Where Canary Islands cruises call
- Tenerife (Santa Cruz): the gateway to Mount Teide National Park.
- Gran Canaria (Las Palmas): a lively city with a long urban beach.
- Lanzarote (Arrecife): volcanic scenery, including Timanfaya National Park.
- La Palma and Fuerteventura: quieter islands on some itineraries.
- Madeira (Funchal, Portugal): often paired with the Canaries, known for its gardens and its New Year’s Eve fireworks.
- Longer itineraries may also call at Lisbon, Cádiz (for Seville) or ports in Morocco.
When to cruise the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands have a mild climate all year, which makes them one of the most popular winter-sun cruise regions for UK and European travellers, roughly from autumn to spring. Many ships move to the Canaries for the northern winter, when the Mediterranean is cooler and quieter.
No-fly or fly-cruise?
From the UK: round trips from Southampton and other UK ports usually take around two weeks, including several sea days crossing the Bay of Biscay, which can be rough in winter.
Fly-cruise: some ships sail round trips from Tenerife or Gran Canaria in winter, so you can fly out and spend almost every day in port. US travellers usually combine a Canaries cruise with a European trip or a transatlantic crossing.
Tips for a Canary Islands cruise
- Pack layers: it’s warm by day, but evenings at sea and the Bay of Biscay can be cool.
- Book popular trips such as Mount Teide early, as they can sell out.
- The Canary Islands are part of Spain and the Schengen area, so check current entry rules.
Last updated: 13 October 2026
