Ports & destinations

Six percent increase in cruise traffic at Port of Valencia in 2013

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 12 March 2014 12 March 2014

Acciona Trasmediterranea, the Spanish ferry conglomerate and passenger port manager, has just reported a 6% increase in cruise traffic through the port of Valencia in 2013 on the year before.

In total it attended to 206 cruise calls and handled about 500,000 passengers in 2013. For the 2014 season, the company has added Azamara Club Cruises and Celebrity Cruises to its clients list, Alan Lam reports.

In the last 12 years, according to Acciona Trasmediterranea, it has served three million cruise passengers at the port of Valencia. With its 564-metre berth and passenger facilities, Valencia is quickly developing into a major Mediterranean cruise port, attracting all types of cruise calls.

Not just for Valencia, at this year’s Cruise Shipping Miami event, the company is aggressively promoting itself as a principal provider of cruise services in other ports in the Mediterranean, highlighting the fact that its Facility Service department also undertakes check-in and handling duties at the ports of Barcelona and Málaga.

London City Cruise Port and Visit Greenwich are attending Cruise Shipping Miami

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 March 2014 11 March 2014

Meeting with key cruise line executives and shore excursion organisers, London City Cruise Port and Visit Greenwich will showcase the port’s potential as a global marquee destination offering a high quality cruise experience in Greenwich, one of the world’s longest-established nautical destinations, the two said in a joint statement.

Currently being developed in the Royal Borough of Greenwich on the banks of the River Thames, the cruise port is a board member of Visit Greenwich, the new Destination Management Company (DMC) for the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

Barrie Kelly, CEO Visit Greenwich said: “Attending Cruise Shipping Miami is a fantastic opportunity for Visit Greenwich to stand alongside other successful global cruise destinations. Greenwich is already a tourism hot spot steeped in maritime and royal heritage; being home to London’s newest purpose built cruise terminal will add another string to our bow.

“Visit Greenwich is working in partnership with local visitor attractions, accommodation providers, transport operators and the hospitality and retail sectors to increase visitor numbers, length of stay and spend for the benefit of the local economy. The involvement of London City Cruise Port is another positive step and our close partnership means that we can jointly capitalise on the immense opportunities ahead. We are looking forward to fully establishing Greenwich as a cruise destination.”

Kate O’Hara, CEO London City Cruise Port said: “Cruise Shipping Miami is a great platform on which to build long-term partnerships with the cruise industry. Our presence in Miami places Greenwich and London alongside popular cruise ports and destinations, showcasing our innovative and luxurious offering to the world.

“Having Visit Greenwich alongside us means we can show the entire destination package, highlighting why Greenwich is the perfect location for cruise passengers to visit, and I look forward to fully establishing Greenwich, and London, as a cruise destination as the Port gears up to opening in 2016.”

Tourism is a major economic driver in Greenwich, contributing £983 million to the local economy, supporting more than 12,000 jobs and welcoming more that 16million visitors annually, the Port will build on the destination’s historical maritime connections.

Scotland to promote cruising and expects record number of calls

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 06 March 2014 06 March 2014

Scotland’s major tourism events in 2014 are being promoted as part of an international programme to bring more cruise passengers to ports around the country in what is expected to be a record year for visitors arriving by sea, Cruise Scotland said in a statement.

“Cruise Scotland’s three-month postcard campaign aimed at the industry by post and electronically has raised awareness of its return to the USA next week for the Cruise Shipping Miami exhibition and highlighted this year’s Homecoming Scotland, Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games among the many attractions,” the organisation said.

With the season getting underway early, around 450 vessels are scheduled, with approximately 390,000 passengers, the highest number yet, expected by autumn. Cruise tourism is estimated to have been worth almost £50 million to Scotland in 2013.

Cruise Scotland Chairman, Victor Sandison, said: “The cruise industry is an exciting growth sector, with tremendous potential for Scotland. But it is a highly-competitive, international business requiring sustained promotion and the iconic events this summer add extra pulling-power.

“Building on increased traffic in recent years, we are committed to the ongoing development of markets and our quality products to ensure passenger numbers continue to increase.”

The marketing organisation will be exhibiting on stand 430 at Cruise Shipping Miami, the industry’s leading event, from 10-13 March. The programme also includes:

• A “Customise your Brochure” facility has been added to the website to allow users to create online PDF brochures with details of particular destinations of interest.

• A new “Find a Cruise” page aimed at potential visitors from the USA features an indicative more than 30 operators with vessels calling at Scottish ports this year.

• Approaches have been made to operators to seek participation in familiarisation visits to increase their appreciation of what Scotland offers cruise visitors.

• Cruise Scotland will exhibit at Seatrade Med in Barcelona in September.

• Recruitment of members is ongoing.

The association was established in 2009 to promote and market Scotland as a first-class cruise destination to operators and work on behalf of members on relevant issues. It now has 18 full members, including 16 ports and two major ground handlers, and three associate members.

German cruise ports promote at Cruise Shipping Miami

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 07 March 2014 07 March 2014

Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft Rostock is taking part in the largest international trade fair for the cruise shipping industry – Cruise Shipping Miami from 10 – 13 March. Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft is joined by five other exhibitors at the fair to promote Rostock-Warnemünde as a cruise destination as well as its maritime services industry, the company said in a statement.

The tour operator European-Land-Excursions, the shipping agents HC Röver, Sartori & Berger and Frachtcontor Junge as well as the service provider Parken & Meer are joining Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft in a mutual presence for the Rostock port.

Under the motto “Destination Germany” six German cruise ports are present at the “German Pavilion”. The Rostock port will be joined at this year’s fair by Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Kiel, Lubeck and Wismar.

After the big success last year the German cruise ports together inviting the international cruise shipping agencies to an evening reception on March 11.

Approximately 11,000 visitors from within the industry are expected at this year’s fair. Almost 1,000 exhibitors including more than 150 ports from all over the world will be presenting the latest trends and offerings of the cruise shipping industry.

The Rostock port has been taking part in this cruise shipping convention in Miami since 1994.

Danish port of Kalundborg launches cruise study

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 05 March 2014 05 March 2014

The Port of Kalundborg in Denmark has entered into an agreement with Bermello Ajamil & Partners Europe (B&A Europe) to conduct a cruise market study and assess the interest for a new homeport opportunity for the Baltic region.

For the past ten years the Port of Kalundborg has been a cruise destination utilized primarily by European and British cruise brands. Currently, the port is going through a considerable development cycle of which the cruise business is high on the agenda for potential business development over the coming years, the port said in a statement.

Situated by the Great Belt,right at the entrance to the Baltic,and with deep water up to 15 meters Kalundborg is very centrally located for cruises in the area and therefore offers a unique opportunity for cruise lines to create interesting and flexible itineraries while also cutting expenses considerably.

The Port of Kalundborg is now examining the concept of developing a cruise berth area.

Kalundborg is situated at 1hour and 15 minutes driving distance from Copenhagen Airport and turning in Kalundborg will save larger cruise ships 214 nautical miles and 12 hours of steaming time when cruising into the Baltic and back. This will naturally generate a considerable cut in fuel costs for the cruise lineswhich will be further increased by 2015.

"We look very much forward to entering into this first phase of our cooperation with B&A Europe and to the response from the cruise lines to this new initiative," the port said.

The port of Kalundborg management will attend Cruise Shipping Miami 2014 and will be represented at the Danish destination’s stand 931.