30 Oct 2026
Cruise Ship Queen Anne Makes Maiden Call at the Port of Santander
The cruise ship Queen Anne, operated by Cunard, made its first call at the Port of Santander, bringing 3,350 passengers and 1,200 crew members. Passengers enjoyed tourist activities in Santander and Cantabria before the ship departed for Gijón. This visit marks a significant event for Santander Cruise Deluxe, which aims to position Santander as a premium cruise port in northern Spain.
Cruise Ship Queen Anne Makes Maiden Call at the Port of Santander
**The cruise ship** _**Queen Anne**_ **makes its maiden call at the Port of Santander**
The ship's 3,350 passengers and 1,200 crew members will depart at 6 PM for Gijón, after a day of tourist activities in Santander and Cantabria.
The Port Authority, the Government of Cantabria, and the Santander City Council, through the Santander Cruise Deluxe brand, presented the ship's captain with a commemorative plaque for this first call.
Santander, October 28, 2026. The cruise ship Queen Anne, from the Cunard shipping line, made its first call today at the Port of Santander. The vessel, consigned by Pérez y Cía., arrived early in the morning at the Maritime Station, located on the Almirante pier, with 3,350 passengers—mainly British nationals—and 1,200 crew members.
During their stay in the Cantabrian capital, numerous cruise passengers participated in excursions and tourist activities throughout different parts of the region. Others took advantage of the day to explore Santander and enjoy its gastronomic and cultural offerings.
The ship will remain docked in the city until 6 PM, when it will depart for Gijón, its next destination, after arriving from Bilbao.
To commemorate this maiden visit, representatives of Santander Cruise Deluxe—a brand jointly promoted by the Port Authority of Santander, the Government of Cantabria, and the Santander City Council to promote cruise tourism—presented a commemorative plaque to the ship's captain, Inger Thorhauge, and several books about Santander and Cantabria for the ship's library.
Upcoming Calls
Next Friday, November 6, the Port of Santander will welcome the cruise ship Ambition, from Ambassador Cruise Line. The last call scheduled for this year will be the Borealis, from Fred. Olsen, on December 11.
Up to September, cruise traffic at the Port of Santander has registered 32 calls, 13 more than in the same period of 2025, and 45,699 passengers, a 73% increase over the previous year.
These figures allow Santander Cruise Deluxe to anticipate a historic season for cruise tourism. The objective is to position Santander as a reference port for premium cruises in northern Spain, leveraging the great potential of this segment to contribute to the deseasonalization of tourist activity.
In addition to being part of associations such as CLIA and Cruise Europe and participating in specialized international fairs such as Seatrade Miami, Seatrade Europe, and International Cruise Summit, Santander Cruise Deluxe carries out various promotional activities throughout the year. These include familiarization trips for shipping companies, the design of new tourist experiences, digitalization campaigns, and the development of specific promotional materials for the cruise sector.
