Terminal Isonzo 2, the new cruise facility of the Passenger Port of Venice has been opened today. Carried out in 18 months and with an overall investment of 12 million euros (7 million euros by the Venice Port Authority and 5 million euros by Venezia Terminal Passeggeri), running at top speed it will guarantee the handling of 600.000 passengers per year.
Located in the Marittima Area in the homonymous quay, the terminal overlooks the lagoon and is conceived according to the maximum rationalization standards and extreme attention to the security of passengers in addition to the use of technologies and materials reducing environmental impact. The overall design has been conceived to guarantee an embarkation and disembarkation from cruise ships and an easy transfer of the passengers on buses.
"With this new terminal inaugurated today, the infrastructural development of the Passenger Port will increase our passenger capacity, allowing us to better welcome the 1.806.000 passengers expected by the end of 2011 (11,69% increase compared to 2010 ," emphasises a satisfied Sandro Trevisanato, Chairman of Venezia Terminal Passeggeri. " It is clear that we are acting in the right direction and this result bear out the merit of the choices we have made and the programme of investments we have carried out for the redevelopment of the Marittima area, in order to meet the needs of both operators and users. Venice has now become a major cruise hub. It is the departure point for itineraries that cover the most attractive area in the Mediterranean, which run through Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Turkey. Its success is attributable to a number of factors, including winning over and retaining leading players in the sector and having wiretapped the new market trends, such as the winter cruising success (60.000 passengers in the period November 2010 / March 2011) which allow to visit the Mediterranean during the low season, appreciating at best its several historical and artistic treasures. It is also worth mentioning the short cruise phenomenon, a growing new trend aimed at those trying out this holiday segment for the first time, and the excellent results achieved by the segment dedicated to incentive and business cruises ."
The terminal is divided into two parts: the Arrival area measuring 7.485 sqm and the Departure area measuring 7.130 sqm with a panoramic terrace at the first floor measuring 2.150 sqm. The Departure Area is provided with a duty free, a café and a VIP lounge. The embarkment of passengers is made smooth and secure thanks to a mobile boarding bridge dividing the passenger flow from the baggage handling and the ship provisions.
