Ports & destinations

MedCruise to offer cruise ports perspectives in the EU Skills and Career development in the Blue Economy policy

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 02 December 2016 02 December 2016

Following a call by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs & Fisheries), MedCruise has been selected to contribute in the works of the European expert group on Skills and Career development in the Blue Economy.

The task of the group is to advice the Commission on matters pertaining to the education, training, skills and career development within the blue economy. The appointment is effective from November 2016, and for a period of three years.

Cruise ports in the Med and its adjoining seas has been vital for enabling cruise ships to be deployed in European waters, generating more than 40 billion euros and almost 350,000 European jobs every year.

Now, via their association, they will have an excellent opportunity to share updated information and to provide concrete input to the Commission's policy work, thus expanding their contribution to the society.

MedCruise will provide cruise perspectives into the development of the skills policy for the marine and maritime sectors in Europe.

With its members hosting almost 18% of the global cruise passenger movements, MedCruise will also provide a vital support to DG MARE into the implementation of the possible actions planned, through i.e. communication activities.

"Cruise ports in the Med want to create the conditions for the new generation of European citizens to “go maritime” knowing the career opportunities available and having the wanted skills. Given the complexity and variety of the issue, MedCruise, having a more than two decades expertise in advancing cruising, is looking forward to join group representatives from different sectors of the blue economy and represent most effectively the perspectives of cruise ports," said Thanos Pallis, MedCruise Secretary General.

MSC Cruises and PortMiami break ground on the renovation and expansion of Cruise Terminal F

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 30 November 2016 30 November 2016

MSC Cruises together with PortMiami, today celebrated the commencement of construction of cruise Terminal F at PortMiami. The project will not only rejuvenate and update the existing terminal to provide new contemporary amenities, but will also expand the terminal through the construction of a new building in order to house both MSC Cruises’ next-generation cruise ship MSC Seaside, as well as MSC Divina, which is currently sailing year-round from Terminal F at PortMiami.

The groundbreaking of the Terminal F renovation and expansion project comes on the heels of the float out ceremony – which signifies a major milestone of the ship being set into water for the first time – for MSC Seaside this past weekend.

“This is a very exciting time for MSC Cruises as we continue our expansion in the North American market. From working together with Miami-Dade County to provide a truly world-class experience for cruisers at Terminal F to committing our second and most innovative ship yet to the U.S. market, we are thrilled for the road ahead,” said Roberto Fusaro, president of MSC Cruises USA. “Today, as we break ground on MSC Seaside’s and MSC Divina’s new home, we are extremely proud to celebrate our ongoing commitment to better serving our guests.”

Along with PortMiami, MSC Cruises has been actively involved in the entire process of designing the new cruise terminal, helping ensure that the newly renovated and expanded terminal will meet the needs of its guests and result in an overall quick and seamless guest experience.

Enhancements to Terminal F at PortMiami will include:

– Significantly expanded waiting area that is both comfortable and elegant with seating for up to 1,500 guests;

– Expanded and improved VIP private waiting area to accommodate the increased number of guests able to sail in the MSC Yacht Club on MSC Seaside;

– Separate dedicated waiting areas and lines to accommodate MSC Black Card members and guests booked in the Aurea Experience who receive priority embarkation;

– Smoother disembarkation process with a more flexible and efficient baggage claim area; and

– Facility advancements to accommodate the smart ship technology that will be available on MSC Seaside as it relates to the embarkation and disembarkation process.

The terminal, being renovated and expanded by Munilla Construction Management (MCM) is expected to be ready by December 1, 2017, just prior to MSC Seaside’s arrival in PortMiami on December 21, 2017 where she will join MSC Divina in sailing year-round to the Caribbean.

Port Everglades launches Mobile Passport Control program

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 04 November 2016 04 November 2016

Broward County's Port Everglades is launching the new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) approved Mobile Passport Control (MPC) program for cruise ship travel beginning Friday, November 4, making it the first U.S. seaport to use the new Smartphone technology. The MPC program is currently in use at a number of airports across the country, including Broward County's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and has been highly anticipated for use at cruise ports.

The MPC program is the first Smartphone app authorized to expedite a traveler's entry process into the United States. This first-of-its-kind app, developed by Airside Mobile and Airports Council International-North America in partnerships with CBP, allows U.S. citizens with a passport debarking a cruise ship to complete their Customs declaration using their smart phones or other mobile devices, expediting their clearance process in the terminal. It is currently available for iOS phones and is expected to be available for Android phones later this month.

"Port Everglades purchased the required equipment earlier this summer in anticipation of the MPC program's approval by CBP, and we are now the first and only seaport to offer this app." said Steven Cernak, Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director. "An added bonus is that MPC will be in service in time for the arrivals of Royal Caribbean Line's Harmony of the Seas and Holland America Line's ms Koningsdam. Mobile Passport Control is another feature that will help us enhance the cruise guest experience."

Travelers and family groups can use the MPC app to provide their biographic information prior to speaking with a CBP officer. The CBP officer is then able to complete the identity verification and admissibility processing of arriving passengers.

Port Everglades has participated in CBP's Global Entry program since summer 2015, giving preferential processing to those guests who are Global Entry card holders. Port Everglades also recently completed pilot testing of the Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks in two of its cruise terminals, another CBP initiative to streamline the traveler inspection process.

"Though our partnership with Port Everglades, we have worked together to bring new technology and procedures to the cruise ship processing environment," said Jorge Roig, CBP Port Director, Port Everglades. "The addition of the Mobile Passport App and Automated Passport Control Kiosk to the cruise ship environment will bring added benefits to all those that utilize the program and will assist CBP in the completion of its mission of keeping maritime travel safe."

Port of Valparaíso inaugurates new terminal

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 November 2016 29 November 2016

Alan Lam reporting

On Friday, 25 November, Chilean port of Valparaíso inaugurated its much-anticipated, brand new 5,300m2 passenger terminal.

Owing to its geographical position, Valparaíso struggles to gain traction in contemporary cruise business, despite being Chile’s top seaborne passenger port. This season it expects to welcome about 100,000 cruise guests, which will require substantial passenger service facilities.

The new terminal, Valparaíso Terminal de Pasajeros (VTP), cost the investors more than US$8 million. It is equipped with the latest passenger service technology, capable of handling 6,000 passengers simultaneously, (3,000 embarking and another 3,000 disembarking). It has a total surface space of 15,000m2, including 26 bus bays and 50 car parking spaces.

The Insignia of Oceania Cruises and the Norwegian Sun of Norwegian Cruise Line were the first cruise vessels to call at this new terminal in recent weeks.

Despite facing a multitude of challenges, Chile is determined to develop its cruise industry. The new terminal marks a new beginning for Chilean cruise business as a whole, which is gaining recognition as an important contributor to the country’s economy in general. The inaugural ceremony was attended by a myriad of dignitaries, among them were Carlos Melo, Under-Secretary of Transport, Jaime Varas, Mayor of Valparaíso, Hernán Santiváñez, Counsel General of Argentina, and Sebastián Montero Lira, Executive Director of Southern Cone Ports Corporation (Corporación de Puertos del Cono Sur).

“The inauguration of this new passenger terminal is of utmost important for the development of Valparaíso in general,” said Jaime Varas, “no only from the point of view of the cruise tourism, but also that of the general development of the city.

Like most other modern cruise terminals, the VTP will also serve as a venue for conventions, events and festivities when not used as a cruise terminal.

Demand for Queen Mary 2 voyage from Le Havre to celebrate 500 years of port exceeds expectations

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 04 November 2016 04 November 2016

The Port of Le Havre in France will celebrate its 500^th anniversary in 2017 together with Cunard Line, it had launched an offer called 500 passengers for 500 years to board passengers at le Havre for New York in September.

However, the demand for berths has exceeded expectations and a further 200 berths have now been made available for the voyage that will depart Le Havre on 15 September, the Port of Le Havre said in a statement.

Last year, Cunard Line boarded passengers on a similar voyage from Liverpool, where the company had been founded in 1840, and met a huge demand for the offer.

The Atlantic voyages of Queen Mary 2 use Southampton as their principal European terminus, although some voyages have been extended to and from Hamburg in Germany as well.