Ports & destinations

Cruise Gate Hamburg provides positive outlook

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 21 November 2024 21 November 2024

In the upcoming year 2025, another increase in cruise ship calls is expected in Hamburg. Throughout the year, the municipal Cruise Gate Hamburg (CGH) anticipates 294 calls (compared to 268 calls in 2024) from 45 different ships and 21 cruise lines. Passenger shipping will thus continue to play an increasingly important role in the Port of Hamburg in the coming season.

A special highlight for cruise enthusiasts will be three inaugural calls: the Star Pride from Windstar Cruises, the Emerald Princess from Princess Cruises, and the Pacific World from Japan Grace. In addition to ocean-going cruise ships, 39 calls from river cruise ships are also planned.

Simone Maraschi, Managing Director of CGH, “We are very pleased with the renewed increase in calls. The commitment of the cruise lines to continue offering year-round voyages from Hamburg – with more than 30 percent of calls occurring outside the peak season – also demonstrates the passengers' undiminished desire to travel. The interest in cruises, particularly among Germans, is high and rising.”

Additionally, the cruise terminal in HafenCity is set to be completed next year. Iris Scheel, Managing Director of CGH, “We are delighted that the new terminal will add a very attractive location to our range of berths for cruise lines. The unique location in the heart of the city, in a vibrant and dynamic district, opens up promising opportunities for our existing and new customers.” Cruise passengers will benefit from the attractive surroundings in HafenCity once the terminal is operational. The future terminal will also feature its own underground connection, making travel to and from the terminal by train and public transport extremely convenient, while also providing quick access to the city centre. The new terminal will cover an area of 10,000 square meters, including two underground levels with bus and taxi terminals and two levels for passenger handling. It will offer two berths, planned to be equipped with shore power connections.

With the new terminal, the economic and tourist significance of the cruise business for Hamburg will be further strengthened. With 4,490 jobs in the service sector and a contribution to gross value added of 419.7 million euros, the cruise industry represents a significant economic factor and is an important component of Hamburg's tourism performance. As a recognized growth industry, the cruise sector will continue to offer diverse economic opportunities for Hamburg in the future.

Regular maritime events in Hamburg also contribute to value creation: In addition to the 836th Hamburg Port Anniversary, during which seven cruise ships are expected in the city from May 9 to 11, 2025, the Hamburg Cruise Days will also take place again next year. From September 12 to 14, Hamburg will celebrate its 10th edition of this event, featuring ten cruise ships, hundreds of thousands of visitors, and impressive stagings of the ship on the water, which attract worldwide attention. Prior to this, Hamburg will host the Seatrade Europe trade fair, which will also contribute to the international visibility of the destination. On an international level, CGH will promote the destination at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, USA, in April 2025, the industry's most important conference and trade fair.

The cruise schedule for 2025 is available at: www.cruisegate-hamburg.de/en/expected-vessels/

A review of the 2024 season will be published in the new year after the season will be concluded.

Jamaica cruise tourism generates US$197.8 million

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 17 November 2024 17 November 2024

Reinforcing its status as a leading Caribbean tourism destination, Jamaica has generated $197.8 million USD from cruise tourism in the 2023/2024 season. According to a recent study by the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), sponsored by Jamaica Vacations Limited, passenger and crew visits to Jamaica, along with additional expenditures by cruise lines and the destination such as port services, taxes, and local goods and services, drove the island’s overall cruise tourism expenditures.

The survey reported that during the 2023/2024 cruise year, a total of 1,426,485 cruise passengers arrived in Jamaica aboard cruise ships and an estimated 1,158,240 passengers disembarked to visit the island. In total, passengers spent roughly $136.7 million USD through including accommodations, food and beverage, local goods and shore excursions.

“We have seen tremendous growth in our cruise tourism sector,” said Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica. “In 2023, we welcomed 1.26 million cruise passenger arrivals which was 48.3% above 2022 figures. To keep up with demand, we work diligently to ensure our ports and services remain updated so cruise lines, crew members and passengers have an outstanding experience from arrival to departure – including the enjoyment of our famous beaches, historical sites and adventure experiences in between.”

Onshore, passengers spent 71% of their money on excursions, watches and jewelry. Additionally, more than 3 in 5 (62%) of the passengers reported that their cruise party purchased an excursion. Crew members also showed their love for the “One Love” island, with an estimated 166,790 crew members going ashore and spending nearly $8.1 million USD on excursions, local crafts, food and other purchases.

The survey also found Jamaica the fifth highest destination in the Caribbean and Latin America for cruise line spending during the 2023/2024 cruise year with a total of $49.7 million USD. This includes payments from cruise lines to local businesses for a variety of goods and services, including payments for port fees and taxes, navigation services, utilities and other supplies.

“Cruise lines have expressed keen interest in sourcing more of their global product needs from Jamaica,” continued Minister Barlett. “Therefore, through the Tourism Linkages Network, we are working to increase opportunity for Jamaica’s farmers, manufacturers, artisans, and other enterprises to offer these services.”

The $197.8 million USD in cruise tourism spend also supported direct employment of 3,920 Jamaican residents, paying $36.1 million in annual wages.

“The cruise industry has played a major role in our tourism growth,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica. “We have welcomed over three million visitors this year so far, and that is largely due to our operators, vendors and suppliers who work diligently to ensure the entire visitor experience – for those arriving by air or sea – is smooth sailing.”

Conducted onboard FCCA member cruise ships from October 2023 to May 2024, the survey included passenger and crew responses gathered via QR codes. Passengers and crew were only surveyed once during a cruise itinerary. Of those who completed the survey, 73% stated it was their first visit to Jamaica. Among those surveyed, 32% were from the U.S., 37% Canada and 17% Italy.

Port Everglades welcomes Crystal Serenity back to its winter homeport

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 November 2024 15 November 2024

Port Everglades welcomed back Crystal Serenity on Nov. 9 to its winter homeport.

The newly rebranded luxury line made an exceptional entrance with the completely refurbished Crystal Serenity. The 740-passenger ship includes larger, updated suites with artisanal finishes, a new pickleball court and an industry-leading space-to-guest ratio (1 to 93.1 cubic feet).

On hand for the welcoming ceremony were Crystal Serenity's Captain Vincent Tallaird, Broward County Commissioner Steven Geller, Port Everglades Chief of Staff Peg Buchan, leadership from the Seafarers' House and Visit Lauderdale, and the port's law enforcement partners from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Broward Sheriff's Office.

"Our port is home to one of the most diverse collections of cruise ships and Crystal's reimagined luxury ships fit in perfectly," said Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris. "We look forward to welcoming their guests."

Crystal's return to the port comes on the heels of the port's announcement that it bested its own cruise passenger record with a preliminary count of 4.01 million guests embarking and disembarking during Fiscal Year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024. The new record is expected to be short-lived, however, as 4.4 million guests are anticipated during Fiscal Year 2025.

Controlled return of cruises to Québec City

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 November 2024 15 November 2024

For the second year in a row, more than 150,000 cruise passengers visited the Port of Québec in 2024, confirming the recovery of the international cruise market and its impact on the economy of the greater Québec City region. Last season, the Port of Québec also continued its green shift, with the aim of reducing industry-related greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to 2022 levels by 2030.

In 2024, no fewer than 112 cruise ships stopped over in Québec City, bringing a total of 154,299 visitors to the region, a number similar to the previous year and to pre-pandemic years. Over 4 million tourists visit the Québec City region every year and cruise passengers represent 4% of all tourists in the city.

“The Port of Québec continues to reinvent the way it welcomes cruise passengers by placing sustainable development and respect for our community at the heart of its actions, thanks to strengthened collaboration between stakeholders, notably with the Forum sur les croisières internationales de Québec. Together, we’re building a responsible tourism model that meets the expectations of cruise passengers while protecting our local heritage,” says Mario Girard, President and CEO of the Port of Québec.

Highlights of the 2024 season
– 112 ship stopovers
– 42 different ships from 23 different cruise lines
– 154,299 cruise passengers
– 8 new ships visiting Québec City for the first time
– 28 arrival and departure operations

The green shift continues

Over the years, the Port of Québec has implemented a number of measures to reduce the environmental impact of cruises. By 2014, it had become the first port in the world to proactively limit its number of visitors per day, introducing a cap of 15,000 daily visitors to reduce pressure on local infrastructure and negative impacts on citizens’ quality of life.

The Port of Québec was also among the first to adopt a sustainable tourism plan. The electrification of the three cruise wharves, a project estimated at $45 million, is a key element of this environmental commitment. Over the past year, funding applications have been submitted to both levels of government, as well as to Hydro-Québec, to make this initiative a reality.

In line with its 2035 Vision, the Port of Québec became a key partner of the MT Lab in 2023. This incubator supports innovation by fostering relationships between innovative Québec companies. This season, pilot projects focusing more specifically on the customer experience and sustainable mobility were implemented. These initiatives meet the needs of cruise passengers and citizens alike, while contributing to the Port’s sustainable development objectives for 2030.
Winter cruises

The next international cruise season kicks off in winter, with Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant’s polar exploration cruise ship, visiting in January. This visit will help boost winter tourism, a long-standing objective of local tourism stakeholders.

“The cruise season is a major contributor to the prosperity of the tourism industry in the Greater Québec City area. Not only does it make an important economic contribution, it also provides an exceptional international showcase. Through the network of cruise lines, Québec City is a destination for hundreds of thousands of travelers worldwide. We’re delighted to see how the Port and the industry are taking steps to make cruises increasingly eco-responsible. We salute the progress made” says Destination Québec cité’s General Manager, Robert Mercure.

Photo: Norwegian Sky in Quebec City. Credit: Teijo Niemela

Global Ports Holding announces strategic Board appointments

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 November 2024 11 November 2024

Global Ports Holding Limited (GPH), the world’s largest independent cruise port operator, is pleased to announce the appointment of three highly experienced professionals to its Board of Directors: Andrew Stuart, Scott Auty, and Florian Hubel. These appointments have been made as GPH embarks on a new phase of growth and strategic partnership, following its delisting from the London Stock Exchange and re-registration as a private company.

Andrew Stuart: Stuart brings over 30 years of cruise industry experience, having held numerous senior leadership roles at Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) where he served as President and CEO from 2015 to 2020. He was instrumental in driving growth, improving passenger services, and expanding NCL’s global footprint. With expertise in marketing, sales, revenue management, and product development, he will provide valuable insights as GPH continues to grow and innovate. Stuart is also a board member of an expedition cruise line and is Chairman of the Boys and Girls Club of Miami Dade. He holds a BSc in Catering Administration from Bournemouth University.

Scott Auty: Auty is a London-based Partner in DWS’s infrastructure investment business in Europe, where he is responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing infrastructure investments. He brings extensive expertise in infrastructure management, having served as a non-executive director on numerous portfolio company boards. Auty currently serves as a non-executive director of Stagecoach Group Limited, the UK’s largest transport operator. His leadership in infrastructure equity funds and comprehensive understanding of the transport and infrastructure sectors will be key assets to Global Ports Holding. Auty holds a BA Honours degree in Economics from the University of Exeter.

Florian Hubel: Hubel is a Senior Principal at DWS Infrastructure with significant experience in analyzing and executing infrastructure investments across Europe. He has previously worked with infrastructure investor OMERS and J.P. Morgan’s investment banking division, specializing in natural resources and energy. Hubel serves as a non-executive director of both Stagecoach Group Limited and Vertex Bioenergy SL, a Spanish bioethanol producer. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MS Honours degree in Management from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Mehmet Kutman, Chairman & CEO of Global Ports Holding, said: "We are excited to welcome Andy, Scott, and Florian to the Global Ports Holding board as non-executive directors. Their collective expertise in the cruise, transport, and infrastructure sectors will be invaluable as we continue to drive innovation and sustainable growth globally."

These appointments further strengthen GPH’s leadership as it embarks on its next phase of growth, with a focus on developing key infrastructure and enhancing passenger experience across its portfolio of cruise ports worldwide.