Ports & destinations

Port Everglades tops its own cruise passenger record

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 08 November 2024 08 November 2024

Port Everglades bested its own cruise passenger record with a preliminary count of 4,010,919 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 FY2025.

"We expected to do well with the addition of Disney Cruise Line to our fleet and a mix of short and week-long cruises throughout the summer. As the year progressed, it became evident that a near-record 4 million guests was within reach," said CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris. "Cruising is in high demand, and our cruise line partners are poised for greater gains with new itineraries and a variety of sailing dates."

In just one year, from FY2023 to FY2024, cruise passenger counts grew 39% and cruise ship calls rose 23% as the cruise lines fully recovered from the pandemic. The turnaround port's original record was set in FY2014 with 3,880,033 guests. In 2014, it took 887 cruise ships calls to set the port's passenger record compared to 648 calls setting the new record this year because the ships are larger.

Cagliari Cruise Port celebrates its 500,000th passenger

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 08 November 2024 08 November 2024

Cagliari Cruise Port, operated by Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest cruise port operator, celebrated the arrival of its 500,000th cruise passenger of the year, an exceptional achievement highlighting the city’s growing appeal in the international cruise tourism landscape. This day, November 5 was even more special thanks to the simultaneous presence of three ships: Costa Smeralda, a Tuesday fixture at the port from Costa Cruises, Island Princess from Princess Cruises, and Emerald Sakara from Emerald Cruises.

This special guest was welcomed by Cagliari Cruise Port's General Manager, Raffaella Del Prete; the President of the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, Massimo Deiana; and the Marketing Manager of the Port System Authority, Valeria Mangiarotti.

"The current cruise season has shown remarkable growth, with 76 additional berths in 2024 compared to last year, and for the first time, calls scheduled even in the winter months, providing significant economic benefits for the region throughout the year," stated Raffaella Del Prete, GPH Italian Cruise Ports General Manager.

“We have always believed that Cagliari is an ideal tourist destination for all seasons, not just for its beautiful beaches but for its unique history and outstanding features. As terminal operators, we are the first point of contact between cruise passengers and the region, so it’s natural for us to celebrate these extraordinary milestones by thanking the cruise lines that choose us and their guests, with a symbolic award for the 500,000th passenger.” she continued.

In 2024, Cagliari Cruise Port hosted 178 cruise ships compared to the 102 calls in 2023, representing an increase of over 50% in the number of tourists arriving on cruise ships.

"Today is a record-breaking day for Cagliari Port and the entire Sardinian Port System, which is set to close 2024 near 700,000 total cruise passengers," noted the President of the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, Massimo Deiana. "It’s a very positive and highly seasonally adjusted trend, with ships continuing to call at our ports weekly even in the winter months. Our goal over the next five years is to maintain this growth trajectory toward reaching one million cruise passengers and positioning ourselves at the top of Mediterranean destinations."

The exponential growth in traffic reflects the excellent collaborative work between Cagliari Cruise Port, the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, and local institutions, which has promoted Cagliari as a prominent tourist destination, helping to establish the Sardinian capital as a preferred Mediterranean destination.

Cagliari Cruise Port and all parties involved are committed to providing visitors with an authentic and unforgettable experience that begins at dawn with their arrival and ends in the evening when the ship departs.

To make the occasion even more special, Cagliari Cruise Port has awarded the lucky 500,000th passenger with two airline tickets for a return trip to Cagliari, allowing a deeper and immersive experience in which to fully enjoy the culture, tradition, and authentic spirit of the city and Southern Sardinia. Additionally, thanks to a partnership with Palazzo Tirso, the passenger will enjoy a stay for two at the prestigious hotel overlooking the sea.

Cruise calls buoyed by Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 25 October 2024 25 October 2024

Hong Kong tailors Wine & Dine Festival programmes for cruise lines, delivering one-of-a-kind land experiences that allow food and wine enthusiasts to indulge in sensory delights against the breathtaking backdrop of Victoria Harbour. This marks Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB) commitment in supporting global cruise lines to leverage the unique synergy between Hong Kong’s signature events and cruise programmes.

Three cruise ships visit Hong Kong on 24-25 October, coinciding with the five-day Wine & Dine Festival: Silver Nova, Costa Serena and Coral Princess berth at Hong Kong on those dates, bringing in about 8,000 passengers from the Mainland China and short- and long-haul destinations.

The HKTB takes the initiative to cooperate with cruise lines to create shore excursion programmes for passengers, as the annual Wine & Dine Festival takes place at the Central Harbourfront on 23-27 October, promises an even grander experience this year. Cruise passengers get to indulge in a feast of wines and delicacies from around the globe, presented across more than 300 booths. The experience is further spiced up by the picturesque vistas of Victoria Harbour and pulsating live entertainment.

To go further beyond, HKTB also partners with Silversea Cruises and rolls out the red carpet for its most loyal cruisers with an exclusive stage programme tailored for the Venetian Society Reunion voyage during Silver Nova’s port call on 24-25 October at The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival.

The festival’s main stage comes alive for Silver Nova guests in the early evening of 24 October with an energetic performance by the China Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, followed by a specially curated wine-pairing programme that distinctively pairs award-winning Chinese wines with Michelin-starred dim sum. The guests are also treated to a sumptuous tasting menu complemented by a free flow of selected drinks and wine.

Bert Hernandez, President of Silversea Cruises, was excited about visiting Hong Kong, “Staging an exclusive culinary experience activity with Hong Kong characteristics at the ‘Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival’ on shore for our guests of Silver Nova is one of the major highlights of the year of Silversea Cruises. We are grateful for the support from the HKTB, and are delighted to visit Hong Kong.”

Dane Cheng, Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) Executive Director, said, “Silversea Cruises is a globally renowned ultra-luxurious cruise brand. We are delighted that it has chosen Hong Kong as one of the destinations for Silver Nova, and is staging an exclusive activity for cruise passengers at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, HKTB’s annual signature gastronomic event. This not only marks the biggest collaboration between the HKTB and the cruise sector, but also allows visitors to experience the city’s unique wine and dine ambience, contributing to the development of Hong Kong’s cruise tourism.”

The annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival is a scrumptious fixture in the city’s vibrant schedule of festivities and special events year-round. These unmatched bonus experiences can enrich cruise programmes for international cruises visiting Hong Kong, the Events Capital of Asia, any time of the year. The HKTB is keen to collaborate with cruise companies to create exclusive experiences tying in with the local events.

Saint Lucia Cruise Port poised for a record-breaking cruise season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 04 November 2024 04 November 2024

The Saint Lucia Cruise Port team celebrated the kickoff of the highly anticipated 2024/2025 cruise season alongside key tourism partners at a vibrant cultural event held at Port Castries on Thursday, October 10, 2024. In a traditional ceremony hosted by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the season was officially launched with the arrival of the Celebrity Summit and Rhapsody of the Seas, bringing 4,485 passengers and 1,756 crew members to the island. Saint Lucia Cruise Port partnered with the Tourism Authority to provide lively steel pan entertainment for guests as they disembarked to create a festive welcome.

Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Minister for Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture, and Information shared optimistic projections for this season’s cruise arrivals. In 2023, the port welcomed 614,980 passengers aboard 264 calls. In 2024, Saint Lucia Cruise Port expects to receive approximately 823,132 passengers aboard 459 calls. This number would surpass the current passenger record of 789,176 cruise visitors (aboard 443 calls), set in 2019.

Lancelot Arnold, General Manager of Saint Lucia Cruise Port, expressed his enthusiasm during his remarks at the ceremony held at the Pointe Seraphine berth. “We are thrilled to welcome Captain Evangelos Saitis of the Celebrity Summit and Captain Per Olov Mathias Sebom of the Rhapsody of the Seas back to Saint Lucia. The start of this cruise season presents us with a wonderful opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to enhancing the guest experience, supporting our cruise line partners, and collaborating with local industry stakeholders to ensure our mutual success. We are looking forward to a busy and exciting cruise season with a positive outlook for our company and community.”

Representatives from Invest Saint Lucia, Export Saint Lucia, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, and Foster & Ince/Platinum Port Agency also participated in the event.

Captain Saitis expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome, sharing his fondness for Port Castries and his anticipation of a successful season.

Goldbelt signs agreement with Royal Caribbean Group to build a cruise port in Juneau

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 20 October 2024 20 October 2024

Goldbelt Incorporated, the urban Alaska Native, for-proﬁt corporation of Juneau, is partnering with Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL) to explore co-developing a new port aimed at strengthening the city’s infrastructure while improving traffic congestion downtown and enhancing the local and visitor experience.

Situated on Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act land on Douglas Island, the port’s preliminary designs have two ﬂoating berths overlooking the Chilkat Range. Visitors will be transported from a modern cruise ship to a recreated 1800s Alaska Native Tlingit village, where they will experience Goldbelt shareholders’ ancestral history through stories, art, songs, dance, and traditional foods.

Designed to utilize the existing whale-watching tour operations, the project plans for guests to depart directly from West Douglas Island onto whale-watching tours or shuttle boats to Mendenhall Glacier to counter downtown traffic. This route will remove nearly one-third of the bus traffic from Juneau’s most impacted roadways, from downtown Franklin Street to the Glacier Highway, enhancing the overall guest and resident experience, while also paying testament to Alaska Native culture.

“Goldbelt has long sought to establish a cruise terminal and destination centered around Tlingit history on the backside of Douglas Island,” stated McHugh Pierre, President & CEO of Goldbelt, Inc. “We look forward to the prospect of bringing this sustainable, culture-rich cruise ship terminal to life in partnership with Royal Caribbean Group, providing community solutions to local transportation and economic development issues.”

With positioning on the backside of Douglas Island, Goldbelt’s port plan envisions support for on- site employee housing as well as serving as an economic driver for the second Juneau-Douglas crossing and Douglas Bench Road, which have been city priorities for more than a decade. Conveniently located directly in major shipping routes alongside Steven’s Passage, the project blueprint would offer an environmental advantage, reducing time, speed, and fuel requirements for ships sailing north to Skagway or west to the Gulf of Alaska, making it the most ideal stop-over for routing to Sitka or Seward.

“We are thankful to Goldbelt Incorporated and to the Juneau community for the partnership to bring solution-oriented initiatives, such as this port, to life,” said Preston Carnahan, AVP West Coast Destinations for Royal Caribbean Group. “We look forward to continuing to support Juneau as the cruise capital of Alaska by offering award-winning guest experiences through responsible destination management.”

This is the second project in Juneau where Goldbelt and Royal Caribbean Group have partnered to beneﬁt the community and guest experience. This recent cruise season, the two companies worked together to donate wireless internet equipment that provides public access to high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi, greatly reducing the impact on the residential network.

The agreement between Goldbelt and Royal Caribbean Group has named the Port of Tomorrow as developer alongside integrated design-builder Turnagain Marine. The facility is projected for completion during the 2027 Alaska cruise season.