Ports & destinations

Preparations are in full gear for Antigua and Barbuda’s first homeporting exercise

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 25 January 2023 25 January 2023

Cruise tourism stakeholders are currently fine-tuning preparations for the inaugural call and official welcoming festivities for P&O Cruises Arvia on Saturday. Tourism Minister the Hon. Charles Fernandez, who less than a week ago was reappointed as Minister of Tourism, has gone full steam ahead to ensure the success of the activities that will see the country execute its first official home porting exercise.

The Hon. Minister on Monday, January 23rd, toured the 5th berth facility where the vessel will be docked and also where the exchange of passengers will take place. Some 800 passengers will board Arvia in Antigua direct from special air charters which will land at the VC Bird International to be transferred to the 5th Berth facility at Heritage Quay. The entire exercise is logistics driven between air and seaport personnel as well as transportation service providers.

“We look forward to this exercise with great anticipation as it forms part of the plan to expand our cruise tourism platform. We anticipate that this activity will reap significant rewards for several of our stakeholders including our Taxi Operators,” said Minister Fernandez.

According to the Tourism Minister he is quite pleased with the added infrastructure at the 5th berth that is currently being outfitted with security, baggage, immigration, and customs resources to ensure that the transition process is seamless.

“This operation is an historic one for two main reasons, firstly the Arvia is the largest vessel to dock in Antigua with a capacity of over 5,200 passengers and 1,600 crew and secondly this is the first of three home porting operations scheduled for between now and March, so it serves as the foundation which is extremely important,” remarks Dona Regis-Prosper of Antigua Cruise Ports.

Homeporting is when a ship uses a port/marine terminal as its home, regardless of its port of registry. This allows passengers to begin/terminate a cruise in the home port and positively impacts ground transportation and tours. Passengers may also fly to the island to board vessels.

With all auguring well, Antigua and Barbuda stands poised to become one of the premier home porting destinations in the Eastern Caribbean.

LGBT+ cruise passengers boost business for Greater Fort Lauderdale’s travel industry

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 18 January 2023 18 January 2023

Greater Fort Lauderdale is preparing to set a new record in February 2023, with four, back-to-back, sold-out LGBT+ cruises welcoming more than 11,500 visitors to the destination. The economic impact of the four cruises from hotel room nights alone is estimated to be at least $8 million according to Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization or Greater Fort Lauderdale. Visitors will arrive here from around the world, with most booking local hotel reservations on both ends of their cruise itinerary for enjoying local restaurants, attractions and shopping while they are here. 

“With demand for travel to LGBT+ friendly destinations at an all-time high, our reputation for welcoming ‘everyone under the sun’ has delivered a record-breaking booking of four consecutive LGBT+ cruises of this magnitude,” says Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s senior vice president of inclusion & accessibility.

Greater Fort Lauderdale is Florida’s LGBT+ capital and one of the most progressive destinations in the United States. TravelPulse recently named Greater Fort Lauderdale one of the top 4 places for LGBT+ travelers post-COVID.

In October 2022, Visit Lauderdale unveiled its vibrant, new brand campaign “Everyone Under the Sun,” highlighting Greater Fort Lauderdale’s authentic welcoming vibe and its inclusive community. The destination’s commitment to inclusion is evident in the ads, staring locals of all ethnicities, disabilities and members of the area’s LGBT+ community.

Gray worked with LGBT+ cruise operators Atlantis, VACAYA and Olivia for the past year and promoted the four sailings on visitlauderdale.com/lgbtq/cruises. In addition, he arranged discounted hotel packages with area hoteliers, such as the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Downtown and helped facilitate special marketing initiatives with VACAYA and Olivia.

Atlantis’ voyage on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas (February 4-12, 2023) is the largest gay cruise ever, with 5,400 passengers. VACAYA’s cruise package on Celebrity Reflections (February 12-19, 2023) will host 2,300 travelers and Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam will host two cruises for LGBT+ tour operator, Olivia, which is celebrating 50 years of specialized travel packages for lesbians. The cruises (February 19-26, 2023 and February 23-March 5, 2023) will carry a total of 3,800 passengers.

Luxury cruises are big business for Greater Fort Lauderdale, with Port Everglades ranked third among the busiest cruise homeports worldwide.

“Beyond our appreciation for the major economic boost to our economy, we want LGBT+ travelers to know they are truly welcome in our community,” Gray says.

AD Ports Group inaugurates Aqaba Cruise Terminal

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 24 January 2023 24 January 2023

Under the patronage of Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Bisher Khasawneh, H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Jordan, and H.E. Tawfiq Kreishan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration in Jordan, inaugurated the first and only cruise terminal in Aqaba on January 23rd, coinciding with the arrival of the cruise vessel MSC Splendida carrying more than 2,000 visitors to Jordan. The new Aqaba Cruise Terminal marks the launch of the first of five strategic mega-projects planned between AD Ports Group - the global facilitator of logistics, industry and trade - and Aqaba Development Corporation to advance the coastal city’s tourism, logistics and transport sectors.

H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan and H.E. Kreishan took a tour and were briefed by Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, on the facility’s wide array of amenities and services that cater to the needs and expectations of international tourists visiting the Kingdom. The inauguration was attended by H.E. Eng. Nayef Fayez, Chief Commissioner of ASEZA; H.E. Hussein Safadi, CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation; and several senior officials from both sides.

Under the agreement with Aqaba Development Corporation, AD Ports Group will develop, manage and operate the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, a world-class facility for international cruise passengers looking to visit Jordan, specifically Aqaba, Petra and Wadi Rum. Over 50 vessels are scheduled to dock at the Aqaba Cruise Terminal over the next four months, bringing tens of thousands of visitors to the popular winter-sun destination.

H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed Bin Khalid Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Jordan, said: “The Aqaba Cruise Terminal is the result of the active cooperation and strategic partnership between the UAE and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Our longstanding, deep-rooted brotherly relations throughout history have today reached advanced levels of coordination on numerous fronts, with both countries serving as model examples of collaboration, wisdom, reason, peace, tolerance and forgiveness for the region and the world. The UAE is a key strategic partner for Jordan in a number of fields and is keen to propel mutual economic and investment cooperation to greater heights, while building on existing partnerships across different domains. Trade volumes amounted to around USD 3 billon last year, and UAE investments in Jordan reached over USD 17 billion. Ties between the UAE and Jordan have been strengthened even further thanks to the progressive vision and interests of both countries, representing a robust and growing strategic partnership across several vital areas. I would like to thank the Jordanian leadership, government and the nation for their cooperation, further reflecting the depth of the brotherly relations between our countries.”

H.E. Falah Mohammad Al Ahbabi, Chairman of AD Ports Group, said: “The inauguration of the Aqaba Cruise Terminal reflects the ongoing cooperation and strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations, propelling them to new heights. As the first and only facility of its kind in the country, the Aqaba Cruise Terminal not only offers an unprecedented opportunity to tap into the fast-growing cruise industry, but also enables us to share our longstanding expertise in operating leading-edge cruise terminals, while supporting AD Ports Group’s international growth strategy by leveraging Aqaba’s pivotal location and vast potential as a regional hub on the Red Sea.”

H.E. Eng. Nayef Fayez, Chief Commissioner of ASEZA, Chairman of Aqaba Development Corporation, said: “At ASEZA, we remain committed to transforming the city of Aqaba into a competitive investment, commercial and tourism destination on the Red Sea, and the successful inauguration of the Aqaba Cruise Terminal today aligns with these endeavours. We thank our partners at AD Ports Group for believing in the vast potential of Aqaba and for sharing our ongoing efforts to stimulate and enhance sustainable economic activity at one of Jordan’s most vital gateways.”

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “We sincerely thank H.E. Tawfiq Kreishan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration, for inaugurating the Aqaba Cruise Terminal under the patronage of the Prime Minister. This new facility seeks to elevate Aqaba’s travel experience and leverage its prime location and growth potential to attract tens of thousands of international visitors to explore Jordan’s top attractions, thereby adding economic value to the coastal city while establishing its position as a destination of choice in the Levant region. We thank our valued partners, namely Aqaba Development Corporation and ASEZA, whose partnership continues to be instrumental in enhancing Aqaba’s position as a leading tourism and business hub.”

H.E. Hussein Safadi, CEO of Aqaba Development Corporation, said: “This strategic partnership serves as a testament to the steadfast collaboration between Jordan and the UAE, firmly positioning Aqaba as a major player within the global arena, while helping promote national plans and drive economic prosperity. Not only that, but the subsequent digital transformation resulting from this partnership will also foster a new ecosystem that significantly enhances the resilience of Aqaba’s maritime sector.”

The Aqaba Cruise Terminal comprises a 700-metre quay wall, passenger and luggage hall, indoor retail spaces, free Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and offices. The ultra-modern facility is a one-stop-shop for multiple government stakeholders serving the cruise business, improving processes, procedures and services and making it an attractive destination for cruise lines, thereby increasing ship call opportunities and passenger volumes, while ultimately boosting the economy at large.

A role model of a successful public-private partnership, the Aqaba Cruise Terminal provides an exceptional travel experience, setting Jordan as a pivotal destination for leisure travellers and signifying economic prosperity. A unique project in the Kingdom, the Aqaba Cruise Terminal will diversify the entry options available for passengers arriving in Jordan and will be an integral part of AD Ports Group’s Marsa Zayed, a mega mixed-use waterfront project comprising residential, retail, F&B, commercial and office spaces, hotel and leisure areas designed to bolster Aqaba’s status as a regional tourism and business hub.

Besides the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, four strategic agreements are planned between AD Ports Group and Aqaba Development Corporation regarding Marsa Zayed, Maqta Ayla for the development and operation of an advanced Ports Community System, Aqaba Multipurpose Port and the development, management and operation of King Hussein International Airport, which collectively will help position Aqaba as a major regional destination, as well as a catalyst for investment attraction and economic development.

 

Port Of Galveston celebrates year’s 1-millionth passenger

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 28 December 2022 28 December 2022

The Port of Galveston, fourth most popular cruise homeport in North America, celebrated its 1-millionth cruise passenger of the year on Dec. 22. Port officials welcomed Kathy Wade and her family at the port’s new Royal Caribbean cruise terminal with gifts before they embarked on their 4-night Adventure of the Seas cruise. The Dallas resident was traveling with her family on a Christmas holiday cruise.

“This is our sixth cruise this year,” Wade said. “We love to cruise and we love Royal! We’ve been on the Adventure of the Seas several times.”

Wade and her family stayed at a Galveston hotel the night before their cruise. To celebrate Christmas on the ship, they were traveling with an inflatable Christmas tree and two bags filled with presents.

Staff from the Port of Galveston, Ceres Terminals Inc. and Adventure of the Seas greeted the family in the terminal to congratulate them.

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, “We’re very happy for the Wade family. We’re also happy to mark this milestone for the port and our cruise partners. It shows that cruising from Galveston is back and moving full steam ahead! This is great news for avid cruise travelers like the Wades, for all the local people who work in cruise-related jobs and for the entities that benefit economically. The port’s cruise industry is a major economic engine for our region, benefitting suppliers, maritime services, hotels, restaurants, and shops, to name a few.”

Rees also recognized the onshore services, including the International Longshoremen’s Association, terminal, security and parking staffs who have managed 2 million passenger movements safely and efficiently in 2022.

The port expects to break its 2022 passenger record next year with 362 sailings, a new record in the port’s 22-year history as a cruise homeport. Carnival, Disney, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean cruise lines are scheduled to sail more than a dozen ships from the Port of Galveston in 2023.

Passengers choose Galveston, the only homeport in Texas, for its convenience and great sailing experience to Western Caribbean destinations, Rees said. More than 30 million people live within a 300-mile radius, making Galveston the prime drive-to cruise market for the central U.S., including Houston, Austin, Fort Worth, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Little Rock.