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Hamburg is Germany’s top cruise port in 2023 with over 1.2 million passengers

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 22 April 2024 22 April 2024

A record 1,204,089 passengers started their cruise trip in Hamburg last year (2022: 785,000 passengers), thus securing the Hanseatic city’s top spot among German cruise ports. All in all, 51 different cruise ships called 278 times at the Port of Hamburg, of which eight were maiden calls. A further 62 calls were made by river cruise ships. The record result shows just how much cruise guests appreciate Hamburg’s wide variety of attractions and offerings.

Dr Melanie Leonhard, Hamburg Minister [Senatorin] for Economy and Innovation, "The arrival and departure of a cruise ship in the Port of Hamburg is always an impressive moment. Last year, more than 1.2 million passengers experienced this. The cruise industry thus makes a significant contribution to value creation and employment in and around our port. I am therefore pleased that from 2025, we will have one of the most modern cruise terminals in the HafenCity, right in the heart of our city. As one of the most popular cruise destinations in Europe and a pioneer in sustainability issues, we also aim to further advance the topic of shore power. Therefore, we are currently massively expanding our shore-side power supply and will in future provide onshore energy supply at all cruise terminals."

Simone Maraschi, Managing Director of Cruise Gate Hamburg GmbH, “The record number of cruise passengers who start their journey from German ports is testament to the growing interest in sea trips of German holidaymakers. We are delighted to see the industry back on course after the coronavirus pandemic. The stronger market benefits the entire north German region. As cruise trips continue to gain in popularity, Germany remains a key player in the worldwide cruise industry that offers a wide range of fascinating routes and unforgettable experiences to travellers of all ages.”
In September 2023 Hamburg received the ‘Destination of the Year’ award at the renowned Seatrade Cruise Awards to honour Hamburg’s rise to the most popular year-round cruise destination that offers trips to anywhere in the world. However, not only does the cruise sector play an important role in tourism in Hamburg, it is also a key pillar of the Hanseatic city’s economy. The fact that it creates gross value added of 420 million euros annually as well as 4,490 full-time jobs makes it a crucial economic factor in Hamburg.

For 2024 the outlook is positive, too. At 270 planned calls in the period from the beginning of January to the end of December and 60 calls by river cruise ships the Port of Hamburg continues to be a major German cruise port and popular starting point for year-round departures. Guests increasingly like cruise trips during the winter months, in particular international passengers who are very fond of Hamburg’s Christmas markets. Guests also more and more like to take longer as well as around-the-world trips. Cruise enthusiasts can look forward to ten maiden calls at Hamburg.

Among others, Cunard will present its newest fleet member in Hamburg, the Queen Anne; Costa Crociere will return to Hamburg with its Costa Favolosa and Disney Cruise Line will make its first call ever at the Hanseatic city, sending its Disney Dream (other maiden calls: Ocean Albatros, Seabourn Quest, Villa Vie Odyssey, Sirena, Azamara Onward, Mein Schiff 7, Sky Princess). Hamburg will celebrate the Harbour’s Birthday from May 9th through 12th, 2024.

The expansion works at the cruise terminal in HafenCity are progressing. From 2025 Cruise Gate Hamburg will have additional berths available at the new cruise centre which is conveniently located close to the city centre. Tourists have easy access to public transportation and the southern Überseequartier with its many high-quality and diverse offerings. The terminal will sport two berths for cruise ships, including facilities to supply shore-based electricity to ships throughout their docking time.

Global Ports Holding to revamp and expand San Juan Cruise Port through $350 million investment

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

Key highlights of the San Juan Cruise Port project were unveiled at this year’s Seatrade Cruise Global event by Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest cruise port operator.

SJCP is now managing cruise port operations and will commence its multi-million-dollar plan to repair, rebuild, and upgrade its infrastructure in accordance with its Public-Private Partnership Agreement with the Puerto Rico Ports Authority (“PRPA”). The operational handover marks the beginning of a transformative journey to enhance and elevate San Juan’s position in the Caribbean cruise market.

Port investment

While San Juan Cruise Port is a popular homeport and transit port, significant investment in its infrastructure is needed to ensure continued operations and to meet the needs of the fast-growing cruise industry.

As per the terms of the 30-year concession agreement, GPH has paid the Puerto Rico Ports Authority an upfront concession fee of $75M. During the initial investment phase, GPH will invest approximately $100M, primarily focused on critical infrastructure repairs at Pier 4 and Pan American Piers I and II, in addition to upgrades to the terminal buildings and the passenger walkway.

GPH will also modernize the port experience for cruise passengers, cruise lines, and local vendors and will use its global expertise and operating model to improve port operations management, technology, security, and sustainability efforts. The port will also be integrated into Old San Juan and Puerto Rico's thriving tourism sector, creating significant opportunities for local businesses to benefit directly from the improved facilities and the anticipated growth in cruise passenger volumes.

The second investment phase will commence subject to pre-determined criteria, including cruise passenger volumes recovering to pre-pandemic levels. In this phase, GPH will invest an estimated $250M in expanding the capacity of the port by building a new cruise pier and state-of-the-art homeport terminal at Piers 11 and 12 to handle the world’s largest cruise ships.

Network expansion

The addition of San Juan Cruise Port is a significant development in the strategic expansion plan of Global Ports Holding in the Caribbean. San Juan Cruise Port, which welcomed 1.8 million unique passengers in 2019 (including 400,000 homeport passengers, representing 2.2 million passenger movements), is the third-largest cruise port in the GPH network.

Global Ports Holding Chairman & CEO, Mehmet Kutman, said: "We are delighted to welcome San Juan Cruise Port into the world's largest cruise port network. In addition to being a fantastic destination, San Juan is a strategically important port that is perfectly positioned to play a pivotal role in Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries as a homeport for decades to come.

We are excited to have started operations, as San Juan continues to welcome record numbers of cruisers and look forward to delivering on our plans to bring the iconic San Juan Cruise Port to its rightful leadership position in the Caribbean cruise industry for the benefit of all Puerto Ricans.

We remain dedicated to expanding our presence and impact in the region and to exploring new opportunities for growth and collaboration in the Caribbean.”

San Juan Cruise Port President, Jan Fomferra, said: “Our investment in this port will see hundreds of millions of dollars poured into the development and expansion of San Juan Cruise Port which will transform the port infrastructure, significantly improve the cruise port experience for passengers, and create greater opportunities for local businesses to benefit from the anticipated growth in passenger volumes.

We look forward to delivering a world-class cruise port that will benefit Puerto Rico and the entire region, boosting the economies of the entire Caribbean cruise industry for many years to come.”

San Juan Cruise Port General Manager, Federico González-Denton said: "This is a dream come true. After so many years in the industry making recommendations about how to improve the port at San Juan, we finally have the opportunity to do something about it. The investment being made by GPH to revamp the port will propel San Juan to a whole new level as it prepares to welcome an ever-growing number of passengers."

Seattle’s 2024 cruise season kicks off – 25 years of sailing to Alaska

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 10 April 2024 10 April 2024

The 2024 cruise season officially started last weekend at the Port of Seattle’s Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66. The Port and local officials welcomed Norwegian Bliss for the first sailing of the 25th year of cruises between Seattle and Alaska. As the season gets underway, the Port is hard at work finalizing the electrification of Pier 66 and plans to connect cruise ships to shore power this summer. This milestone will make shore power available at all three Seattle cruise berths, which will achieve the Northwest Ports Air Strategy goal to electrify all cruise berths by 2030, six years early.

2024 season by the numbers

– The 2024 season runs from April 6 to October 28. The season is expected to support: 275 sailings
– 1.7 million revenue passengers, which comes out to more than 800,000 unique passengers
– Nearly $900 million in economic impact including tourism, provisioning, and jobs supported by cruise

– 5,500 jobs

“Over the last 25 years, the cruise business has become a significant part of our local economy, contributing to hundreds of businesses and thousands of jobs. All that activity comes with environmental impacts, however, and so the Port of Seattle is committed to providing a leadership role in advancing maritime decarbonization,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Ryan Calkins. “Through our trailblazing collaboration — the Pacific Northwest to Alaska Green Corridor — we are studying the feasibility of cruise ships sailing on zero-emission green methanol in the Alaska market. Our objective is to provide a road map for maritime leaders worldwide that demonstrates the viability of a greener industry, one that serves our communities and passengers while minimizing environmental and social impacts.”

“Our history with the Port of Seattle runs deep, and it is a partnership we are very proud of,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). “Together we pioneered voyages to Alaska from Seattle, with Norwegian Sky’s inaugural sailing to the Last Frontier in May 2000. In 2018, Norwegian Bliss was the first ship to be christened in Seattle, and today, we continue to bring guests from all over the world to sail aboard our spectacular ships from this beautiful city. Our commitment to the local Seattle and Alaska communities is very important to all of us at NCL, as together we deliver dream vacations for our guests. We remain dedicated to Seattle and look forward working together to enhance its cruise operation by connecting our ships to shore power at Pier 66 in the near future.”

“The working men and women of ILWU local 19 welcome the start of this year’s cruise season and the family wage jobs it provides to our local,” said Rich Austin, President ILWU local 19. “Each year the cruise industry can rely on our highly skilled and efficient workforce to see that ships are fully provisioned and the needs of passengers and their baggage are met.”

“Cruising to Alaska is an extraordinary experience, and 63% of travelers first visiting Seattle for a cruise return for a longer stay, furthering the economic impact to local businesses,” said Sally Andrews, Vice President Communications & Public Affairs, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). “The cruise industry is committed to sustainable operations, with some of the most technologically advanced ships sailing in the region, use of shore power to reduce emissions, and investing in new solutions to protect beautiful destinations like the Pacific Northwest.”

"Cruise passengers are a crucial part of our economy’s success and contribute significantly to downtown’s vibrancy. The Port of Seattle collaborates with the tourism and small business community to ensure passengers are well informed of the sights, sounds, and adventures of our city. From our revitalized waterfront to our diverse neighborhoods, passengers have an abundance of experiences to embrace,” said Visit Seattle President and CEO Tammy Canavan. “As the gateway to Alaska, we look forward to welcoming explorers this cruise season, and sending them home eager to return for more.”

The Port remains committed to being one of the most environmentally progressive cruise home ports in North America by reducing emissions at berth with shore power connections, protecting water quality in Puget Sound by banning discharge of Exhaust Gas Clean System wash water at berth, and collaborating with the industry on the long-term decarbonization of cruise travel. In addition to the upcoming launch of shore power at Pier 66, the Port forecasts that 123 sailings will connect at Pier 91.

The Port also continues to work in partnership with cruise ports in Alaska, Victoria. and Vancouver BC and the cruise industry to explore the world’s first cruise-focused Green Corridor from Seattle to Alaska through innovative decarbonization strategies. Learn more at an upcoming webinar on May 2.

Cruise lines operating in Seattle follow the Port’s best practices along with state and international regulatory guidelines while also voluntarily adapting operations and equipment to protect air and water.

25 years of sailing to Alaska

The 2024 season also represents the 25th anniversary of the first cruises between Seattle and Alaska. In May 2000, Norwegian Sky was the first ship to set sail from the Port of Seattle offering guests round-trip cruises sailing to Alaska. The industry has grown from 36 ship calls to the current season forecast of 275 ship calls.

Princess and Brightline unveil new ‘Rail & Sail’ for guests sailing from Florida ports

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 10 April 2024 10 April 2024

Princess Cruises and Brightline, the intercity passenger rail seamlessly connecting travelers to top destinations and major events in Central and South Florida, have joined forces to introduce the innovative Rail & Sail program, offering guests swift and hassle-free access to Princess cruise ships departing from two popular Florida homeports – Fort Lauderdale and Orlando (Port Canaveral).

With Rail & Sail, guests enjoy a seamless journey in luxurious comfort, arriving at their preferred homeport in significantly less time than traditional travel methods.

The announcement also included the debut of a train with four custom-designed cars adorned with Princess’ iconic Love Boat branding, complete with its signature seawitch logo and depictions of popular ports of call. Princess’ branding will also be featured within Brightline’s five terminals throughout Florida.

Also announced was a value-added luggage express service offering guests the ultimate convenience as their bags are checked at their Brightline station and are waiting for them securely in their stateroom upon arrival to the ship.

Princess guests can also enjoy special discounts of up to 15% when booking Smart and Premium Rail & Sail packages through Brightline’s web site. And for a limited time only, guests who book a Princess cruise through May 5 will receive a Brightline credit of up to $150 per person for its signature Smart and Premium class service based on stateroom type.

“A Princess cruise is already the best value in travel and this new partnership with Brightline makes it even easier and more enjoyable to sail with us from the top-rated ports in South and Central Florida,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “Our guests can just sit back, relax, and let us do the rest, including delivering their luggage directly to their stateroom.”

“Brightline has been connecting travelers to South Florida ports since we began operations in 2018 and cruisers from the beginning have found our train to be the easiest way to start their vacation,” said Patrick Goddard, president of Brightline. “Today’s partnership with Princess Cruises and this train wrap with the iconic Love Boat branding is yet another example of the connection between cruisers and Brightline.”

One-of-a-Kind ‘Rail & Sail’ service

Princess guests will have access to Brightline’s full schedule of convenient trains departing daily with 16 round-trip transits between Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. Options include:
– Southbound from Orlando to Fort Lauderdale (with stops at West Palm Beach and Boca Raton)
– Northbound from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando (with stops at Boca Raton and West Palm Beach)
– South Florida residents can also take Brightline from its downtown Miami and Aventura terminals with stops in Fort Lauderdale or Orlando.

Princess will also provide guests with complimentary motorcoach service between Brightline’s Orlando and Fort Lauderdale stations and their embarkation terminal.

Photo: Carolyn Spencer Brown, Chief Content Officer of Cruise Media, ready to try the Brightline train

Global Ports Holding awarded preferred bidder status for Casablanca Cruise Port

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 07 April 2024 07 April 2024

Global Ports Holding Plc, the world's largest independent cruise port operator, has announced that following a public tender process, a majority-owned consortium between GPH (51%), local shareholder, Steya (40%) and Ocean Infrastructures Management (9%) has been awarded preferred bidder status for a 15-year concession agreement with Agence Nationale des Ports, to operate the Casablanca new cruise terminal. The consortium and ANP will now work towards agreeing on the terms of the concession agreement.

Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, offers cruise passengers a wonderful blend of traditional Moroccan culture and contemporary experiences. It is also the cruise gateway to Rabat and the enchanting Red City of Marrakech, which will soon be within 1.2hrs reach with the new bullet train project, set to be completed before the 2030 FIFA World Cup to be hosted jointly by Morocco, Spain and Portugal. From historic mosques and cathedrals, historical neighbourhoods to relaxing beaches and vibrant promenades, the city offers visitors a wide range of experiences. Located on the Northwest coast of Africa, Casablanca is a key stopover port for Canary Island and West Mediterranean cruises, as well as crossing sailings between Europe and the Caribbean.

Port investment

The cruise port facilities recently underwent a EUR 60 million investment in the cruise port infrastructure. This investment, which was led by ANP, included the construction of a new cruise pier, cruise terminal and maritime station to international standards, significantly increasing the port's capacity. The port is now capable of handling ships up to 350m long and has the cruise port infrastructure to welcome 400k per annum. Casablanca Cruise Port is expected to welcome c150k transit passengers in 2024, rising to c180k passengers in 2025.