Colombia’s Flagship Vessel Sails Toward 13 Countries in the Americas, Europe, and Africa

The emblematic Training Ship Gloria set sail on April 28 from the ARC Bolívar Naval Base in Cartagena on its traditional Cadet Cruise, corresponding to this year. The training, international projection and naval diplomacy mission will take the representative Colombian vessel on a voyage through 13 countries around the world, in the Americas, Europe and Africa, which will end next December.

According to the itinerary shared by the National Navy, the first foreign port will be Willemstad, in Curacao. This will mark the beginning of a route that will take the three-masted sailing ship (barque-rigged brig) with 67 meters in length and 10.6 meters in beam, through 18 strategic ports on three continents, consolidating its role as a national symbol in the oceans of the world.

On board, 67 cadets from the Admiral Padilla Naval Cadet School will experience a comprehensive training program, strengthening their naval skills, leadership and teamwork. During navigation, they will put their knowledge into practice in real scenarios that consolidate their preparation as future officers of the Colombian Navy.

As part of this mission, the ship will also host invited officers from the Armed Forces, the National Police and foreign navies, promoting the exchange of experiences and the strengthening of international cooperation.

Locations and dates of the Gloria ship’s voyage

The ARC Gloria Training Ship will cover an extensive distance that began with its departure from Cartagena on April 28. The schedule for this phase includes visits to 11 strategic ports:

The first international destination will be Willemstad (Curacao) from May 2 to May 5, followed by Ponce (Puerto Rico) from May 10 to May 12. Subsequently, the ship will begin an important tour of the United States, visiting New Orleans (May 28–June 1), Norfolk (June 19–23), Baltimore (June 25–30), New York (July 4–8) and Boston (July 11–14).

After its passage through U.S. territory, the majestic sailing vessel will head toward Quebec (Canada), where it will remain from July 23 to July 26. It will cross the Atlantic to reach the landscapes of Reykjavik (Iceland) from August 16 to August 19 and finally arrive in Amsterdam (Netherlands), where it will complete its schedule from September 3 to September 7, thus concluding the first phase of the training cruise.

During the second phase, it will visit the ports of Oslo (Norway), Hamburg (Germany), Le Havre (France) and Dublin (Ireland), before heading down to the Iberian Peninsula to dock in Bilbao (Spain) and Porto (Portugal) during the month of October.

The voyage will conclude its international stops in Casablanca (Morocco) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) from November 3 to November 6, the starting point for the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean back to Cartagena on December 1, consolidating a deployment of sovereignty and national pride.

In each port, the ARC Gloria Training Ship will open its decks to the public free of charge, becoming a traveling showcase of Colombian culture and a space for rapprochement between nations.

Through this voyage, the Colombian Navy reaffirms its commitment to the comprehensive training of its sailors and to projecting the country on the international stage, carrying a message of cooperation, friendship and national pride across the world’s oceans.