Ports & destinations

Port of Cork Company appoint new Harbour Master

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 December 2013 14 December 2013

The Port of Cork Company have announced the appointment of Captain Paul O'Regan as Harbour Master, Port Operations Manager and Superintendent of Pilots of the Port of Cork. Captain O'Regan will assume the position immediately.

Commenting on this Board appointment, Brendan Keating, Chief Executive said: "We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Captain Paul O'Regan as Harbour Master & Port Operations Manager in the Port of Cork Company. Paul has worked with the company for eight years and during that time he has gained considerable experience and a great understanding of the port business and he has shown excellent leadership qualities. I am confident he will be a great asset to the company in the years ahead."

Captain Paul O'Regan joined the Port of Cork in 2005 as a Pilot and then progressed to Deputy Harbour Master in 2008. Prior to this, Paul worked with a number of overseas and Irish companies.

Speaking about his appointment, Captain O'Regan said: "I am delighted to take on the role of Harbour Master and Port Operations Manager in the Port of Cork and look forward to working with my colleagues, customers and all stakeholders within the Harbour. It is an exciting time in the Port of Cork Company with its ambitious plans for the development of the port. These plans will consolidate Cork as a key seaport enabling the port to strengthen its position in global trade."

Captain Paul O'Regan takes over as Port of Cork Harbour Master from Captain Pat Farnan, who retired in January 2013.

The Port of Cork offers all six shipping modes such as; Lift on, Lift off, Roll on Roll off, Break bulk, liquid bulk, dry bulk and cruise and is Ireland's second busiest port.

Bacardi Bar opens on Norwegian's private island

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 December 2013 11 December 2013

Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that the Bacardi Bar, a first of its kind rum bar, opened yesterday on Great Stirrup Cay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. The Bacardi Bar on Great Stirrup Cay offers guests the opportunity to relax at a spectacular beach bar venue and experience Bacardi's range of exceptional rums at the beverage company's first permanent Bacardi Bar location in the Caribbean.

The Bacardi Bar on Great Stirrup Cay celebrated its grand opening yesterday during Norwegian Pearl's visit to the island. Guests sailing on board Norwegian Pearl attended the bar's opening festivities, which featured a live DJ set, exhibitions by two of Bacardi's top mixologists, drink samples, giveaways and an exciting christening ceremony which featured a ceremonious Bacardi-bottle breaking.

"We are excited to announce the grand opening of the Bacardi Bar," said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian's chief executive officer. "We are honored to partner with Bacardi for the launch of our island's newest bar. Bacardi's rich history and quality beverage products are the perfect complement to our private island experience. We know that our guests are going to love spending time here during their visit to Great Stirrup Cay."

Inspired by Bacardi's rich 150 year history and distinct Cuban heritage, Great Stirrup Cay's Bacardi Bar and terrace feature the iconic Bacardi Bat logo, original Bacardi advertising artwork and Cuban-inspired fixtures including specially-designed tiles and shutters. Guests who visit the Bacardi Bar during their time on the island can experience some of Bacardi's superior craft rums through superb freshly made cocktails such as the Cuba Libre and the Original Bacardi Mojito. In addition, the Bacardi Bar will feature a flight of Mojitos so that guests can sample some of Bacardi's most popular Mojito creations.

"We have had a long, strong partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line I and am pleased that we were able to work together so closely to develop Great Stirrup Cay's new Bacardi Bar," said Zachary Sulkes, Bacardi Global Travel Retail Regional Manager. "It is partners like Norwegian that allow Bacardi to continue to bring added value to the cruise industry. Norwegian's Private Island offered an opportunity for Bacardi and Norwegian to give guests a new and unique experience, and we believe Norwegian's guests will agree when they visit the island."

In addition to the wide range of specialty cocktails that are offered at the Bacardi Bar, guests who visit the bar each week will have a chance to experience exclusive events and entertainment, including live mixology, live DJ's and a variety of interactive games.

Norwegian was the first cruise line to offer an uninhabited tropical island experience exclusively for its guests. Norwegian's 250-acre private island offers magnificent white sand beaches, majestic palms and calm, pristine waters where an abundance of colorful marine life inhabits the surrounding coral reefs. Activities on the island include snorkeling; Waverunner® tours; eco boat tours; kayaking; parasailing; shopping at the straw market; and more.

Guests sailing on board Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Sky all have the opportunity to experience the Bacardi Bar during their upcoming cruises to the Bahamas. Norwegian Pearl offers seven-day cruises to the Western Caribbean from Miami. Ports of call include, Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Norwegian Breakaway, the ship that brings the best of NYC to Sea, cruises from the Big Apple to the Bahamas & Florida, now through December 28, 2013, with ports of call including Port Canaveral (Orlando and the Beaches), Florida; Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas.

Norwegian Sky sails year-round from Miami, offering a series of three and four-day cruises. Norwegian Sky visits Nassau and Great Stirrup Cay on her three-day cruise, the four-day itinerary also includes a visit to Grand Bahama Island.

Atlantic Alliance ports exceed forecast and welcome 2.5 million passengers 2013

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 02 December 2013 02 December 2013

The number of cruise passengers at member ports of the 17 strong Atlantic Alliance will hit 2.5 million this year, an increase from 2.2 million in 2012 and from 2.3 million the Alliance had forecast for this year, figures released by the organisation say.

"The successful cruise season of 2013 with approximately 2.5 million cruise passengers for the Atlantic Alliance member ports has nearly come to an end. Though, some member ports are awaiting a few special cruise calls in December solely focusing on the festive season. These ports look forward to welcoming passengers longing to experience the festive atmosphere of the cities," the Hamburg Cruise Center said in a statement issued on behalf the Alliance.

"Christmas Cruises as theme cruises enable cruise lines to see Northern Europe as a year-round destination and extend the season in Northern Europe also in winter. This is a chance for cruise lines to reduce the need for repositioning cruises," it pointed out.

The Alliance comprises Amsterdam, Antwerp, Bordeaux, Bremerhaven, Cherbourg, Cork, Dover, Hamburg, IJmuiden, La Rochelle, Le Havre, Nantes, Portland, Rotterdam, St Malo, Santander and Vigo.

Three British cruise ships to visit Gothenburg's Christmas markets

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 10 December 2013 10 December 2013

Saga Sapphire, which berthed in the Port of Gothenburg this morning, is the first of three British cruise ships that will be calling at the Cruise Terminal in Gothenburg in December – Saga Sapphire, Aurora (December 15) and Queen Elizabeth (December 19) will ensure that 5,000 British tourists will have the opportunity to experience the Christmas atmosphere that is unique to Gothenburg.

The passengers on board will spend a day taking in everything the Gothenburg region in general has to offer and in particular the Yuletide city of Gothenburg.

"It feels good to be able to help the business owners of Gothenburg by bringing 5,000 visitors here, all ready to spend their money on shopping, food and drink. These visitors may never have come here if it wasn't for the Christmas cruises," says Jill Söderwall, Head of Cruise Operations at the Port of Gothenburg.

Liseberg is of course the obvious destination for many passengers. The Christmas market at Tjolöholm, a beautiful country house outside Gothenburg, also attracts many cruise passengers, as do the light show at Götaplatsen, the singing Christmas tree on Drottningtorget and the many other attractions. The cruise ships that visit Gothenburg this year will also experience an extra-special Christmas feeling on board with traditional songs by the Gothenburg Lucia and her entourage.

"The English, like the people of Gothenburg, are quite hardy when it comes to the weather and they take the winter climate here very much in their stride. We have also heard through our guides and the tourist office that they appreciate the short voyage, which is an advantage at this time of year when it's not exactly sunbathing weather," says Anica Stenberg, project manager at Göteborg & Co.

The Port of Gothenburg is ice-free all year round, which means that the cruise season (which runs from March to October) can be extended. Marketing collaboration, visits to shipping lines and stands at cruise fairs in cooperation with Göteborg & Co have also been key factors, not only for cruise traffic to Gothenburg generally but also for the calls made around Christmas, which this year are exclusively British.

Le Havre provides Christmas atmosphere

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 01 December 2013 01 December 2013

Year by year the cruise season is extending in Le Havre and this year, the Christmas mood is growing while the great day is coming nearer. AIDAsol started the ball on November 25th and will come back on December 2nd, December 16th and will close the season on December 24th.

In the meantime Queen Mary2 is the other winter visitor at Le Havre, with calls scheduled on November 29th and December 14th. In total over 15,000 passengers are expected in Le Havre. The Christmas program ashore includes: mulled wine and hot chocolate at the Cruise Terminal, a big wheel to see Le Havre from above and an enchanted Christmas exhibition in the town hall. And last but not least, shopping at the Christmas market, in the decorated shopping malls, and in the illuminated shopping streets.