Ports & destinations

Valletta Cruise Port welcomes MSC World Europa on maiden call

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 20 April 2023 20 April 2023

Valletta Cruise Port (Malta) has welcomed MSC World Europa on her first call to Valletta as part of her inaugural 7-night West Mediterranean itinerary.

MSC World Europa is the largest ship in MSC Cruises’ fleet pushing the boundaries of ship building, design and technology to new levels, taking sustainability at sea to higher levels, representing a major step towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The lively tunes of a traditional brass band welcomed guests through Valletta Cruise Port's terminal and onto the Valletta Waterfront. The maritime tradition of a Crest Exchange to celebrate a ship’s first visit to a destination took place on board between the Master of the Vessel Captain Dino Sagani and local authorities. The line also welcomed nearly 200 guests on board MSC World Europa, including Malta’s Minister for Tourism Clayton Bartolo and other government officials, plus local tour operators and travel agents, to experience MSC Cruises’ ninth vessel to be registered under Malta’s maritime flag.

The 215,863 gross tonne ship can accommodate up to 6,762 passengers and will visit Valletta on weekly calls throughout summer 2023, winter 2023-24 and summer 2024 during 7-night cruises to Italy, Spain and France.

Angelo Capurro, Executive Director, MSC Cruises, said, “Malta has been an integral part of our operation for nearly 25 years, and we have brought hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers to visit this wonderful island. We will continue to bring even more guests to Valletta in the future, and we are very proud that MSC World Europa, an ultramodern metropolis at sea, will be a weekly visitor for at least the next 18 months at her port of registry.”

Stephen Xuereb, COO, Global Ports Holding and CEO, Valletta Cruise Port added “We are proud to be welcoming yet another splendid MSC Cruises’ ship to our scenic Grand Harbour, the MSC World Europa for the first time. Valletta Cruise Port will be hosting her on another 36 calls during this year as part of her inaugural Mediterranean season. Indeed, next year she will call Malta on another 52 occasions, all through the year. MSC Cruises is the key cruise line calling Valletta, and it is our pleasure to continuously collaborate with MSC, a relationship which has, over the years, left an enduring mark on an evolving cruise industry. On behalf of both Global Ports Holding and Valletta Cruise Port we congratulate MSC Cruises on their achievements, and look forward to many more years of fruitful joint cooperation and partnerships.”

Valletta has positioned itself as a significant port on the cruise map through a drive for excellence and close collaboration will all key players. Together with all stakeholders including the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Malta Tourism Authority, Transport Malta, agents and all service providers, Valletta Cruise Port endeavours in the delivery of an outstanding service leading to the conferment of various awards during its 20 years of operation, following exceptional trade and passenger feedback.

Currently two key infrastructural projects by Infrastructure Malta are in progress on Valletta’s quays which Valletta Cruise Port is actively supporting. The Shore-to-Ship project will continue improving the quality of air in the Maltese Islands, and make the Grand Harbour operations more sustainable. The project will allow ships to switch off their engines and hook up to electrical provisioning through the quays. Furthermore, Infrastructure Malta is working on widening Quays Pinto 4-5 to 16 meters, allowing for the larger cruise ships to berth without the need of spacer barges, making the operation safer and more attractive. This investment will make Malta more competitive, and help both the Islands and the cruise lines to meet the stringent environmental targets that will come into force in the upcoming years.

Cruise season starts in Seattle

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 18 April 2023 18 April 2023

Community leaders came together at the Port of Seattle’s Pier 66 on April 15 to welcome Norwegian Bliss for the first sailing of the 2023 cruise season. During the season stretching from April 15 to October 30, the Port forecasts that 289 sailings will carry 1.4 million revenue passengers, or 700,000 travelers, to Alaska and back.

The 2023 cruise season is expected to support over $900 million in economic activity, 5,500 jobs, and generate $14.5 million in statewide taxes. Each homeported vessel brings in over $4 million to the local economy each time it provisions at the dock.

The Port also says it expects many ships to utilize shore power connections. Providing shore power connections to vessels allows them to turn off diesel engines while at the dock, which reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The Port forecasts that 111 sailings will connect at Terminal 91 this year, nearly double the connection rate of last year.

“This six-month cruise season delivers a critical economic boost for all of King County,” said Port of Seattle Executive Director Steve Metruck. “The demand for the Seattle to Alaska cruise itinerary made it possible for our port to expand investments in workforce development and clean energy infrastructure. We recently helped form the world’s only cruise-focused “Green Corridor” effort, focused on exploring decarbonization strategies from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska. With so much interest in this itinerary, partnership with cruise lines and ports along the route, we see extraordinary potential for the economic and environmental future of Seattle cruise.”

“As we continue our work to activate Downtown as a safe and welcoming place for neighbors and visitors, we are excited to welcome hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers to Seattle,” said City of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “The cruise season in Seattle makes a real difference for downtown businesses — allowing us to share what makes our city special with tourists from around the world through local retail, restaurants, hospitality, and hotels during their stay here each season.”

“Seattle has always felt like our second home since we launched the industry’s first roundtrip cruises to Alaska over 20 years ago. We are committed to contributing to the local economy and promoting sustainable tourism and will continue to work together with the Port of Seattle and the local government to ensure we can continue to welcome our guests to this beautiful city and deliver the best Alaska cruise experience,” said President of Norwegian Cruise Line David Herrera.

“The cruise season in Seattle provides over $200 million in labor income for working men and women,” said Matt Ventoza, Vice President of ILWU Local 19. “We are proud to partner with the Port of Seattle in the creation of these jobs in so many sectors and industries, from the waterfront to farms, restaurants, and hotels across the state.”

“As a pivotal homeport for the Alaska cruise industry, Seattle has the valuable opportunity to welcome nearly 700,000 individual travelers before and after their cruise,” said Tammy Blount-Canavan, President and CEO of Visit Seattle. “During their time here, passengers are able to sample our outstanding dining options, beautiful hotels, unique shops, and authentic Seattle experiences. This taste of what the destination offers not only enhances the overall cruise experience, it also encourages those passengers to return to Seattle to explore all the things that make the Emerald City and the Pacific Northwest such a magical place, expanding the economic impact of this valued part of the Tourism Economy.”

Environmental commitment

The Port of Seattle is one of the most environmentally progressive cruise homeports in North America. The Port works closely with cruise lines to minimize impacts from cruise ship operations through the use of cleaner fuels, access to shore power, and a strong collaborative relationship focused on the environment.

– The Port has set a goal to have 100 percent of homeport cruise ships in Seattle equipped with shore power capability and connect to power on every call by 2030. The port is making significant progress and expects to achieve this goal early.
– Currently, 100 percent of Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess ships calling the Port of Seattle will be shore power capable in 2023.
– The Port forecasts that 111 sailings will connect at Terminal 91, nearly doubling the use of shore power over the prior year for connections at the Port.
– The Port will complete its third berth electrification project at Pier 66 in 2024, making the Port of Seattle one of the world’s leading ports for shore power use.
– In 2022, the Port joined ten other organizations in creating the world’s first cruise-focused Green Corridor, developed to explore decarbonization strategies from the Pacific Northwest to Alaska. The Green Corridor is helping ports, cruise lines, cities, and industry experts strategize on alternative fuel production, storage, and related infrastructure requirements.

Cruise lines operating in Seattle not only follow state and international regulatory guidelines, but they also continue to voluntarily adapt operations and equipment to protect air and water quality.

A full fourteen years before Puget Sound officially became a ‘No Discharge Zone,’ cruise lines voluntarily stopped discharging untreated wastewater and greywater in Puget Sound.

Starting in 2020, the Port prohibited the discharge of exhaust gas cleaning system wash water from cruise ships at berth.
In 2021, all ships calling on the Port voluntarily agreed to pause all discharges of exhaust gas cleaning system wash water in Puget Sound. This pause will remain in effect until findings from a third-party research study can show that wash water discharges do not impact Puget Sound water quality, and until that time, cruise ships do not discharge anything into Puget Sound waters.

Since 2004, the Port has partnered with the Washington State Department of Ecology and the cruise industry in a voluntary agreement. The memorandum of understanding, often referred to as the “Cruise MOU,” was originally put in place to increase both standards and oversight on cruise ships, allowing for random inspections of systems and records on ships each season.

Solid uptick in Québec’s international cruise sector

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 April 2023 14 April 2023

Following Seatrade Cruise Global, a dedicated international cruise industry event staged late March in Fort Lauderdale, Cruise the St Lawrence confirms a solid uptick in cruise sector operations at home in Québec and in regions worldwide. The nine Saint Lawrence ports of call – Montréal, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, Havre Saint-Pierre, Gaspé and Îles de la Madeleine – enjoyed an onsite presence at this year’s event which drew some 20 000 industry representatives. Together in a new booth with our Canada New England Alliance partners, Destination Saint Lawrence delegates met with some hundred decision makers from cruise lines active in regions across the globe.

The upcoming international cruise season on the Saint Lawrence appears especially promising and provides proof positive that post-pandemic recovery in the sector is well under way. Heartened by the speed of the industry’s comeback, René Trépanier, executive director of Cruise the Saint Lawrence (CSL), proffered as follows: “Last year, we set our sights on a return to 2019 levels of performance by 2025. We are now confident that we will achieve this goal earlier than initially anticipated.’’

Indeed, more than 300 stopovers are planned for the nine Saint Lawrence ports of call in 2023. The season will also be the longest in CSL history, extending from April 23rd when the Viking Octantis calls in at the Magdalen Islands to November 5th when the Silver Shadow departs from the Port of Québec. In total, 43 different ships will visit our shores, including a dozen or so set to navigate the waters of the Saint Lawrence for the first time.

Readers will recall that last year marked the relaunch of cruise operations after a two-year hiatus owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health restrictions then in effect required that onboard capacity be reduced to prevent any new outbreaks of the virus. Albeit all proceeded according to plan, passenger numbers for last year’s 248 stopovers at our nine ports of call plateaued at just 266 601, a figure which pales in comparison to the over 460 000 passengers expected in 2023.

Over the years, Destination Canada New England, which includes the ports of the Saint Lawrence, has secured a position of choice in the rapidly growing international cruise industry. Given the breadth of destination offerings, Cruise the Saint Lawrence is well poised to cater to the needs of a diversity of traveller profiles. Going forward, our association will continue to provide for sustained, soundly managed growth.

Cruise the Saint Lawrence is a sectoral organization which groups together the nine ports of call located along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River. The mission of the organization is to grow cruise market activities in Québec and across Destination Canada New England through the provision of marketing and development services to members. Cruise the Saint Lawrence enjoys the support of partners Tourism Québec, the Québec Tourism Industry Alliance and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

Global Ports Canary Islands recognized for commitment to sustainability and operational excellence

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 17 April 2023 17 April 2023

Global Ports Canary Islands S.L., a joint venture of Global Ports Holding and its partner Sepcan, has been awarded in the category of outstanding business initiative in the ports of the province of Las Palmas in the XXVI Edition of the Las Palmas Ports Awards 2023. The awards, organized by the Port Authority of Las Palmas and the Ports of Las Palmas Foundation, aim to recognize the most significant contributions to the development and creativity of the ports of Las Palmas in the previous year.

The recognition was given for Global Ports Holding & Sepcan’s commitment to the development of sustainable and eco-efficient cruise terminals in Las Palmas, Fuerteventura & Lanzarote Cruise Ports. With an investment of 40 million euros, the company will build four state-of-the-art terminals, including a 14,000 square meter facility in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The new terminals will offer visitors a comfortable and innovative experience while meeting all international safety, security and service quality standards.

Javier Rodriguez Sanchez, GPH Regional Director West Med & Asia commented: “As the world’s largest cruise port operator, GPH is committed to sustainability and operational excellence. The recognition we have received for our sustainable and eco-efficient cruise terminals is a testament to our dedication to providing enhanced guest experience. With the construction of these new facilities, we are taking another step forward in our mission to create a more sustainable future for the cruise industry in Las Palmas, Fuerteventura & Lanzarote.”

Sergio, SEPCAN's CEO commented: “Together we will build four sustainable and eco-efficient cruise terminals with a 40-million-euro investment. The new facilities at the Las Palmas Cruise Port in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, one of Spain's busiest ports, will include a 14,000 square meter two-story terminal. The terminals will provide professional services, ensuring a comfortable and innovative experience for visitors while meeting safety and quality standards. The project is set to be completed within two years.”

The project features a new sustainable terminal building and infrastructure improvement in the Las Palmas Cruise Port. The project includes a 14,400m2 terminal build from sustainable recycled materials to achieve low carbon footprint that will be able to provide smoother homeporting and transit operations at one of the busiest ports in Spain. Operational by 2024 cruise season, Las Palmas Cruise Port, with an ability to handle the largest cruise ships in the world simultaneously, will have new retail and F&B experiences, 40 bus capacity and an improved operational structure.

Port of Vancouver expects record number of cruise ship visits in 2023

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 April 2023 14 April 2023

More passengers than ever before could visit the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver this season, as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority continues to improve Canada’s premier homeport and its accessibility for all visitors

The first cruise ship of the season – the Sapphire Princess – arrived in Vancouver on April 12, officially starting what could be a record season for the industry locally. A total of 331 cruise ships visits are scheduled for the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver between April 12 and October 24, an increase of approximately 8% compared to 2022.

“Vancouver continues to be one of the world’s top cruise destinations and an award-winning homeport,” said Mandy Chan, manager of cruise services at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver. “After a two-year pause and an incredible restart in 2022, we are now gearing up for another big season for the Vancouver cruise sector as well as the local hospitality and tourism industries it supports.”

A record 1.2 to 1.3 million passengers could travel through the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 2023 – an increase of about 10% over the record set in 2019 of 1.1 million. The port authority continues to focus on enhancing the passenger experience and this year will become the first homeport cruise terminal in Canada to offer pet relief stations for service animals. Created as part of a larger plan to improve the terminal’s overall accessibility, these stations offer a welcoming area for service animals during their visit to the Port of Vancouver’s cruise terminal.

The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver was recognized as North America’s best homeport in Cruise Critic’s 2022 awards late last year, due to its breathtaking vistas, proximity to the Inside Passage and central location in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

“As we prepare for another big season, I want to acknowledge the hard work of everyone who made Vancouver’s return to cruise such a success last year as well as recognize the planning and preparation that has gone into this year,” said Chan. “The Port of Vancouver’s cruise comeback story is a testament to the exceptional work and dedication that industry has led to adapt and renew the sector. I’d like to thank our cruise lines partners, the Canada Place cruise terminal services provider Ceres Terminals Canada, the Cruise Lines International Association, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and everyone working throughout the cruise and tourism industries for their part in the safe and successful return of a treasured industry.”

Vancouver has been a homeport for Alaska cruises for more than 30 years, acting as the home base for one-way and round-trip cruises through the Inside Passage. As a homeport destination, the Vancouver cruise industry injects an average of almost $3 million into the local economy for each ship that visits Canada Place, generates nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada, $300 million in wages and contributes $840 million to national GDP.

Highlights for 2023 cruise season

– The first ship of the season, the Sapphire Princess, arrived at the Canada Place cruise terminal east berth at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The last cruise ship of the season, the Koningsdam, will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, October 24.
– The following six ships will visit Canada Place for the first time in 2023: Brilliance of the Seas, Silver Whisper, Hanseatic Nature, Fridtjof Nansen, Seabourn Venture and Scenic Eclipse II
– Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver welcomes the return of Holland America, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Viking Cruises, Victory Cruise Lines, Hurtigruten, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Oceania Cruises
– In 2022, nearly 70% of cruise calls were shore power enabled, compared to 50% in 2019. Demand for shore power has steadily increased since 2009, when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise ships. The technology enables ships to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and plug into land-based electrical power. Shore power at the Port of Vancouver has helped reduce port-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25,000 tonnes since 2009.
– Cruise returned to the Port of Vancouver on April 10, 2022, with the inaugural visit of the Holland America Line ship Koningsdam, following a two-year pause due to pandemic restrictions. There were 307 cruise ship visits and 810,090 passengers last year.

Photo: Koningsdam departing Vancouver last summer. Photo credit: Teijo Niemela