On a crisp June morning, as the sun rose over the Manhattan skyline, the Spanish Navy’s majestic training ship, Juan Sebastián de Elcano, glided gracefully into Pier 88 of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. Aboard the four-masted schooner stood Princess Leonor of Spain, 19, heir to the Spanish throne, completing a defining chapter in her royal journey. Dressed in her impeccable white naval cadet uniform, Leonor saluted the city with the poise and composure of a seasoned mariner.
This moment marked the culmination of a five-month transatlantic voyage, covering more than 17,000 nautical miles and 12 ports across eight countries. Leonor embarked on this transformative journey on January 11, 2025, departing from Cádiz, Spain, alongside 76 fellow midshipmen, as part of her second year of military training—an intensive program that prepares her to become Spain’s first female commander-in-chief.
The Elcano is more than a training vessel; it is a floating symbol of Spanish history and diplomacy. In service since 1928, it has hosted over 6,500 cadets and remains a testament to maritime excellence. Under the command of Captain Luis Carreras-Presas do Campo, Leonor and her peers immersed themselves in rigorous instruction: navigating open seas, learning celestial navigation, practicing seamanship, and mastering the unspoken language of naval tradition.
Leonor’s voyage began with stops in the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic to Latin America. She stepped ashore in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil), Montevideo (Uruguay), Valparaíso (Chile), El Callao (Peru), and Panama City, where she was reunited with her mother, Queen Letizia, after four long months apart. The journey continued through Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and finally to New York City—each port a lesson in global diplomacy and cultural exchange.
Now docked in New York through June 10, the Elcano will host a flurry of ceremonial and cultural events. On June 5, Leonor will attend a concert at Carnegie Hall titled A Musical Fantasy from Spain, performed by the Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real de Madrid. The following day, she will act as standard-bearer in a flag swearing-in ceremony aboard the ship.
While her fellow cadets will return to Spain via sea, stopping in Gijón and Ferrol before arriving at the Naval School of Marín in July, Leonor will depart by air this weekend, returning to Spain to complete the final segment of her naval training on the Blas de Lezo, an Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate. Her graduation as a naval ensign is scheduled for July 16, 2025, in the presence of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Infanta Sofía.