The Spanish Navy Training Ship ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ starts her 97th Cruise with H.R.H. Princess Leonor onboard

The training ship ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ began her 97^th Training Cruise on January 11 from the port of Cádiz, in a poignant ceremony that marked the beginning of a voyage of more than six months around the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This cruise has a special character since Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias Leonor de Borbón, as a first-class midshipman, embarked to continue with her military training in the Armada.

The farewell ceremony included the traditional Mass in the Church of Santo Domingo, followed by the procession carrying the image of the Virgin of Mount Carmel, known as ‘La Galeona’ to the ‘Juan Sebastian de Elcano’ docked in the port of Cádiz. The image was accompanied by the midshipmen and a Marine Corps’ music band who proceeded towards the quay where family members of the ship’s crew were waiting.

The ceremony was presided over by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, who were welcomed on board the ship by the Chief of Staff of the Armada (AJEMA) Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro and the ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain Luis Carreras-Presas.

The scheduled cruise, which will cover around 17,000 nautical miles, will take the ship to several national and international ports. The first stop will be in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on January 17, followed by Las Palmas on January 21, both in the Canary Islands. After crossing the Atlantic, the ship will visit Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Montevideo (Uruguay), Valparaíso (Chile), El Callao (Peru), and other destinations, including New York (USA), where Princess Leonor will temporarily disembark to continue her training on another Armada ship before rejoining the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ in Gijón (NW Spain).

Captain Luis Carreras-Presas, stressed during the presentation of the 97^th Training Cruise on October 31, that the main mission of the cruise is to provide comprehensive training to midshipmen, combining technical instruction with human values, coexistence and teamwork. Students on board will take subjects such as Navigation, Astronomy, Meteorology and Amphibious Operations, among others.

The cruise will conclude on July 14 in Marín, after a voyage that intends to continue strengthening the Armada's ties with the countries visited, promoting the image of Spain in the world.