A Canary Islands cruise connects several islands without requiring you to change hotels at every port of call. Routes differ in the islands visited, the number of days at sea, and whether Madeira is included. The specific itinerary is what matters: seeing an island on the map tells you nothing about the time in port or the excursions within reach.
Route and trip duration
A week-long island-hopping cruise can connect several Canary Islands with Madeira. One example is Mein Schiff 7’s winter 2026/27 programme: the scheduled trip from 5 to 12 November lasts seven nights, sailing round-trip from Las Palmas and calling at Funchal on Madeira, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Puerto del Rosario on Fuerteventura. Other departures follow different port sequences. So compare the order of ports, days at sea, and time in port for your chosen departure; seven nights do not mean seven full days ashore. You can then compare the individual ports of call using the cruise ports.
Islands, not just a list of ports
The distance between the port, the landscape, and the place you want to visit affects what you can reach during a port call. Calls at several islands offer a variety of experiences, but do not automatically leave enough time for longer hikes or an independent trip between islands. If a particular place is important to you, compare its location with the port of call and the scheduled time in port.
Madeira and longer Atlantic itineraries
Madeira may already be part of a seven-night Canary Islands cruise; its inclusion does not automatically mean a longer trip. For itineraries to mainland Europe or other Atlantic destinations, consider the overall trip length and number of days at sea: these determine how much time you spend at sea and on the islands. A one-way trip between Palma and Las Palmas also requires different flight arrangements from a round trip from Gran Canaria.
Departure, arrival, and getting there
For a round trip from Las Palmas, arrange your flights and transfer around Gran Canaria. The Las Palmas cruise port lists bus routes 60 and 91 from the airport to the Santa Catalina area; from there, Muelle de Santa Catalina is within walking distance. The port operator estimates a taxi ride from the airport takes around 25–30 minutes and the bus around 45–60 minutes. These are estimates, not a guarantee of making a connection. Check your travel documents for the specific berth, check-in time, and any included transfers. For one-way trips, your arrival and departure airports must match the respective embarkation and disembarkation ports.
When to travel and the weather
A winter departure does not guarantee calm conditions in the Atlantic. The German Federal Foreign Office warns of severe storms, strong currents, and high waves in the Canary Islands, particularly in spring and autumn. Saharan dust, known as calima, can also occur several times a year and affect the health of sensitive travellers. Before coastal excursions and hikes, check local weather warnings and keep your plans ashore flexible.
The main factors to consider are your preferred combination of islands, the number of days at sea, and the time available ashore. Check the port sequence, time in port, and arrival and departure package for your chosen sailing.
