PortCastelló Presents Cruise Strategy at Seatrade Las Palmas 2026

"A port is where the ship arrives. A destination is what happens next." This is how the president of the Port Authority, Rubén Ibáñez, began the immersive presentation of PortCastelló's campaign "Castellón, the stop that awakens the senses," which recreates and evokes the experience of the Castellón destination. The exhibition took place this morning within the framework of the most important cruise fair in the Mediterranean, Seatrade Cruise Med 2026, which is being held until today in Las Palmas.

Ibáñez presented today to representatives of important international cruise line companies and tour operators an innovative proposal to position Castellón as a leading 'boutique' port in the Mediterranean. "We are a great opportunity for shipping companies because we are an emerging destination, in full growth, a very diverse territory with endless possibilities," he assured.

Under the slogan "Castellón, the call of the Mediterranean that awakens your senses," PortCastelló wants to convey that the stop begins at the port, but the experience extends throughout the province. "The objective is to go from a standard excursion to a collection of experiences capable of generating an emotional bond with the destination," said Ibáñez, adding that "everything you can dream of exists in the Castellón destination."

The initiative represents a step forward in the port's strategy to consolidate Castellón as a cruise destination and present a differentiated offer, based on a territory that combines sea, culture, tradition, nature, heritage, gastronomy, identity, and ceramics, all within a short distance of the port. From the Mediterranean coast to historical towns and inland landscapes, cruise passengers can discover a diverse and compact province, far from the crowds of large tourist destinations, this being one of its main competitive advantages.

The head of PortCastelló highlighted that the central axis of the new proposal is the sensory experience: "we don't want to show you Castellón. We want you to feel it," which is why he introduced Susana Soria, manager of the PortCastelló Foundation, who invited attendees to "discover Castellón through the five senses."

Therefore, during the presentation, attendees were able to listen to the sound of the sea through a conch shell; breathe the aroma of orange blossom and Mediterranean nature; contemplate landscapes, towns, and heritage through postcards; touch ceramics and local crafts; or taste typical local products.

PortCastelló offers shipping companies a flexible and personalized proposal, adapted to their brand, itineraries, and passenger profiles.

Thus, the destination can offer luxury-related experiences, such as private visits to wineries, small groups, local gastronomy, and premium transport; wellness proposals, based on nature, the Mediterranean landscape, and the concept of "slow experience"; or cultural tours through places like Peñíscola, accompanied by heritage, gastronomy, and local guides.

The proposal also incorporates nature, craft, gastronomy, lifestyle, and special interest experiences, such as olive grove routes, family excursions, visits to natural areas, or experiences related to ceramics, and in this regard, Ibáñez highlighted that "one of the principles on which this new strategy is articulated is to build the right experience for each itinerary."

A position as an attractive alternative within Mediterranean routes. The PortCastelló initiative precisely highlights this combination of proximity and diversity: a port connected to the city and the province, but without the complexity and long distances associated with other larger destinations. The route proposed by the port is simple: port, city, province, and regional connections, with a wide range of experiences available to the passenger.

The new PortCastelló strategy presents the province as "one province, multiple worlds to discover." The Mediterranean Sea coexists with natural areas, mountains, historic towns, and gastronomy linked to local products. Ceramics, citrus fruits, olive oil, wine, and agricultural tradition are part of an identity that the port wants to convey to cruise passengers.

Among the proposals are destinations such as Peñíscola, Vilafamés, Onda, Benicàssim, Oropesa, and Burriana, as well as natural areas such as the Desert de les Palmes and the inland landscapes of the province.

The offer is completed with gastronomic, cultural, craft, nature, wellness, and lifestyle experiences, adaptable to different passenger profiles.

The initiative also starts from an already consolidated growth base. PortCastelló has more than 20 cruise calls confirmed for 2026 and 2027, with an estimated 21,000 passengers and crew during this period. "We have gone from zero calls in 2023 to more than twenty in the next two years, which shows that we are an emerging destination that is in full growth," said the head of PortCastelló during his speech.

Seatrade Cruise Med brings together more than 2,000 professionals from more than 90 countries, including representatives of ports, operators, and specialized companies, along with around 220 representatives of shipping companies, and will turn the port of Las Palmas during those days into one of the main global decision-making centers of the cruise industry.