Passenger-shipping lines Baleària, Armas Trasmediterránea and FRS say bookings for the 6–9 December Constitution–Immaculate Conception ‘puente’ are running 30 % above a normal weekend on the busy Algeciras–Ceuta corridor. With Spain enjoying a rare Monday public holiday, more than 10,000 travellers—and a comparable number of vehicles—are forecast to cross the Strait of Gibraltar during the four-day window.
Port Authority officials confirm that several Friday departures are already sold out, but the lines will stick to the standard 18 sailings per port per day, arguing that existing capacity can absorb the spike. However, contingency berthing plans are in place should unexpected weather or technical issues create backlogs.
![Ferry Operators Expect 30 % Surge on Algeciras–Ceuta Route for Constitution Day Weekend]()
The surge is driven partly by Moroccan-origin residents in Spain using the long weekend for family visits before the peak Christmas rush. Employers with transferees in the Campo de Gibraltar should warn staff of heavier traffic on the A-7 motorway approaches and allow extra time for security checks at Algeciras. HR teams coordinating rotational assignments to Ceuta—the Spanish enclave outside the Schengen zone—should remind travellers to carry passports even for same-day returns; Spanish national-ID cards are accepted for EU citizens, but third-country nationals require a passport stamp.
From a logistics angle, freight operators anticipate minor delays as passenger-car volumes compete for deck space. Customs brokers report no special operating hours, so cargo cut-off times remain unchanged.
Longer-term, the sustained double-digit growth on the route underscores Ceuta’s importance as a commercial and tax-advantaged gateway for North-Africa-bound supply chains, potentially attracting more expatriate assignments to the enclave in 2026.
Port Authority officials confirm that several Friday departures are already sold out, but the lines will stick to the standard 18 sailings per port per day, arguing that existing capacity can absorb the spike. However, contingency berthing plans are in place should unexpected weather or technical issues create backlogs.
The surge is driven partly by Moroccan-origin residents in Spain using the long weekend for family visits before the peak Christmas rush. Employers with transferees in the Campo de Gibraltar should warn staff of heavier traffic on the A-7 motorway approaches and allow extra time for security checks at Algeciras. HR teams coordinating rotational assignments to Ceuta—the Spanish enclave outside the Schengen zone—should remind travellers to carry passports even for same-day returns; Spanish national-ID cards are accepted for EU citizens, but third-country nationals require a passport stamp.
From a logistics angle, freight operators anticipate minor delays as passenger-car volumes compete for deck space. Customs brokers report no special operating hours, so cargo cut-off times remain unchanged.
Longer-term, the sustained double-digit growth on the route underscores Ceuta’s importance as a commercial and tax-advantaged gateway for North-Africa-bound supply chains, potentially attracting more expatriate assignments to the enclave in 2026.
