The cruise terminal located in the Palm Grove (‘El Palmeral’) of the Port of Malaga is already in use, since last July 13th Windstar Cruises’ luxurious ‘Windsurf’ berthed on this quay, being the third cruise-dedicated terminal in the Southern Spanish port.

Located in the heart of the historical city center
The Palm Grove is a beautiful new waterfront area, only for pedestrians, with awalk under a pergola running parallel to the basin, and different areas, such as sitting areas, kids’ leisure areas, and two bas-restaurants mixing tradition and modernity. Together with the Passenger Terminal, there are also an institutional facility and a sea-port educational center. The new façade ismost welcoming to cruise passengers, and all-day-long visited by citizens and tourists, so our visitors have the feeling to be in the city from the very moment they exit the terminal –and that is because they are indeed!. But of course the ship is separated from the public area, following the ISPS code.

The Palm Grove ends at the exit of the port into the historical city center; the cathedral can literally be reached in a 5 min walk. The features of this quay, -as we say, very close to the city center-, allow ships up to 200m long to enjoy this berth. Passengers shouldn’t be over 500, and in transit, for an optimal operation.

Next to the Palm Grove, and also belonging to the new waterfront, is ‘Muelle Uno’, a boutique, leisure and restaurant area, which might be reached in a 2 min walk.

Terminal features
The Terminal has an area of over 9,000 sq feet (860 sqm), and had an investment of 3,1 million euros. It has an access control on the ground floor, as well as a check-in area, waiting area and security control on the first floor, from which passengers board the ship.

Cruceros Malaga is the company running the new terminal, and also the one which already runs terminals A & B (prepared for transit & homeport operations for every kind of ship).

A specifically-built gangway has been acquired by Cruceros Malaga in order toconnect ship and terminal. It can be connected both to ship and quay, depending on ship’s features.

3rd terminal, a different target
The Port of Malaga has developed greatly in the last few years as for cruise facilities: Terminal B was inaugurated in 2008, Terminal A in 2011, and now Palm Grove Terminal in 2012. The Port of Malaga is very aware of the different kind of cruise ships and passengers in the market, and for this reason has decided to prepare this area separate from the two great cruise terminals.