Palma De Mallorca Cruise Ship Port Guide

How to get to the port, by air, train, road

Getting to Palma’s cruise port is dead easy with plenty of ways to get there. You can fly to Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), which sits just 8km from the port. Once you land, grab a taxi, hire a car, or hop on the regular Line 1 bus that goes straight to the port area.

If you’re already somewhere on the island, take a train from Plaça d’Espanya station – you’ll just need a quick taxi ride or a short walk from there to reach the port. The main train station links up nicely with lots of places around Mallorca.

Port Parking Options

Looking to park at Palma’s cruise port? There are several good spots to leave your car. The main car park sits right opposite the cruise terminals, with options for both short and long stays. You can pay at the machines using your credit card or cash.

The port has these parking areas:

• P1 – Main terminal multi-storey with round-the-clock security and covered spaces
• P2 – Open-air budget area, ideal for longer stays at better prices
• VIP area with special spaces near terminal entrances
• Quick pickup/dropoff zone for up to 30 minutes

Daily prices start from £12 for the budget area up to £24 for VIP spaces. It’s worth booking your spot ahead through the port’s official website to secure your space, particularly during busy times.

Local Transport & Transfers

Getting from Palma’s cruise port to the city centre couldn’t be easier. Shuttle buses run every 15 minutes between the port and Palma Cathedral, and you’ll pay about £5 for a return ticket. If you fancy more freedom, you’ll spot plenty of taxis outside the cruise terminal – expect to pay £10-15 for the 10-minute journey into town.

If you’re travelling on your own, hop on public bus #1 near the port entrance – it’ll take you to central Palma for £2 per trip. Fancy a stroll? You can walk to the city centre in about 25-30 minutes along the lovely waterfront path. Heading straight to the airport? Book a transfer in advance, or grab a taxi for roughly £25-30. Most cruise lines run their own transfer services too.

Port Terminal Facilities

Palma’s cruise terminal has everything you’d want for a smooth trip through. The whole place has Wi-Fi, and you can get cash from the ATMs dotted around. There’s duty-free shopping, tourist info desks, and spots to change your money.

Inside the main building you’ll find:

• Clean loos with disabled access
• A few cafes and snack spots serving local food and drinks
• A sitting area where you can charge your phone
• Lockers to store your bags for a bit

The security checks are quick, and there are easy-to-follow signs in different languages all over the place. If you need help, just look for the staff in uniform at the info points – they can sort you out with directions, bookings or answer any questions.

Things to Do Before Your Cruise in a Day

If you’re in Palma before your cruise, you can easily fit lots of brilliant sightseeing into one day. Kick off at the impressive Gothic Cathedral of Santa Maria (La Seu) with its gorgeous architecture and colourful stained glass. Then wander through the lovely Old Town‘s winding streets to the Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which was once a Moorish fortress.

For lunch, head to the buzzing Santa Catalina area – you can eat at its traditional market or pop into one of the local restaurants. Come afternoon, go up to Bellver Castle for amazing views over the city, or take a walk along Passeig des Born, Palma’s smart shopping street. If you’ve got spare time, have a swim at Cala Major beach or visit the Juan March Foundation museum. Round off your day with a nice stroll along the Paseo Marítimo waterfront before making your way to your ship.

Walks near the port

The port area has lovely walks in all directions. The waterfront path runs along Palma’s coast, giving you brilliant views of fancy boats and the blue Mediterranean. You’ll spot nice walkways linking the port to the old town centre.

Have a go at:

• The Maritime Paseo – lined with palm trees, dotted with cafes and spots to sit
• The old city wall route from Parc de la Mar towards the Cathedral
• Wandering through Sa Llotja’s narrow cobbled streets in the old fishing quarter
• Following the harbour front past Club de Mar until you reach Portopi Lighthouse

The paths around the port are mostly flat, so they’re good for everyone. You can easily link these walks together if you fancy going further, especially in the cooler morning or evening.

Dining and Shopping

The port area buzzes with fantastic places to eat and shop, drawing both locals and people from the cruise ships. Santa Catalina Market is brilliant for fresh local produce, seafood and proper Mallorcan food, whilst the nearby tapas bars serve up lovely Spanish dishes with regional wines.

If you fancy some shopping, wander down to Passeig del Born, where you’ll spot posh shops with big names like Louis Vuitton and Cartier. The old town’s winding streets are full of smaller shops selling handmade leather bits and bobs, local pottery, and Mallorca’s well-known pearl jewellery. Pop along Carrer de Sant Miquel for lovely artisan shops – you can pick up traditional ensaïmada pastries, local olive oils, and handwoven textiles. Remember most shops shut for siesta between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM, so time your shopping wisely.

Accommodation near the port

Fancy staying near Palma’s cruise port? You’ll spot loads of places to stay within walking distance – from fancy hotels to simple guesthouses just 15 minutes from the terminal.

The handiest spots for port access are the Paseo Marítimo waterfront area and the old Santa Catalina neighbourhood. You’ll find:

• Smart boutique hotels in converted 19th-century mansions with sea views
• Modern high-rise hotels with rooftop pools and balconies looking over the port
• Local family-run guesthouses in traditional Mallorcan buildings with lovely courtyard gardens
• Self-catered flats with small kitchens and washing machines

Want to be close to both the port and city centre? Look for somewhere between Avenida Gabriel Roca and Calle San Magín – it’s the best of both worlds.

Tips for First-Time Cruisers from The Port

Getting ready for your first cruise from Palma? Here’s how to make it simple. Get to the port three hours before departure – this gives you plenty of time for boarding without stress. Keep your passport, tickets and luggage labels handy, as you’ll need to put these labels on your bags before handing them to the porters.

Grab the port’s mobile app to know where your ship is and which terminal to head to. While most port shops take cards, it’s worth getting some euros for small purchases. Pop your important items like medicines and anything valuable in your hand luggage. Remember to switch your phone to airplane mode once you’re on the ship to avoid nasty roaming fees. It’s quite useful to join your cruise line’s social media groups – you can get live updates and tips from other passengers.

Customs & Immigration at The Port

Getting through customs and immigration at Palma’s cruise terminal is fairly simple. Have your passport and cruise card at the ready when leaving the ship. EU citizens go through the blue channel, while everyone else needs to use the red channel.

During busy times, here’s what usually happens:

• Staff at the glass-screened booths will look at your papers
• You’ll need to put your things through X-ray machines if you’re declaring anything
• Security might do random checks on some passengers
• Electronic passport readers make the process quite quick

The whole thing usually takes between 15-30 minutes, but this depends on how many people are going through. Just remember: you can’t bring in fresh fruits, meats or dairy products, and there are strict rules about how much alcohol and tobacco you can carry.

Local Currency & Payment Options

Spain uses the Euro (€), and most shops, restaurants, and taxis in Palma take popular credit cards like Visa and Mastercard. You’ll spot ATMs easily around the city centre, including near the cruise terminal. Banks are typically open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

Whilst credit cards work almost everywhere, it’s wise to keep some cash handy for smaller purchases, local markets, and taxis. Some of the smaller shops and traditional markets might only take cash. When paying by card, always choose Euros instead of your home currency to get better exchange rates. If you fancy browsing local markets or popping into smaller shops, carrying €50-100 in smaller notes (€5, €10, and €20) should cover your daily spending.

Emergency Contacts

Palma de Mallorca has good emergency services you can reach using standard EU numbers. Most emergency centres have English-speaking staff, but it’s worth knowing a few basic Spanish phrases just in case.

Important numbers to save:

• 112 – General Emergency (like 999 in the UK)
• 091 – National Police
• 061 – Ambulance Services
• 080 – Fire Department

Keep your cruise ship’s local details close by – they can help with language barriers and sort things out if there’s an emergency. Your ship’s port agent’s number is really useful if you need help while you’re in the city. Even if you’re using a local mobile, you won’t need a SIM card or phone service to ring emergency numbers – they work on any phone with a signal.

History of The Port

The port of Palma has been a crucial Mediterranean trading spot since Roman times, when the first ships dropped anchor in its natural harbour. The port’s brilliant location meant ships from all over – Phoenician, Greek and Arab traders – would stop here, helping it grow into a proper trading centre.

What you see of the port nowadays started taking proper shape in the late 1800s with some major building work to make it bigger. Things really got going in the 1960s when they had to expand everything for all the tourists coming in. The port’s changed loads over time – it used to be mainly cargo ships, but now it’s one of the Mediterranean’s main cruise stops. These days, more than 2 million cruise passengers come through every year, and the port’s fancy modern terminals can fit several massive cruise ships at once.

Environmental Initiatives at The Port

The Port of Palma is getting greener these days with loads of eco-friendly projects to help the environment. As you walk around the port, you’ll spot various green schemes, from clean energy systems to clever ways of handling rubbish.

Here’s what the port is doing to help the planet:

• Special power points for cruise ships to use clean electricity whilst they’re moored up
• Modern water cleaning plants that treat and reuse water from boats
• Lots of solar panels on terminal roofs making green energy
• Really good recycling and waste sorting spots all over the port

Want to know more? Pop into the port’s environmental education centre – they’ve got hands-on displays showing what the harbour is doing now and what’s planned for making things even greener in future.

Accessibility Information for Disabled Passengers

Palma’s port is well-equipped for disabled cruise passengers, with good access throughout its terminals and boarding areas. You’ll spot wheelchair ramps that aren’t too steep, lifts at all passenger levels, and help points where you can ask for support. All accessible loos come with grab bars and wide doors.

If you use mobility equipment, there are fast-track boarding lanes, and you can book the port’s free wheelchair service ahead of time. The terminals have special ground markings to help visually impaired travellers, and the information desks are fitted with hearing loops. You’ll find disabled parking spots near the terminal entrances, and accessible buses run to the city centre. Port staff get regular training in helping passengers with different disabilities, so you’ll receive proper support when you need it.

Cruise Insurance and Medical Facilities at The Port

Getting cruise insurance before sailing from Palma de Mallorca is a really good idea. The port has a proper medical centre with round-the-clock emergency care, but treatment can be quite pricey if you’re not covered.

The port’s medical facilities have:

• A main clinic with doctors who speak several languages
• An emergency team ready for serious cases
• A pharmacy with common medicines
• A dedicated ambulance that can take you straight to hospital

You’ll spot the medical centre in Terminal 2 – just look for the medical signs. It’s sensible to pack extra medicines if you take them regularly, and keep copies of your prescriptions handy. Though the port has good medical care, proper cruise insurance will help you avoid nasty surprises with medical bills and any problems if your trip gets disrupted.

Families: Child-Friendly Services and Activities

Palma’s cruise port is brilliant for families with kids. The terminal building has great play zones where children can climb safely while parents sit in the shade nearby. If you need to change nappies or feed your little ones, there’s a proper medical station with baby-changing spots and a quiet nursing room.

Want to explore the port? You can borrow pushchairs and baby carriers. When it’s time to eat, the café does smaller meals for kids and can handle special diets too. Pop by the information desk to grab free activity packs – they’re packed with colouring books and puzzles to keep the little ones busy.

Teenagers haven’t been forgotten either – there’s a games area with gaming consoles and Wi-Fi that won’t cost you a penny. The port runs family tours too, making history fun with hands-on activities and stories about Palma’s seafaring past that kids and teens can understand.

Local Cultural Highlights and Events

Palma’s lively culture kicks off right at the cruise terminal, where you’ll often find local musicians playing traditional Mallorcan folk tunes. The city buzzes with cultural events all year round, from religious gatherings to arts festivals.

Must-see cultural events:

• Sant Sebastià Festival in January brings the city alive with bonfires, concerts, and people dancing in the streets
• La Seu Cathedral puts on a special show twice a year, when sunlight shines through the huge rose window to create a figure-eight pattern
• Summer Night Markets fill the old town with local craft makers showing off their work and selling regional food
• Nit de Foc (Night of Fire) in June marks the summer solstice with fire runs, devils, and brilliant firework displays

Try to plan your trip around these genuine Mallorcan celebrations – they’re worth it.

Best Times of Year to Cruise from The Port

Planning a Mallorca cruise? Peak season hits from May to October, bringing lovely warm weather and hardly any rain. July and August pack in the most sailing options, but you’ll bump into bigger crowds and steeper prices.

For a better deal, try going in April-May or September-October. The weather’s still brilliant, with temperatures around 23°C, and you won’t be fighting through masses of tourists. Plus, the sea’s warm enough for a swim during these months.

Winter sailings from November to March are a bit thin on the ground, with some companies taking a break altogether. You’ll find the cheapest tickets then, but pack for cooler weather and the odd shower. If you fancy Christmas markets, December in Palma is rather special for holiday-themed cruises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Average Number of Cruise Ships Docked Simultaneously?

You’ll usually spot 2-3 cruise ships at the harbour at any given time, though in the busy summer months you might see 5-6 massive ships sitting there together.

Are There Luggage Storage Facilities for Early Arrivals at the Port?

Got bags to store while you wait? The cruise terminal and port area have handy storage spots where you can keep your luggage safe. They run during ship arrivals and won’t break the bank with their hourly fees.

Which Cruise Lines Regularly Operate From Palma De Mallorca Port?

Several big cruise companies sail from Palma’s port. Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and AIDA run regular trips from here. You’ll also see TUI Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line ships popping in and out of the harbour throughout the Mediterranean season.

What Is the Typical Water Temperature Around the Port Area?

The water’s quite nice here – it goes from about 17°C in winter up to 26°C in summer. If you fancy a swim, the best time is between June and September when the water stays lovely and warm.

Are There Private Yacht Rental Services Available Near the Cruise Port?

Plenty of yacht rental companies are based next to the port. You’ll spot them around Marina Port de Mallorca and Real Club Náutico, where you can hire anything from small boats to posh yachts for the day or longer stays.