Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

Newsflash/@PortsSCTenerife

This is the moment a cruise ship forced to dock in the port of holiday hotspot Tenerife sends a message of thanks to the island using the cabin lights as local residents applaud the gesture.

The cruise ship AIDAnova reportedly docked in the port of the Spanish island of Tenerife in the Canary island in the south of the country over a week ago after the Spanish government declared a state of alarm.

According to local media, the passengers, who were mainly German tourists, were sent home by plane and the ship has been docked on the island since then.

The footage shows the moment the cruise ship uses the cabin lights to compose a huge message that can be seen from the buildings facing the port and says “thank you Tenerife” in Spanish.

Local residents react to the message with a burst of applause.

Reports state that cruise ships operated by Aida Cruises has sent similar messages in ports in North America and Australia.

The AIDAnova will reportedly stay in Tenerife port for a long period of time with the minimum necessary crew for safety reasons.

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