Introduction
In the Balearic Sea, one hundred miles off the south eastern coastline of Spain, lies the island of Mallorca. The city of Palma is positioned in Palma Bay on the south west side of the island.
The Romans were the first people to spot the ideal location of Mallorca as a trading center, and in 123BC founded two ports, one being Palmeria. In medieval times Palma was ruled by Moors, who named the settlement Medina Mayurka. There is little evidence of this era remaining, apart from the Arab baths and sections of the walls of Almudaina Palace. The Moors employed Palma as a base to harass Catalan boats sailing near the mainland.
In 1229, to remove the menace, James I of Aragon conquered Palma. The city was annexed into the Kingdom of Aragon. The Golden Age of Mallorca started, this saw a blossoming of the island’s agriculture, trade and industry. The imposing Bellver Castle and magnificent le Seu cathedral were constructed, and the Almudaina was transformed into a marvelous Gothic palace. In 1516 the Kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were united when Charles I, son of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, the first King of all Spain. Mallorca changed from an important part of the Kingdom of Aragon to a rather neglected region of a much bigger country.
For the following three hundred years Palma descended into a long slump, due to a mixture of political indifference, many plagues and frequent attacks by Barbary Corsairs. The French invasion of Algeria in 1830 at last saw a finish to the risk of attacks by Berber Pirates, resulting in the growth of marine traffic from Palma’s port.
Tourism started to become an important industry to Mallorca during the early part of the 20th century. Holidaymakers visited to experience the island’s tranquility and beauty. There was a lull in tourism during World War II, but after the war visitor numbers skyrocket, as people from all over Europe arrived for a sunny vacation.
Some may criticize the sometimes negative effects of the large number of tourists on the island, but Palma is still to this day a charming city with a lot for the visitor to see. The city’s Old Town, with its beautiful squares, quaint cobbled streets and medieval palaces are the historical highlight of the city.
Mallorca is situated in the middle of the Western Mediterranean sea making the island a favorite port-of-call for cruises. In recent years, in main due to the convenient and well served Palma de Mallorca airport, the island has also become a major departure port for cruise ships.
You Choose The Cruise
Palma is an excellent base for a week long itinerary calling at exciting ports in the Western Mediterranean.
Favorite shore trips available at Western Mediterranean ports would include the atmospheric D’Alt Vila of Ibiza, the eery Cappuchini Catacombs in Palermo, the opulent Monte Carlo casino in Monaco, the towering Colosseum in Rome (from Civitavecchia) and the superb La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
In fall repositioning cruises may be on offer to the Caribbean and the Canaries.
Cruises from Palma shows all the cruise ship departures from Palma.
Cruise Terminals
Estacion Maritima 1 Through 4 Cruise Terminals
Estacion Maritima 1,2,3,4 cruise terminals serve ships moored at the Poniente and Paraires quays numbers 21, 23 25 and 26. The cruise terminals are joined with a number of raised and covered foot bridges. Services include restrooms, health office, cafeteria, waiting areas, telephone kiosks, police station and post office. These cruise terminals are about a mile and a half to the southwest of Palma’s center.
Estacion Maritima 5 Cruise Terminal
Some cruise ships moor inside Dique Del Oeste (the west sea wall) at piers 28, 30 and 32. These berths are served by the Estacion Martima 5 passenger terminal. The No 5 cruise terminal is at the southern end of the harbor.
For the port website see Port Authority of the Balearic Islands.
Sightseeing in Palma
La Seu
Palma’s magnificent cathedral la Seu is the city’s favorite attraction. Construction work began in the early years of the 13th century, and continued for over 3 centuries. A major rebuilding project commenced in the the 20th century, with the renowned architect Gaudi making several contentious contributions.
Almudaina Palace
The attractive Moorish style of the Palacio de la Almudaina echoes its origin as a Moorish castle. After the conquest of Mallorca by the Catalan army in the 13th century the building was converted into a palace for the Mallorcan monarchy. Today it is a museum containing art such as oriental carpets, Flemish tapestries and an excellent selection of paintings.
Bellver Castle
The impressive Bellver Castle is home to the Palma History Museum and the Despuig Classical Sculpture Museum. There are wonderful views from the castle’s ramparts over the turquoise blue Bay of Palma. Bellver Castle is a 10 minute walk upwards from the cruise terminal.
C'an Pere Antoni Beach
The shoreline south of the city center has a narrow ribbon of sand, which, if you stroll for 5 minutes in an easterly direction, widens into the large C'an Pere Antoni beach. The sands shelve gently into the sea. A few palms behind the beach provide a cooling shade, and nearby shops offer snacks and beach gear.
Palma To Soller Railway
This old-fashioned narrow-track electric train connects Palma de Mallorca with the mountainside township of Soller, a journey 27km long. The route traverses a wide stretch of countryside, then climbs up through 13 tunnels to get to Soller. The excursion, taking just over an hour, is an interesting way of getting to know the undeveloped landscapes of Mallorca. The Palma terminus is positioned in the center of the city, nearby the modern train station.
Getting To The Cruise Port
The easiest way of traveling between the airport and the cruise port is by coach or taxi. One other way is to get the no 1 bus which runs from the airport through Palma center to the Estacion Maritima. From the bus stop walk into the Estascion Number 2 terminal across the street then follow the signs to your required terminal.
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