Alma Cruceros, the new Spanish cruise line, begins its inaugural journey from this Friday until April 26th on an itinerary between Las Palmas and Malaga, covering destinations such as Puerto del Rosario, Agadir, Rabat, Tangier, and Ceuta over nine days.
Born in Malaga, the company will operate its trips with the Ocean Victory, built in 2021 and belonging to the Infinity Class, featuring 93 double cabins, all exterior with 90% having balconies, for 186 passengers and a length of 104 meters, along with multiple amenities such as five gastronomic spaces, a theater, gym, and treatment salon.
«Designed for Spaniards and Spanish speakers, from language to entertainment and gastronomy, the Ocean Victory merges Spanish cultural tradition with modernity and avant-garde,» the company highlighted.
Regarding the gastronomic offering, the Spanish boutique has partnered with Michelin-starred chefs Martín Berasategui and Paolo Casagrande, with 11 and four stars, respectively. This agreement, covering the first five operating seasons, includes the possibility of extending the collaboration in the future.
In recent statements to Europa Press, the company’s president, Elisardo Sánchez, estimates reaching a 70% occupancy rate and selling 1,700 cabins in its first year of activity with its single cruise, emphasizing that the reception of its debut has been «fantastic.»
Looking ahead to its first season, Sánchez stated that the main challenge is for Alma Cruceros’ product to be «as visible as possible» across various distribution channels, considering there is «a lot of competition» and the demand is «maximum.»
During his intervention, he clarified that Alma Cruceros does not like to be identified as a luxury company, but rather as a «boutique cruiser,» offering «exclusive, personalized, and authentic service»: «We know what our guests expect from us, and we deliver it to them.»
Therefore, according to the president, they do not compete in that segment, explaining that they differentiate themselves «clearly» from other luxury cruise companies. «Of course, we offer a service of the highest quality, but quieter than luxury as understood in many areas,» he pointed out.
UNICAJA FOUNDATION LANDS IN THE CAPITAL OF ALMA CRUCEROS
As announced in February, Unicaja Foundation entered Alma Cruceros’ capital with a 35% stake, an investment that «not only strengthens the financial position of the cruise line but also brings valuable knowledge and experience in financing future projects,» according to Sánchez.
Therefore, the current ownership structure of the new company consists of 59% owned by Alma Cruises, owned by Elisardo Sánchez, followed by 35% from Unicaja Foundation and the remaining 6% distributed equally among three executives of the cruise line.
In addition, the board of directors is composed of Elisardo Sánchez (president), Agustín Fernández, Pedro Costa, Javier de Pro, Cristina Rico, and Antonio Jesús López (secretary).
In September 2024, the company approved a capital increase of 2.5 million euros with the aim of expanding and growing in Spanish-speaking markets in America, such as Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Mexico, or Argentina, among others.
This operation was carried out through the issuance and subscription of new social participations representing 20% of the resulting share capital, through a private placement, and was aimed at current partners and external investors.
