Ports & destinations

Cork enjoys better than foreseen 2019 with 100 cruise calls

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 05 November 2019 05 November 2019

There is only one more cruise ship is left to visit in December, for what has been a record cruise season for the Port of Cork in Ireland with 100 cruise liners visiting in 2019. The figure exceeded the expectations of the Port and as a result, total more than 243,000 passengers and crew visited the region, with many passengers visiting Cork for the first time.

Port of Cork Chief Executive Brendan Keating said in a statement: “On average, cruise ship passengers spend €81 during their visit to Cork while crew spend approximately €29. Improving and exciting the passengers shore experience will encourage a return visit to the region increasing tourism and boosting the local economy.”

In 2019, Cobh – the port of the city of Cork -  was recognized as one of the best cruise destinations in the world, winning in the Top-Rated British Isles & Western Europe Cruise Destination category. Destinations awarded in this year’s awards received the highest ratings among cruisers who cruised to the destination in the past year and shared their experiences on Cruise Critic.

As well as Cobh the Port of Cork also operates Bantry Bay Port Company which saw 10 cruise liners calling to the West Cork area this summer. Bantry Harbour and Glengarriff can accommodate the smaller boutique and expedition style cruise liners whose passengers tend to look for an active cruise. Bantry Bay Port Company has developed a cruise strategy for Bantry in order to grow the business in West Cork. The smaller cruise liner market or expedition market has huge growth potential and it is this market that Bantry hopes to capitalise on over the next few years, with the guidance of the Port of Cork.

 

 

Carnival, RCCL in joint St Lucia cruise port project

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 24 October 2019 24 October 2019

Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the two largest cruise shipping groups in the world, have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Saint Lucia to form a joint venture to manage the existing cruise pier and terminal facilities in Saint Lucia, and to design, construct and operate a new cruise port on the island.

As part of the MOU, Carnival, RCCL and the government of Saint Lucia will establish a long-term concession agreement to formalize the terms and responsibilities for the joint venture to manage and operate the current cruise pier and terminal facilities at the Port of Castries. Additionally, the joint venture will design, finance, construct and operate a new cruise port in Vieux Fort on the southern part of the island that will be able to accommodate the latest and most innovative ships in the cruise industry.

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Honourable Allen Chastanet has called the signing of the MOU "historic" and "a major step towards enhancing Saint Lucia's tourism product."

"The cruise market is the fastest growing sector of tourism and in the next decade cruising in the Caribbean region is anticipated to increase by 40%," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean. "We are excited to partner with the Government of Saint Lucia to ensure that the destination directly benefits from that growth, while giving more guests the opportunity to visit this unique gem in the Caribbean."

Together, the cruise line brands of Carnival and RCCL currently account for 75% of all cruise ship deployment to Saint Lucia. Under the new agreement, the joint venture would optimize the experience for guests visiting Saint Lucia while developing additional cruise infrastructure to support the industry's latest ships and promote the growth of cruise tourism on the island.

 

Gibraltar Minister for Tourism welcomes Sky Princess on its inaugural visit

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 01 November 2019 01 November 2019

Minister Vijay Daryanani welcomed the Sky Princess cruise ship on its inaugural visit to Gibraltar on October 29. The Sky Princess is on its maiden cruise, having been built in Italy and delivered to Princess Cruises as recently as 15 October. This first cruise, carrying 3600 passengers and 1400 crew, began in Athens and ends in Rome on 3 November.

After the traditional exchange of plaques with Captain Heikki Laakkonen on the ship’s bridge, Minister Daryanani and Nicky Guerrero, Chief Executive of the Gibraltar Tourist Board, were given an escorted tour of the ship by Hotel General Manager Terri Cybuliak. She explained that the ship is being marketed to an international audience although over half of the passengers on this first cruise are from North America.

Minister Daryanani said, "The Government is committed to boosting our cruise business. I have already made contact with many of the main players in the cruise industry and I’m looking forward to meeting them in person in the near future."

 

Carnival, RCCL in joint St Lucia cruise port project

Details

Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 24 October 2019 24 October 2019

Carnival Corporation & plc and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL), the two largest cruise shipping groups in the world, have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Saint Lucia to form a joint venture to manage the existing cruise pier and terminal facilities in Saint Lucia, and to design, construct and operate a new cruise port on the island.

As part of the MOU, Carnival, RCCL and the government of Saint Lucia will establish a long-term concession agreement to formalize the terms and responsibilities for the joint venture to manage and operate the current cruise pier and terminal facilities at the Port of Castries. Additionally, the joint venture will design, finance, construct and operate a new cruise port in Vieux Fort on the southern part of the island that will be able to accommodate the latest and most innovative ships in the cruise industry.

Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Honourable Allen Chastanet has called the signing of the MOU "historic" and "a major step towards enhancing Saint Lucia's tourism product."

"The cruise market is the fastest growing sector of tourism and in the next decade cruising in the Caribbean region is anticipated to increase by 40%," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean. "We are excited to partner with the Government of Saint Lucia to ensure that the destination directly benefits from that growth, while giving more guests the opportunity to visit this unique gem in the Caribbean."

Together, the cruise line brands of Carnival and RCCL currently account for 75% of all cruise ship deployment to Saint Lucia. Under the new agreement, the joint venture would optimize the experience for guests visiting Saint Lucia while developing additional cruise infrastructure to support the industry's latest ships and promote the growth of cruise tourism on the island.