In short
Tenerife is the Canaries' main winter cruise port, about 4.5 hours' flight from the Netherlands and Belgium. Ships leave from Santa Cruz, right by the centre, but almost all flights land in the south of the island, about an hour away. The season runs from December to March, usually 7-night island cruises; summer sailings are rare.
Port at a glance
Tenerife
Spain · Canary Islands
- Where ships go
- Canary Islands and Madeira
- Usual length
- 6–9 nights
- Terminal
- Ribera quay by Plaza de España; big ships at Muelle Sur
- Getting there
- 4.5-hour flight; south airport about an hour from port
Good to know: Tenerife has two airports — the north one is 20 minutes from the port, the south one an hour — and almost all flights from the Netherlands and Belgium go to the south.
Pick a month in the cruise finder →Tenerife or Barcelona in winter? →Why Tenerife
- Sunshine when you need it most. Winter days are around 20–22°C, and the clock is just one hour behind the Netherlands — no jet lag.
- A port in the middle of town. The cruise terminal on the Ribera quay faces Plaza de España: cafés, the market and the tram are all within walking distance.
- Several islands in a week. Seven nights usually take in Gran Canaria, La Palma, Lanzarote or Fuerteventura, often with Madeira or Agadir too, before returning to Tenerife.
- An island worth arriving early for. Mount Teide, historic La Laguna, the beaches of the south — a day or two before the cruise is never wasted here.
Where cruises from Tenerife 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 from January to March | The signature route: a round trip back to Tenerife, 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 |
| Atlantic crossings | 10–14 nights | November | A few one-way voyages to South America; you fly home |
| To the Mediterranean | 3–9 nights | April | Ships head to the Mediterranean for the summer: one-way, ending in a different port |
Based on cruise line schedules for 2026–2027. From May to October there are almost no cruises from Tenerife. Ships, ports and dates change; always check the specific sailing.
Which season to choose
Season start and the ocean
The first island cruises and a few one-way Atlantic crossings. Still summery, around 23°C by day.
Cruises in November →The holidays by the ocean
Week-long island cruises, including over Christmas and New Year. Around 21°C — Christmas in a T-shirt. Book the festive dates early.
Cruises in December →The heart of the season
Plenty of sailings and the coolest weather of the year — around 20°C by day, sea about 19°C. Santa Cruz holds its street carnival from 19 to 28 February 2027, so city hotels fill up early.
Cruises in January →Spring and one-way voyages
March has the most departures from Tenerife of the whole year, with the islands in bloom. In April the season ends: ships leave for the Mediterranean, and most sailings are one-way.
Cruises in March →Getting to the terminal
The port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife stretches along the whole city. Many ships berth at the Ribera quay (Muelle de Ribera), home to the cruise terminal since 2016: it faces Plaza de España, a few minutes' walk from the centre. The largest ships often use the long Muelle Sur, where a port shuttle usually takes you to the exit into town. Your boarding documents tell you where your ship is.
- From the Netherlands and Belgium. Direct flights from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Brussels take about 4.5 hours, almost all to Tenerife South (TFS). Fly in the day before: a morning flight on embarkation day is an unnecessary risk.
- From Tenerife South (TFS). Santa Cruz is about 60 km away by motorway: roughly 45–60 minutes by taxi, or about an hour on the TITSA bus (line 111) to the bus station, then around 15 minutes on foot or a short taxi ride to the port.
- From Tenerife North (TFN). Only about 20 minutes by taxi from the port, and bus 20 runs to the Santa Cruz bus station. Flights here are mainly from within Spain — Madrid, for example — so a connection can sometimes be the handier option.
- A cruise line transfer. Many cruise lines sell a transfer from the airport straight to the ship — the easiest choice if you land on embarkation day.
The night before: where to stay
Almost all flights land in the south of the island, while the ship leaves from the north-east. A night on Tenerife takes the stress out: a relaxed ride to the port in the morning, and an evening to look around.
Central Santa Cruz
Plaza de España, the pedestrian Calle del Castillo, cafés and the seafront. The Ribera terminal is a walk or a 5-minute taxi ride away.
La Laguna
The island's old capital, with colourful colonial houses and UNESCO World Heritage status. Santa Cruz is 15–20 minutes by taxi or about 40 minutes by tram; Tenerife North airport is close by.
The south: Costa Adeje and Los Cristianos
Beaches, sunshine and the south airport nearby — handy if you want a few days by the sea before the cruise. The port is about an hour away, though.
Puerto de la Cruz
An old resort with gardens and ocean pools, greener and quieter than the south. The port is about 40 minutes away by car.
If you have half a day in Santa Cruz
Everything below is close to the port, so it fits before boarding or after you disembark:
- Plaza de España and Calle del Castillo. The square with its large pool sits right opposite the terminal, and the pedestrian shopping street leads off it into town.
- Mercado de Nuestra Señora de África. A covered market with fruit, cheeses and fish, 10–15 minutes' walk from Plaza de España. Best in the morning.
- Auditorio de Tenerife. Santiago Calatrava's white concert hall, shaped like a breaking wave — 15–20 minutes' walk along the seafront.
- Playa de Las Teresitas. Golden sand brought over from the Sahara, with the Anaga mountains behind — about 20 minutes on bus 910 or by taxi.
- La Laguna. A UNESCO-listed historic centre, about 40 minutes by tram. Short on time? Take a taxi.
The day you come back
Ships usually dock early in the morning, and guests leave in groups until around 9 or 10 a.m. If you fly from the south of the island, allow about an hour for the journey and avoid flights before 1 or 2 p.m.: the taxi queue at the terminal and airport security take time too. A nice alternative is to stay a couple more days by the sea in the south and fly home from there.
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.
- Sun and wind. The sun is strong even in January, and the trade winds blow across the deck: sunscreen, a hat and a light jacket for the evening.
- Teide takes a full day. The national park is more than an hour from Santa Cruz each way, and at the top it can be close to freezing. A great trip the day before the cruise, not on embarkation day.
Or board in Gran Canaria?
Most island cruises call at both Tenerife and Gran Canaria, so you can often join the same ship on either island. On Gran Canaria the airport is closer to the port — compare the flights. Cruises from Gran Canaria →
Common questions
Which cruises leave from Tenerife?
Mostly week-long Canary Islands cruises that return to Tenerife, often with a call at Madeira or Morocco. They run from December to March. In November and April there are some one-way voyages, across the Atlantic or to the Mediterranean.
Where does my ship leave from in Tenerife?
From the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Many ships berth at the Ribera quay, opposite Plaza de España, and the largest at the more distant Muelle Sur, where a port shuttle usually runs. Your boarding documents show the exact berth.
Which Tenerife airport should I fly to?
From the Netherlands and Belgium almost all direct flights land at Tenerife South: the port is about 60 km away, roughly 45–60 minutes by taxi or about an hour by bus. Tenerife North is only 20 minutes from the port, but flights there are mainly from within Spain, for example from Madrid.
Where should I stay the night before a cruise from Tenerife?
Central Santa Cruz around Plaza de España is closest — you can walk to the terminal. For atmosphere, choose historic La Laguna, 15–20 minutes away by taxi. If you want some beach time first, stay in the south of the island, but the port is about an hour from there.
Are there cruises from Tenerife in summer?
Hardly any. The Canaries are a winter destination: from May to October ships move to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Most sailings leave between January and March.
Do I need a passport for a Canary Islands cruise?
For the Canaries and Madeira an ID card is enough for EU citizens, but if the route calls in Morocco you need a passport, and many cruise lines ask for one anyway. If you do not hold a European passport, check the entry rules for every country on the route in good time.
How the club fits in
Cruises from Tenerife 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 Tenerife 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.