Legend of the Seas is to make its European debut with an unforgettable departure from Malaga on June 29. This vast Icon-class vessel promises extraordinary adventures for families and thrill-seekers during its first Mediterranean sailing. Departure occurs at 10pm bound for Rome via Civitavecchia, complete with a fireworks display over the Malaga coastline around 10.20pm.

Passengers will enjoy a four-night journey until July 3. Stops include a brief technical call in Tarragona, a visit to La Spezia, and a full sea day. This 365-metre ship weighs over 248,000 gross tonnes and accommodates an amazing more than 5,600 guests at full capacity across nearly 2,800 cabins. Around 2,350 crew members will make sure of excellent service throughout 20 decks filled with a vast array of entertainment options.

Royal Caribbean has equipped Legend of the Seas with liquefied natural gas propulsion as the fourth such vessel in its fleet. Advanced waste heat recovery systems and shore power connections support operations. These features advance the company’s goal of net zero emissions by 2035.

Marbella’s port has welcomed a duo of luxury yachts owned by American superstore beneficiary during her Mediterranean voyage.

The heir to US megastore chain Walmart just dropped anchor in Marbella’s Puerto Banus.

Nancy Walton Laurie, American businesswoman and philanthropist, brought her €300 million superyacht and its accompanying support vessel worth €30 million into Costa del Sol waters this week.

Dubbed as Kaos and Kalm, the two ships were filmed coasting outside of Puerto Banus’ harbour on Wednesday afternoon.

May closed with another record for Social Security contributions in the municipality of Marbella. The approach of summer has generated more than 2,700 jobs, slightly more than in the last two years. A record is expected during the peak tourist season. There is also a new record high for self-employed workers.

This is the best number of memberships for this month in the entire historical series, which spans from 2003, i.e. the last 23 years. In year-on-year terms, there are 2,605 more registered workers than in the same month last year (+3.18%).

These figures suggest another record-breaking summer in the municipality.

Marbella town hall has completed restoration work on the Arab garden at the Parque de los Tres Jardines in San Pedro de Alcántara, recovering key elements of its original design and improving conditions for visitors.

The project, carried out through the mayor’s office for San Pedro de Alcántara, included the restoration of the garden’s central fountain, landscaping improvements, path repairs and the installation of new infrastructure to support the site’s long-term conservation.

A major element of the works was the complete refurbishment of the fountain, which is inspired by Arab and Mediterranean landscaping traditions.

The landscaping programme included the planting of 54 fruit trees, including fig, loquat, quince, lemon, orange, pomegranate and carob varieties. Several existing species were relocated to preserve the garden’s original layout, while pruning, cleaning and maintenance works were carried out across the site.

Basketball legend Michael Jordan has touched down at Malaga Airport ahead of a hotly-anticipated golf tournament expected to attract a host of A-list celebrities to the Costa del Sol.

The 63-year-old, widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, landed in Malaga on Tuesday in a personalised Gulfstream G650ER private jet.

The swanky €60 million aircraft carries the American’s iconic ‘Jumpman’ logo on its tail and is registered under the code N236MJ – combining the numbers 23 (the number he wore on the court), six (the number of NBA championships he won with the Chicago Bulls) and his initials MJ.

Jordan, the highest-paid athlete of all time, is understood to be in southern Spain for this week’s LIV Golf Andalucia tournament, taking place at the iconic Valderrama Golf Club in Sotogrande.

Malaga province becomes more and more visible in the eyes of the Michelin Guide. The prestigious publication revealed its 12 new additions to the recommended restaurants section – among them are three restaurants in the province: Ménade (Vélez-Málaga), Lila (Fuengirola) and PuroSushi (Marbella). This brings the total number of Michelin-approved Malaga restaurants to 26, out of the 90 in Andalucía.

Michelin describes the restaurants as “surprises both with spaciousness and tranquil location, offering contemporary Mediterranean cuisine with some international touches” (Ménade), “contemporary bistro, offering truly unique cuisine” (Lila), “a family-friendly Japanese restaurant with a soul” (PuroSushi).

Malaga consolidates its position with the number of stars (12), Bib Gourmand awards (4) and recommendations (26).

Marbella Football Club’s ambitious new stadium has been in design and administrative progress since August 2025. That is when the demolition of the old stadium started. Recently a fresh impetus has been delivered, with the council approving the final plans, so that construction can start.

Bank guarantees of €3.19 million have been delivered, and the main construction phase is expected to start within 2 months. The project is financed wholly by Marbella FC Foundation, and will include a 90-room hotel, parking for 1000 vehicles, a sports centre, shops, and restaurants.

Marbella offers nine assisted bathing points on its beaches for people with reduced mobility until the end of September 2026. The service, which includes amphibious chairs and support staff, requires prior booking at least 24 hours in advance by calling the freephone number 658 618 333.

Details of the assisted bathing service (2026):

Available points: Nine points distributed along the Marbella coastline, including areas of Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara.
Reservations: Booking is mandatory by calling 658 61 83 33 (Beach Department).
Availability: Operational until the end of September.
Equipment: Amphibious chairs and specialized staff for entering and exiting the water.
Improvements: Accessibility has been enhanced to ensure inclusion for people with reduced mobility.

In addition, the municipality is installing 40 new modern public restroom facilities along the promenade and beach areas to improve the overall user experience.

Málaga is once again connected to New York with a daily direct flight. United Airlines has resumed this service with a flight that departed from Newark Airport last Thursday 30th April, and subsequently departed on May 1st from the capital of the Costa del Sol to the Big Apple. This marks the fourth season of service, which will continue until the end of September. The tourism sector hopes this will be the last season operating only during peak season, a matter to be determined in October when the airline finalizes its 2027 schedule. Average occupancy across all flights to and from the Costa del Sol is higher than last year’s figures, with 90% of seats reserved.

Yesterday, the Andalusian semi-final of the MGA Gastronomic Awards 2026 took place at the Benahavís Hospitality School, bringing together young kitchen and front-of-house students from across Andalusia. Throughout the day, participants showcased their talent by preparing dishes and completing practical tests in front of a professional jury, in an atmosphere of hard work, learning and great enthusiasm.

Benahavís Town Council actively supported the event, collaborating in its organisation and backing initiatives that promote the training of our young people and open up new opportunities for them in the hospitality sector. The aim is to remain the world-reknowned centre for culinary experiences on the Costa del Sol.

The finals take place on the 28th of May at Calle Bolivia, 26, Málaga. The event is open to the public with no entrance fee. More details here: https://www.andalucia.org/event/mga-gastronomic-awards/27660102/