Marina Options in Palma

[martin]

Hi all

I am looking at 15Mtr berths in Palma. There are several marinas all have pro's and Con's. Has anyone got any advice or tips having stayed their?

Thanks in advance

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We stayed 5 yrs in Club de Mar until 2009 and I consider that the best marina in Palma. V good security, shops/bars on site and a clubhouse with swimming pool. The only slight downside is that it is a bit of a hike from Palma old town where you tend to gravitate to in the evenings. Much nearer the old town there is Real Club Nautico which, when we were in Palma, had a slightly run down feel but is perfectly adequate. In between there is the modern Marina Port de Mallorca which is fine but has no on site facilities although it is close to bars and a night club if thats your bag. There are public moorings in the harbour also but I'm not sure how you get them and IIRC are completely unprotected

There are 2 big problems with berthing in Palma. First there is the swell from the constant movement of vessels in the harbour. Marina Port de Mallorca appears to be the worst for this with Club de Mar probably the best but even there you will still feel swell regularly. The second issue is sterngear fouling which I guess is due to pollution in the water. Your unprotected sterngear like rudders, shafts, props, thrusters will get fouled very rapidly leading to a loss of performance. I used to get my sterngear cleaned by a diver 2 or 3 times a season

Otherwise Palma is a great place to berth. Its only 15 mins from the airport and Palma itself is a very attractive city with loads to do and see. Within 1 hour's run at 20kts there are a number of fine anchorages although some can get crowded in season and of course the Balearics is probably the finest cruising ground in the W Med at least IMHO

 

[Hurricane]

We had a couple of nights this year in Real Club Nautico but if you are berthing there permanently, you would need to make sure that you have a good berth.
We were out by the fuel berth - not a problem being there but it was a massive walk around to the club and to get out of the marina.
So far in fact that they lay on a golf cart taxi to take you back and forth.

Never been to Club de Mar but a few years ago, we did do a couple of nights in the marina between Club de Mar and Real Club Nautico.
The whole place is far too busy for us on a long term basis.

IMHO Cala D'Or would be nicer but I know you need quick access to/from the airport so that might exclude that one.
How about Port Adriano - not in Palma Bay but fairly quick taxi from the airport - never been in but I know someone who has and the loved it - expensive though.
Another to check out is the marina at Santa Ponsa - small but there are bigger boats in there than yours - again, the taxi from the airport would OK.

One in Palma Bay that I would "rule out" though is Arenal - we did a couple of nights there this year.
Extremely close to the airport (you could almost walk there) and the marina itself is very nice - pool - great club - nice little anchorage just outside but..... as soon as you leave the confines of the marina on foot, you are in "Mega Party Land" - not my scene at all - everything that Magaluf is only 10 times worse - mostly a German resort - and I mean resort. Depends though - you might like that kind of thing.

Outside Palma again - on Mallorca there is a fast road north which would make Pollensa and Alcudia easily reachable from Palma Airport.
We like Alcudia - but not as a permanent home.
A family we know with a Sealine left SC - similar reasons to you - went to Alcudia - they couldn't settle and I last saw them in Cala D'Or.

We like Mallorca a lot but there isn't a marina there that we like enough to base ourselves.
We like quiet and peaceful.

 

[julians]

We keep our boat in Port adriano, its a nice marina, a good number of decent bars and restaurants,but its not busy like Puerto portals. But we dont live on the boat, we stay in an aprtment,so maybe you might have a different criteria if you live on the boat.

Never stayed in the palma marinas,so cant really comment on those

 

[martin]

Thanks for the updates.
We had Santa Ponsa down as our original choice but after a long wait (2 months) they eventually decided we were too big for the only berth available.
Yes we applied to Adriano but that was pretty expensive. It was about the same price as Portals! ? !
So we are now focused on Palma...which seems the nearest, reasonable priced option.

 

[jrudge]

Echo what Mike f says. I was in club de mar and plan to return. Cabs to the old town are about e6 and arrive to your boat in 2 or 3 mins

If you rent a berth privately in real club nautical you have to join the club. One of fee of e12000! Via the Marina no requirement.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

So we are now focused on Palma...which seems the nearest, reasonable priced option.

Forgot one thing. Both Club de Mar and Marina Port de Mallorca are right next to the Paseo Maritimo road which is the main drag on the seafront. The traffic noise never bothered me but if it bothers you, try to get a berth away from the road

 

[SwedeSkipper]

We have been in Club de Mar for three years. It's our first berth in the Med, but we've been around Mallorca quite a bit, as well as Ibiza and Mahon. I do think Club de Mar is one of the best marinas in Mallorca for the following reasons:
1. It's just a 15 min cab ride from the airport
2. It's in Palma - tons of great restaurants (yes, I know it's a quite a walk to the old town, but there are better restaurants in Santa Catalina which is closer). And not too far away from the Santa Catalina Market for shopping great fresh veggies, fish and meat. Great night life if you want it (or have kids who want it). Restaurants are generally not as pricey as in Portals or Adriano.
3. It's got a pool. Those days that you're feeling lazy, or simply need to be berthed for some reason, it's a great feature to have a pool available close.
4. From what I've heard it's one of the, hrrrm shall we say, less expensive marinas.
Cons:
It's close to the Paseo - not a problem if you get a berth not too close to the road (+ the aircon will mask any noise)
It's big - recommend a bicycle for shopping and getting to the pool if you're berthed in the north part (which I recommend)
Cruise ships may be noisy - Cruise ships berth south of the Marina. Some test the fire alarms every day. Again, recommend a berth in the north part of the Marina

If you want some more hints, don't hesitate to PM me.

 

[Hurricane]

Pictures are worth a thousand words
This is Real Club Nautico

And this is the anchorage outside Arenal - you can see Arenal Marina in the background

 

[jfm]

I'd avoid Marina Port de Mallorca as a main home. The pontoons are on stilts so ALL the waves come into the marina. In a blow the boats, which are mostly beam on to the waves, roll like pigs

 

[martin]

Hmm so it sounds like
Club de Mar seems a winner
Port de Mallorca - not so good
Club real Nautico - looks good but club fees of 12,000 !

Thanks for all the feedback
No doubt fate will lend a hand in the choice as currently no berths available until nearer the time.
Our SCM berth runs until April so no hurry yet.