PortCastelló, new cruise ship destination

The Port of Castellón has been working for many years on a number of areas in order that Castellón should be included in the circuit of destinations employed by Mediterranean cruise ships, since it is ideally situated, has an excellent climate and is an increasingly attractive tourist resort. The incorporation into the MedCruise Association and the participation in travel fairs and international conventions has successfully attracted the first ships to visit Castellón, but our long term objective is that Castellón realises its full potencial and in the future is included in cruise ship itineraries on a stable and regular basis.

• PortCastelló is a member of the Ports Association of the Mediterranean, MedCruise, and as a result of the Port’s participation in various International conferences (one of which coincided with the Seatrade Med fair in Venice)  Fred Olsen Cruises decided to make scheduled stops in Castellón in 2010.
• Amongst other fairs and conferences connected with cruise shipping, the Port has participated in the  Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention of Miami since 2007, where contacts have been established between, ship owners, shipping agents and vessels that might consider making stops in Castellón in the near future.
• In 2007 two cruise ships berthed for the first time at the Port of Castellón, they were the Jules Verne and the prestigious Hebridean Spirit from Hebridean International Cruises, whose passengers made a visit to the Castle of Peñiscola, the Papal Seat during the XIV and XV centuries, the times of Benedicto XIII, also known as ‘Papa Luna’
• Amongst the exploratory visits made to evaluate the potencial of Castellón as a cruise destination it is worth mentioning the very favourable impression made on the directors of Princess Cruises, who were surprised by the potential of the region in this regard.

Tourist Attractions

• A wide range of leisure activities available within the port itself.

  The port of Castellón, while open to the surrounding town and well connected to villages on the coast and the interior, at the same time provides all the infrastructure and services required by a cruise ship destination, starting with berthing facilities in paved areas of the port which are free from the operations of merchant vessels and close to the area of the port North Basin, where the facilities for leisure activities are situated and which is in the process of being extended.

  • The Puerto Azahar complex provides the Gran Casino of Castellón, an auditorium for concerts, multi-screen cinema, restaurants, shops, pubs and pavement cafés.
  • La Plaza del Mar. This area has numerous restaurants which specialise in the local rice and sea food dishes, many of the ingredients coming directly from the fish quay. There is a band stand for open air concerts, an exhibition hall (The Moruno Building) and the biggest snakes and ladders game in the world made to human scale with locally produced porcelanic tiles, all this in pleasant atmosphere created by gardens, fountains and sculptures.
  • Sports Centre. Here there are 26 padel and tennis courts both indoor and outdoor, swimming pools, spa, restaurants and bars situated in the northern area close to the dock area, the beach and the Pinar park. Together with the sports centre, a new shopping centre is planned which will include more sports, health facilities and dance floors.

• The “Costa de Azahar” and the interior of Castellón.
  • Beaches, nature and culture. The best beaches near Castellón are to be found in Benicasim (where the FIB is held annually),  Oropesa (with the Marina d’Or resort), Alcossebre and Peñíscola, where the Castillo of Papa Luna can be found, one of the most visited buildings in Spain, as well as first class auditoriums, theatres and museums. In the coastal area of Castellón there are other interesting destinations such as the Barranco de la Valltorta, where some of the most interesting examples of levantine cave painting can be seen. The caves of San Jose in Valld’Uixo with one of the largest underground rivers in Europe are visited by locals and tourists alike; exhibitions of traditional ceramic art can be seen in Onda, l’Alcora, La Mercé of Burriana; or the contemporary art museum of  Vilafamés. In addition cruise ship passengers will have the opportunity to learn something of the history of the region by visiting sites associated with El Cid, seeing remains from Roman times, learning the secrets of the Templars, or walking along the ‘Way of St.James’ by the river Ebro.
  • Charming villages and national parks. From the fortified medieval town of Morella (candidate to be World Heritage) to Alto Palancia, passing through the mountainous Maestrazgo area (Sant Mateu) and Alto Mijares, the interior of Castellón offers traditional Mediterranean dishes, ancient villages and buildings and some spectacularly mountainous countryside. Many of these countryside areas have well conserved eco-systems, for example  Tinença de Benifassà, the moorland around Penyagolosa the  Serra d’Espadà. Many of these places offer enchanting walks through groves of olive trees more than a thousand years old.
  • Golf courses and Villarreal Football Club. To the golf clubs of Castellón, Costa de Azahar (next to the port) and Borriol (where Sergio Garcia learned his skills) and Sant Jordi to the north, there will soon be added a wide range of new courses open to all. Villareal FC offers first class football, even up to European level.

In addition to the wide range of leisure, commercial and cultural activities offered by the port itself, the Province of Castellón provides visitors with a fascinating choice of places to visit both on the coast and in the interior.