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MedCruise invests in digital communication widening its services

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 31 May 2024 31 May 2024

As a result of internal surveys and studies carried out by different working groups inside the association, MedCruise has decided to invest in digital communication and develop new infographics, statistics reports, interactive maps and a dedicated section to career opportunities. From next June, the website www.medcruise.com will be strengthened with new sections and the association will open a 'Threads' profile to reach even more stakeholders via a wider social media communication.

MedCruise, the largest Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports representing 153 ports from 22 countries in 3 different continents and 53 Associate Members, has had a very productive mandate with many new initiatives and services, which are now supported by technological innovations on its digital platforms. The website enhancements are introducing new features aimed at improving the user experience and ensuring access to the most up-to-date information to the cruise industry from its members, to create stronger visibility for all MedCruise port and associate members.

Informational maps & new sections

One of the most outstanding improvements is the geolocation of each member, a fundamental change in terms of precision and accuracy. Moreover, this enables the creation of detailed and informative maps and the creation of infographics reflecting data and information of various surveys, new initiatives or activities created during this mandate.

From now on, the cruise industry will have detailed information on crew facilities and services available at our ports, thanks to the crew-friendly survey led by MedCruise's Vice President, Lorenzo Vera. Additionally, the extensive sustainability and environmental survey conducted by board of directors Valeria Mangiarotti and Jamil Ouazzani will be presented in a map format. This data will be available on MedCruise's website with customizable filters, empowering users with reliable information and facilitating informed decision-making.

From a static platform, MedCruise's website will become a more interactive one allowing members to directly manage and update their profiles, ensuring the accuracy of the information presented and empower members or promote their engagement within the MedCruise community.

In a sector where agile professionals are more and more needed with the growing number and size of ships, a new section within the website will be dedicated to career opportunities from the cruise lines but also port side in order to include whoever wants to become part of the vibrant cruise industry.

The associate membership has increased by 47% and MedCruise has also created a categorisation system encompassing four different associate categories, reflecting their supporting role within the industry: Tourism Board, Port Agent, Receptive Agent or Cruise industry related Association or Company.

As board of director Aris Batsoulis’ task and as the 2nd pillar of the mandate after sustainability, MedCruise has given high priority to data governance to become one of the reliable sources for data. In collaboration with SaMMYacht company, the association has been actively working on a project that will create a digital platform to automate the reporting, modelling and visualisation of cruise traffic data across the MedCruise port network on an annual basis. This new platform, which will also be available on the website in June 2024, will also incorporate dynamic graphics and historical data collected over the past 10 years, allowing members to compare the recorded data available.

MedCruise website continues to serve as a database that offers publications and useful resources for the cruise industry, such as MedCruise Statistics report, issued every year, MedCruise Yearbook, also updated yearly, and the recent MedCruise’s Cruise Port City Compass, published and launched at Seatrade Cruise Global on April 10th, 2024, in collaboration with AIVP, the International Association of Cities & Ports and thanks to the great efforts of board of director Noemi Frascella.

Social media development & new "Threads"

Finally, in terms of social media, MedCruise has seen a significant increase in its presence and visibility in recent years, especially on platforms such as LinkedIn and Instagram, and is placing greater focus on these channels thanks to the support of board of director Cristina De Gregori.

In addition, MedCruise will be present on the ‘Threads’ channel, an account that will be launched in June 2024, with the goal of improving visibility and providing a dedicated space for discussions, updates and interactions, strengthening its online presence.

Figen Ayan, President of MedCruise, shared "while we are approaching to the end of the 2021-2024 mandate, I am extremely happy to see that our vision and targets have been reached and will be reflected to the whole industry in a user-friendly and accessible manner with our enhanced MedCruise website. This could not have been possible without the constant efforts of the Secretariat, Board of Directors and stakeholders involved".

Cruise Europe announces Simone Maraschi as newly elected Chair

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 19 May 2024 19 May 2024

Cruise Europe, the leading association representing ports across Europe, has announced the election of Simone Maraschi as its new Chairperson.

With a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the cruise industry, Simone Maraschi brings a fresh perspective and innovative vision to Cruise Europe. His election marks an exciting new chapter for the association as it continues to navigate the evolving landscape of the cruise industry.

Expressing gratitude for his outstanding stewardship over the past 12 years, Cruise Europe extends heartfelt thanks to Captain Michael McCarthy for his unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions to the organization. Under his guidance, Cruise Europe has achieved significant milestones, solidifying its position as a vital entity within the global cruise community.

Membership has grown substantially during his tenure, as Jens Skrede, Managing Director of Cruise Europe comments: "Michael's appointment as Chair in April 2012 was pivotal. Slowly but steadily, we implemented changes to win back port members who had left, such as Southampton, Hamburg, Reykjavik, Tromsø, or Bordeaux. Now, 12 years later, we can proudly say that our recruitment drive was successful. Membership has grown from less than 90 to almost 150 under Michael’s chairmanship. This growth has been key to keeping Cruise Europe´s competitive fee structure.“

"I am honoured and humbled to have been elected as Chair of Cruise Europe," said Simone Maraschi. "I am passionate about fostering collaboration between ports and cruise lines to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for our industry. Together, we can overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and deliver exceptional experiences for cruise passengers."

Simone Maraschi, who is Managing Director of Cruise Gate Hamburg GmbH, the operator of Hamburg’s cruise centres, brings vast expertise from the national and international cruise industry. His leadership and dedication will be instrumental in guiding Cruise Europe forward as it seeks to drive innovation and promote new technologies and practices that minimize the environmental impact, while at the same time striving for a balance that benefits all stakeholders – ports, cruise lines and destinations.

The election of Simone Maraschi took place during the Annual Conference of Cruise Europe in Stockholm, where industry leaders, port representatives, and stakeholders gathered to discuss key issues facing the cruise industry and explore opportunities for growth and collaboration.

"We are delighted to welcome Simone as the new Chair of Cruise Europe," said Jens Skrede. "His passion for the cruise industry and proven track record of leadership make him the ideal candidate to lead our association into the future. We look forward to working closely with Simone to further strengthen our ambitions for networking and knowledge-sharing among members and cruise lines and to drive continued growth in the European cruise market.“

As Chair of Cruise Europe, Simone Maraschi will work collaboratively with members, stakeholders, and industry partners to address challenges, identify opportunities, and advocate for policies that support the long-term success of the cruise industry in Europe.

SSA Marine introduces new cruise division with industry veteran Stefano Borzone at the helm

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

SSA Marine, one of the world's leading independent marine terminal operators, today announced the launch of a new, dedicated cruise division, as well as the appointment of cruise industry veteran Stefano Borzone as president. The new business unit builds on SSA Marine’s unique service and partnership capabilities and provides a platform for future growth opportunities to meet the growing needs of cruise lines and their customers.

A veteran port operations and development executive, Borzone spent several years in senior vice president roles with Carnival Corporation, as well as 13 years with Metro Cruise Services, where he served as president. In his new role, Borzone will oversee all SSA Marine cruise operations, while collaborating closely with all joint venture partners, customers, and port authorities.

The new division will focus on expanding the company’s long-term partnerships with major cruise lines, as well as developing innovative, value generating solutions for its cruise, port, and destination partners. Safety, labor relations, and sustainability initiatives will remain as key priorities for the division.

“Establishing a standalone cruise division is a unique opportunity to build on the strong foundation that our talented team of terminal operators from SSA Marine and Ceres have established with our cruise line customers and port authorities,” said Uffe Ostergaard, CEO of Carrix, the parent company of SSA Marine. “Adding Stefano’s deep industry experience and leadership to the team will be instrumental as we accelerate the growth of this significant line of business in the years ahead.”

“Joining SSA Marine at this pivotal time is incredibly motivating,” said Borzone, the newly appointed president of SSA Marine’s cruise division. “SSA Marine is well known for their diverse operational network, their decades-long partnerships, and their collaborative approach to the development, investment, and operation of cruise terminal locations. I am looking forward to working alongside our partners to deliver exceptional port operations, and to leading critical sustainability programs in support of the broader goals set by the cruise industry.”

Port Canaveral plans new cruise terminal for summer 2026 debut

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 09 May 2024 09 May 2024

Port Canaveral announced its plan today to build a new cruise terminal to meet the growing demands of the cruise industry. The strategic decision to build a new multi-user cruise terminal at the Port’s existing North 8 berth provides significant cost savings, operational flexibility, and an expedited construction timeline of approximately two years to accommodate the largest ships in the world across a spectrum of brands.

“We have cruise partners with immediate needs to locate assets in Florida and Port Canaveral is where they want to be,” stated Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “Our ability to efficiently bring a new cruise terminal online was key to retaining and growing this important business segment that supports many jobs and delivers high value to our regional and state economy.”

Port Canaveral’s existing North 8 berth shares its basin with the Port’s Cruise Terminal 5 on the northside of Port Canaveral. Designed and built in 2018 for multi-purpose flexibility, North 8 berth will require minimal modifications to extend the current 1,020 linear feet bulkhead to 1,344 feet to accommodate large cruise vessels. Additionally, waterside improvements to the northside of the shared basin will also extend and improve the berthing capacity of Cruise Terminal 5.

The new multi-user cruise terminal and parking facility will leverage technology to provide optimal flexibility for multi-users, multi-brands. The North 8 location, current berth configuration and vacant uplands affords the opportunity for minimal disruption to current port and tenant operations during construction.

"A new cruise terminal and the business it will deliver builds on our Board’s commitment to the economic prosperity of our Port community," said Micah Loyd, Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners. “This proactive, business-oriented strategy reaffirms our commitment to ensure the State of Florida continues to prosper from cruise tourism and remains the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’.”

Timeline for design, engineering, and construction are in development with target completion for the new facility by summer 2026. The new terminal campus will include a multi-story parking facility to accommodate up to 3,000 vehicles and roadway improvements in and out of the new facility, including turning lanes and a “flyover” ramp directly connecting the site with State Road 401.

Vancouver expects high numbers of cruise passengers throughout spring and summer

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 09 May 2024 09 May 2024

Anyone visiting Canada Place or nearby areas in downtown Vancouver should prepare for increased crowds and traffic between now and September, with the local cruise industry on course to attract record passenger numbers.

“We are expecting another exciting season for the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal in 2024, with cruise lines reporting robust bookings and the popularity of the Alaskan cruise market continuing to grow,” said Mandy Chan, cruise services manager at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver. “While record numbers of cruise tourists visiting our region will provide a vital boost for local businesses and tourism providers, it will also mean anyone planning to visit Canada Place or nearby areas downtown should plan ahead and expect increased crowds and traffic.”

About 1.27 million passengers are expected to pass through the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver this season, with 329 cruise ship visits scheduled between March 11 and October 29. This would represent about 2% more passenger visits than 2023’s record of 1.24 million.

Visitors and locals can expect to see high passenger volumes start at Canada Place this week and continue throughout summer – with only five days between now and the end of September without at least one cruise ship visit. Saturdays and Sundays are expected to be particularly busy, with between 20,000 and 30,000 passengers scheduled to pass through the cruise terminal on weekends over spring and summer.

Most cruise ship passenger arrivals and departures take place between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., which is when people can expect higher than normal pedestrian and vehicle traffic volumes in the downtown core and increased demand for taxis and public transportation. On peak cruise days, Vancouver Police Department’s traffic authority will help manage traffic and pedestrian flows at nearby crosswalks, and the port authority will have additional staff on site to help with passenger enquiries.

The Canada Place cruise terminal is one of North America’s premier homeports for Alaskan cruises, and is the point of origin where many cruise line itineraries start and end and where ships get serviced and provisioned. Each cruise ship visit to Vancouver generates an average of more than $3 million in direct activity to the local economy.