and a few one-way Atlantic crossings. Still summery, around 24°C by day.
Cruises in November →The holidays by the ocean
Week-long island cruises, including over Christmas and New Year, at around 22°C by day. Book the festive dates early.
Cruises in December →The heart of the season
January has the most departures of the year. Around 21°C by day, sea about 19°C. Las Palmas holds its carnival from 22 January to 28 February 2027, with many events around Santa Catalina park, next to the terminal.
Cruises in January →The last cruises of the season
Week-long island cruises still sail in March. In April the season ends, leaving one-way voyages as the ships move away from the Canaries for the summer.
Cruises in March →Getting to the terminal
Cruise ships in Las Palmas berth at the Santa Catalina quay in the Puerto de la Luz. A new cruise terminal opened here in October 2025: Santa Catalina park, the El Muelle shopping centre and the city bus station are a few minutes' walk away. Your boarding documents tell you which berth your ship uses.
- From the Netherlands and Belgium. Direct flights from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Brussels take about 4.5 hours. Fly in the day before: a morning flight on embarkation day is an unnecessary risk.
- From Gran Canaria airport. The airport is on the east coast, south of the city: about 25–30 minutes by taxi to the terminal. The Global bus (line 60) runs into Las Palmas and on to the Santa Catalina bus station next to the port.
- From the city. From the old Vegueta quarter and Triana it is about 15 minutes by taxi, and the yellow city buses run along the seafront.
- A cruise line transfer. Many cruise lines sell a transfer from the airport straight to the ship — handy if you land on embarkation day.
The night before: where to stay
Flying in on embarkation day turns every delay into stress. A night in Las Palmas means a relaxed walk to the terminal in the morning — and time for a sunset at Las Canteras the evening before.
Santa Catalina
The park, cafés, the bus station and a shopping centre. The terminal is a few minutes away on foot, or a short taxi ride with luggage.
Las Canteras beach
A long promenade with restaurants and calm water behind a natural reef. The terminal is 10–15 minutes' walk away.
Vegueta and Triana
The old town with its cathedral and colonial houses, next to the pedestrian street of Triana. The port is about 15 minutes away by taxi.
The south: Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés
Beaches and dunes, if you want a few days of rest before the cruise. The port is about 45–50 minutes away by car.
If you have half a day in Las Palmas
Everything below is close to the port, so it fits before boarding or after you disembark:
- Las Canteras beach. About three kilometres of sand with a promenade along its whole length; the La Barra reef breaks the waves, so swimming is calm. 10–15 minutes' walk from the terminal.
- Santa Catalina park. A square with palm trees and cafés right by the port, home to the Elder science museum in a former harbour building.
- Mercado del Puerto. An old covered market under an iron roof, now a place for tapas and fresh fish — a few minutes from Santa Catalina park.
- Vegueta. The city's oldest quarter, with Santa Ana Cathedral and the Casa de Colón, a museum about Columbus and his Atlantic voyages. About 15 minutes by taxi.
- Triana. A pedestrian shopping street next to Vegueta, lined with handsome early 20th-century façades.
The day you come back
Ships usually dock early in the morning, and guests leave in groups until around 9 or 10 a.m. The airport is about half an hour away by taxi, but avoid flights before midday: the taxi queue at the terminal and airport security take time too. If you fly in the evening, leave your bags at a luggage storage and spend your last hours at Las Canteras.
Practical tips
- A passport if the route calls in Morocco. The Canaries and Madeira are in the EU and Schengen; Agadir and Casablanca are not. Bring your passport and check the entry rules for your nationality — many cruise lines ask for a passport anyway.
- Family from outside the EU. Guests without a European passport should check whether they need a Schengen visa and how EES and ETIAS apply to them. Documents and visas →
- Language on board. In winter many ships around the Canaries belong to German and British cruise lines, where life on board is mainly in German or English. If that matters to you, check the specific sailing.
- Customs on the way home. The Canaries are part of the EU but outside its VAT area, so the allowances for cigarettes and alcohol are the same as when you return from outside the EU.
- A beach morning on boarding day. If boarding starts in the afternoon, you can spend the morning at Las Canteras: leave your cases at the hotel or a luggage storage.
- The island needs a full day. The Maspalomas dunes, the mountains in the centre and the harbour town of Puerto de Mogán are all full-day trips. Do them the day before the cruise, not on embarkation day.
Or board in Tenerife?
Most island cruises call at both Gran Canaria and Tenerife, so you can often join the same ship on either island. Tenerife usually has more sailings, but the airport with flights from the Netherlands is further from the port there. Cruises from Tenerife →
Common questions
Which cruises leave from Gran Canaria?
Mostly week-long Canary Islands cruises that return to Las Palmas, often with a call at Madeira or Morocco. They run from December to March. In November and December there are some Atlantic crossings to the Caribbean, and in April a few one-way sailings at the end of the season.
Where is the cruise terminal in Las Palmas?
On the Santa Catalina quay in the Puerto de la Luz. The new terminal opened in October 2025; Santa Catalina park is a few minutes' walk away and Las Canteras beach about ten. Your boarding documents show the exact berth.
How do I get from Gran Canaria airport to the port?
The quickest way is a taxi, about 25–30 minutes. Cheaper is the Global bus, line 60, which runs into Las Palmas and on to the Santa Catalina bus station next to the port. Many cruise lines also sell their own transfer.
Where should I stay the night before a cruise from Gran Canaria?
Santa Catalina and the Las Canteras promenade are closest — you can walk to the terminal. For atmosphere, choose the old Vegueta quarter and Triana, 15 minutes away by taxi. If you want some beach time first, stay in the south of the island, but the port is about 45–50 minutes from there.
Should I board in Gran Canaria or Tenerife?
Many island cruises call at both, and you can often board on either. On Gran Canaria the airport is closer to the port; Tenerife usually has more sailings to choose from. Compare the dates and the flights.
Are there cruises from Gran Canaria in summer?
Hardly any. The Canaries are a winter destination: from May to October ships move to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. January has the most sailings.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Gran Canaria that are available in the club work on the same terms as any other route. You choose one way to pay per booking: the member price (INsider Pricing), roughly 17% below the listed price, or your Reward Points, which can cover up to half of the cruise price. They do not add up. To pay up to 100% with points, you need to have accumulated enough points and book 270 days or more before departure.
Not every cruise line can be booked through the club: check the specific sailing in the club's search, or ask us and we will tell you which Gran Canaria dates are available in the month you have in mind.
How booking with points works →
Seasons and destinations are summarised from cruise line schedules for 2026–2027 and may change; check the current itinerary and terminal information before you travel. Percentages describe the club's rules and are indicative. Reislite is an independent information site run by partners, not a website of inCruises.