The Naval Museum of Madrid dressed up this Tuesday to present the XCVII Training Cruise of the Navy’s iconic Training Ship, the Juan Sebastián de Elcano.
This year, the voyage has a special significance, as Princess Leonor, as a first-year midshipman from the Escuela Naval Militar de Marín, will join this emblematic voyage as part of her military training.
This adventure will represent a unique opportunity for the heiress, who in the future will become the supreme commander of the Armed Forces.
Princess Leonor’s Journey On The Navy Training Ship
The voyage will begin on January 11, 2025 in Cadiz, the departure point from where Leonor and her companions will set sail for their first port of call in the Canary Islands.
On January 17, the ship will dock in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, followed by Las Palmas de Gran Canaria from January 21 to 23. This will be the first leg of a route that will cross the Atlantic and take the Princess to distant lands.
On February 14, Princess Leonor will touch South American soil when the Elcano arrives in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. After a few days, they will head for Montevideo, Uruguay, where they will dock from March 5 to 9.
In Chile, two significant stops are planned: first in Punta Arenas from March 20 to 23 and then in Valparaiso from April 4 to 8.
The adventure will continue in Peru, where they will make a stop in Callao (Lima) from April 18 to 22, followed by a short break in Panama from May 3 to 5.
After crossing the Panama Canal, the Juan Sebastian de Elcano will arrive in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, where Leonor and her companions will spend May 9-14.
The next stop will be Santo Domingo, with a stay from May 19 to 24, before heading to New York, where the ship will be anchored from July 5 to 10.
Finally, the ship will embark on its return to Spain, arriving first in Gijón on July 3 and continuing on to the port of Ferrol between July 9 and 12.
The last leg of the voyage will be held in Marín from July 14 to 17, concluding in Cádiz on July 21, where Princess Leonor and her companions will culminate this memorable training experience.