The sparklingly new ocean liner Sky Princess commenced its inaugural cruise around the Iberian peninsula this week. On Tuesday it docked at the Levante quayside of Malaga's cruise liner port and was welcomed by city and regional tourism officials.

Malaga has emerged as a popular cruise port-of-call on Mediterranean itineraries, with thousands of visitors discovering the city each year. Princess cruises has a fleet of 19 vessels, with a three further 'Royal Class' cruise liners launching over the coming years, which are hoped to visit the Costa del Sol's capital.

The value of cruise tourism remains controversial, with some cities across the world attempting to reduce the impact of short-term visitors. Yet Rosa Sánchez, Malaga's Councillor for Tourism, who was among those who welcomed Sky Princess to the city, said that these premium cruise ships represented a valuable opportunity for visitors to discover Malaga, the city's art, history, gastronomy and wines. She also suggested that cruise visitors would be tempted to return again for a longer visit to discover more of what Malaga has to offer.

Sky Princess has a capacity of 3,500 guests, looked after by an international crew of over 1,400. The ship boasts the latest in guest services technology including Princess Cruises' 'OceanMedallion' system. Just a little larger than a euro coin, the wearable Medallion is not only a location device, but also allows guests to unlock their cabin; purchase products and services; quickly locate members of their family or group through interactive screens throughout the liner; and personalise their experiences on board.

Sky Princess is now crossing the Atlantic on a repositioning cruise, ready for its winter itineraries in the Caribbean.

More information - https://www.princess.com/

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