Ports & destinations

Global Ports Holding raises strategic financing to strengthen balance sheet and pursue growth opportunities

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 24 May 2021 24 May 2021

Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH), the world's largest independent cruise port operator, and Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm, have entered into a $261 million financing arrangement. This new investment from Sixth Street will strengthen GPH’s balance sheet and provide flexible growth capital for GPH to pursue expansion opportunities at a dynamic juncture in the global cruise industry.

“GPH operates ports in some of the most important cruise hubs in the Caribbean and Mediterranean and benefits from real scale across the world’s major cruise destinations,” said Michael Griffin, Partner at Sixth Street and head of the Specialty Lending team in Europe. “We believe GPH is well-positioned to continue to grow its long-term relationships in key markets as the cruise industry and the local economies that depend on it begin to recover.”

“As the world’s largest independent cruise port operator, this timely capital raise reinforces our position as the market leader and gives us the financial flexibility to take advantage of growth opportunities with the resumption of cruising,” said H. Emre Sayın, CEO of Global Ports Holding Plc. “We appreciate Sixth Street providing us with financing certainty at an important moment for the global cruise industry, and we look forward to using this capital to continue to expand our business.”

With the latest addition of Taranto Cruise Port to its network, today Global Ports Holding operates 20 ports in 13 countries. Its industry leading ports, Valletta Cruise Port and Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore, were the first to start operations with their Health & Safety Protocols approved through collaboration with all local stakeholders. Today, the GPH Cruise Ports which have been awarded the “Safe Travels” stamp by the WTTC, are ready to welcome the cruise passengers to their destinations.

Vaccinations at Port Everglades getting shots to mariners at sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 21 May 2021 21 May 2021

Mariners aboard cruise and cargo ships docking at Port Everglades are receiving Covid-19 vaccinations through partnerships that include the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), the Port, Seafarers’ House, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

Within the past two weeks, more than 1,570 mariners aboard some 25 cruise and cargo ships have been vaccinated. The vaccination program at Port Everglades will continue throughout June and is also open to all port workers and those who conduct business at Port Everglades.

In addition, the Port worked with the state to set up a mobile site that is open to the public at the Resolve Marine Academy at 1550 SE 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, call 720-530-4474.

Seafarers’ House at Port Everglades is assisting in the effort by transporting health care workers directly to ships dockside to administer vaccinations.

“We are grateful to the State of Florida and our cruise line partners for making the vaccines available to those at sea,” said Jonathan Daniels, Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director. “This is a vital humanitarian effort to reach crew members who often don’t have access to landside medical facilities.”

Port Everglades is one of five Florida seaports where the Florida Division of Emergency Management has arranged for port workers to be vaccinated.

Galveston Wharves to welcome first Norwegian Cruise Line ship

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 12 May 2021 12 May 2021

Galveston Wharves announced today that Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Prima would set sail from the Port of Galveston in fall 2022. This is the brand’s first new class of ships in nearly 10 years and the first-ever Norwegian Cruise Line ship to sail from Galveston.

Rodger Rees, Galveston Wharves port director and CEO, said, “We’re thrilled that Norwegian Cruise Line chose Galveston, the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S., as one of the first U.S. ports to debut its newest ship.”

The ship’s visit to Galveston, the only cruise port in Texas, is part of a larger effort to debut its newest ship in a number of major markets. Galveston is a major drive-to market with 30 million people living within a 300-mile radius.

On Oct. 15 the 140,000-ton, 3215-passenger Norwegian Prima will depart for Galveston from New York on a 12-night Caribbean voyage that will include stops at Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba. While in Galveston, Norwegian Prima will sail two roundtrip Western Caribbean voyages: a 3-day cruise on Oct. 27 and a 4-day cruise on Oct. 31.

Port officials are in discussions with the cruise line and hope to pen a memorandum of understanding for a long-term strategy beginning in November 2023.

Gibraltar ready to welcome back cruise ships

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 19 May 2021 19 May 2021

The Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port has announced that Gibraltar is now ready to welcome back cruise ships, their passengers and their crew. The Port of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Tourist Board have continued to work proactively during this pandemic to support the cruise industry. These efforts were recognised by MedCruise during the second edition of the Association’s awards where Gibraltar was named as the “Western Mediterranean MedCruise port showing the greatest commitment during the pandemic."

Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port, the Hon Vijay Daryanani MP said: “With the necessary safety protocols now in place, I am pleased to announce that Gibraltar is now ready to welcome back cruise ships. I have been discussing the resumption of cruise calls now for a while with cruise executives and we have worked hard to ensure that we can make this happen. The local shore excursion agents and shipping agents are also now prepared to continue their excellent tasks. In addition, the cruise companies have carried out impressive work in terms of on-board testing and screening facilities, which will be part of their protocols.

Gibraltar offers many advantages for cruise itineraries with our excellent port facilities and our great range of shore excursion opportunities. The proximity of the port to the city centre is a great advantage, where transit times for passengers to enjoy the uniqueness of the destination are minimal, a fact that is often welcomed by passengers and shore excursion management teams .Thanks to the assistance offered by the Government in the UK, the population of Gibraltar is fully vaccinated, making us one of the safest destinations in Europe to travel to at present. Aside from many of the physical protocols that will remain in place, if passengers and crew have either a valid PCR or lateral flow test taken up to 72 hours before arrival they will be able to disembark and visit Gibraltar. I have now written to all the cruise lines that normally call at Gibraltar and others I would like to attract or welcome back, to let them know that we are open for business again.I am committed to rebuilding this important source of revenue for our tourism, retail, leisure and hospitality industry and we look forward to welcoming cruise ships and their passengers and crew to Gibraltar.”

Bermello, Ajamil & Partners and IDEAS form destination development partnership

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 May 2021 11 May 2021

Bermello, Ajamil & Partners, Inc. (BA) and IDEAS are joining forces to plan, design and develop spectacular guest-centered experiences across the globe.

This team brings together best-in-class creativity, planning, design, theming, market research, financial feasibility, operations planning, branding and project management services, with single-point accountability from the initial concept through a successful opening day. The power of the team is the seamless integration of all the imagination and expertise of its members.

"Grounded in market intelligence, Destination Performance aligns the delivery of distinctive experiences, maximizes guests’ curiosity and passion, activates a high-performing brand and optimizes the return on every development and operational dollar," the companies said in a statement.

While the pandemic has been challenging, it has presented an opportunity for destinations to re-imagine the ways that they engage guests. It is time to disrupt the status quo and offer a completely new way to think about destination design – a way that is built on a sustainable relationship between guests, operators, and destinations. Together, BA and IDEAS will transform the way destinations are imagined, presented, and experienced. Ports of call that are ready with a fresh experience portfolio that safely immerses guests in their unique cultural stories will accelerate into a new level of sustainable visitation and revenues as travel and exploration build through 2022 and beyond.

“For decades, BA has delivered some of the most iconic cruise facilities, waterfronts and private islands in the world. Our partnership with IDEAS broadens our delivery to include theming, attraction development, storytelling and brand activation. Our understanding of the operations and distinctive design details required for these destinations coupled with IDEAS experiential development expertise is a great match," said Mark Ittel, BA Sr. Vice President, Ports & Maritime.

“We are excited to partner with BA in helping our destination partners define what truly sets them apart as distinctive; leveraging their centuries of history, culture, art, food, and music in ways that no one else can offer," concluded Bob Allen, IDEAS Chief Storytelling Officer.