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Port of Vancouver expects record number of cruise ship visits in 2023

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 April 2023 14 April 2023

More passengers than ever before could visit the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal in Vancouver this season, as the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority continues to improve Canada’s premier homeport and its accessibility for all visitors

The first cruise ship of the season – the Sapphire Princess – arrived in Vancouver on April 12, officially starting what could be a record season for the industry locally. A total of 331 cruise ships visits are scheduled for the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver between April 12 and October 24, an increase of approximately 8% compared to 2022.

“Vancouver continues to be one of the world’s top cruise destinations and an award-winning homeport,” said Mandy Chan, manager of cruise services at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency mandated to enable Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver. “After a two-year pause and an incredible restart in 2022, we are now gearing up for another big season for the Vancouver cruise sector as well as the local hospitality and tourism industries it supports.”

A record 1.2 to 1.3 million passengers could travel through the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver in 2023 – an increase of about 10% over the record set in 2019 of 1.1 million. The port authority continues to focus on enhancing the passenger experience and this year will become the first homeport cruise terminal in Canada to offer pet relief stations for service animals. Created as part of a larger plan to improve the terminal’s overall accessibility, these stations offer a welcoming area for service animals during their visit to the Port of Vancouver’s cruise terminal.

The Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver was recognized as North America’s best homeport in Cruise Critic’s 2022 awards late last year, due to its breathtaking vistas, proximity to the Inside Passage and central location in the heart of downtown Vancouver.

“As we prepare for another big season, I want to acknowledge the hard work of everyone who made Vancouver’s return to cruise such a success last year as well as recognize the planning and preparation that has gone into this year,” said Chan. “The Port of Vancouver’s cruise comeback story is a testament to the exceptional work and dedication that industry has led to adapt and renew the sector. I’d like to thank our cruise lines partners, the Canada Place cruise terminal services provider Ceres Terminals Canada, the Cruise Lines International Association, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and everyone working throughout the cruise and tourism industries for their part in the safe and successful return of a treasured industry.”

Vancouver has been a homeport for Alaska cruises for more than 30 years, acting as the home base for one-way and round-trip cruises through the Inside Passage. As a homeport destination, the Vancouver cruise industry injects an average of almost $3 million into the local economy for each ship that visits Canada Place, generates nearly 7,000 jobs across Canada, $300 million in wages and contributes $840 million to national GDP.

Highlights for 2023 cruise season

– The first ship of the season, the Sapphire Princess, arrived at the Canada Place cruise terminal east berth at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The last cruise ship of the season, the Koningsdam, will depart Canada Place on Tuesday, October 24.
– The following six ships will visit Canada Place for the first time in 2023: Brilliance of the Seas, Silver Whisper, Hanseatic Nature, Fridtjof Nansen, Seabourn Venture and Scenic Eclipse II
– Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver welcomes the return of Holland America, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar, Viking Cruises, Victory Cruise Lines, Hurtigruten, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours and Oceania Cruises
– In 2022, nearly 70% of cruise calls were shore power enabled, compared to 50% in 2019. Demand for shore power has steadily increased since 2009, when the Port of Vancouver became the first port in Canada and the third in the world to introduce shore power for cruise ships. The technology enables ships to shut down their diesel-powered auxiliary engines and plug into land-based electrical power. Shore power at the Port of Vancouver has helped reduce port-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25,000 tonnes since 2009.
– Cruise returned to the Port of Vancouver on April 10, 2022, with the inaugural visit of the Holland America Line ship Koningsdam, following a two-year pause due to pandemic restrictions. There were 307 cruise ship visits and 810,090 passengers last year.

Photo: Koningsdam departing Vancouver last summer. Photo credit: Teijo Niemela

Copenhagen Malmö Port to have a busy cruise season ahead

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 April 2023 14 April 2023

Spring has arrived, and with it, the first cruise ships will call CMP’s terminals in Copenhagen, Malmö, and Visby. Throughout the season, CMP expects a total of 432 calls: 290 in Copenhagen, 136 in Visby, and 6 in Malmö. Of these calls, 122 are turnaround calls and 10 are Christmas calls.

The expedition cruise ship Ocean Nova calls today at Nordre Toldbod in Copenhagen marks the first cruise call of the year. In total CMP expects 74 calls from small cruise ships (carrying less than 500 passengers) which accounts for 17% of the total volume of cruise calls. And out of those 74 calls, 30% will be turnarounds.

“We are excited to see a total of 432 expected cruise calls in 2023 at our ports with a well-balanced mix of smaller, medium, and larger vessels representing different segments and nationalities. Every year we are experiencing a gradual increase of calls from small cruise ships including exploration and niche vessels which are favourites amongst the destinations and local communities” says Luis de Carvalho, CMP’s Commercial Cruise Director.

Highlights for this year include a total of 9 maiden calls including amongst others Explora 1, Disney Dream, SH Diana, Costa Firenze, Scenic Eclipse, and the naming ceremony for MSC Cruises’ brand new and environmentally advanced cruise ship Euribia takes place on June 8 in Copenhagen. In addition, our ports have doubled the number of Christmas calls compared to 2022.

“Once again, our three Nordic cruise destinations Copenhagen, Visby, and Malmö - are popular amongst both cruise guests and cruise lines. Together with all our destinations and local partners, we continue to work hard on our efforts to build a more prosperous and sustainable cruise industry. And on that note, it is important to mention our cooperation with ports, destinations, and cruise organizations in the region to improve our cruise offer aiming at an all-year-round cruise season” adds Luis de Carvalho.

Personnel in the image from left to right: Luis de Carvalho, Commercial Cruise Director CMP; Sophia Maria Wurch, Port Agency SDK; Malthe Mulvad, Public Affairs Lead CMP

Global Ports Holding reveals latest updates on its West Med cruise ports

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 09 April 2023 09 April 2023

Global Ports Holding (GPH), the world's largest cruise port operator, announced the latest updates on its ongoing projects in the West Mediterranean region during a Regional Reception as part of the Seatrade Cruise Global event on March 29th. The event showcased GPH's commitment to providing state-of-the-art cruise ports that prioritize sustainability and guest experience, and highlighted project updates on Alicante, Las Palmas, and Tarragona Cruise Ports, as well as news on Global Ports Services.

Javier Rodriguez Sanchez, Regional Director West Med & Asia, provided an update on GPH's newest addition to their network, Alicante Cruise Port. Under a 15-year concession agreement, GPH is set to welcome its first call on March 27th. With a planned investment of up to EUR 2.0m, the cruise terminal will undergo refurbishment and modernization to include new F&B and retail areas that will enhance cruise guest experience. Alicante is set to experience a record-breaking year for turnaround passengers in 2023, with interporting regular itineraries.

Alba Colet, Commercial Manager of Tarragona Cruise Port, shared the latest developments regarding the port. GPH started operations in Tarragona in April 2022 and plans to build a new state-of-the-art modular cruise terminal that will utilize solar power to ensure the sustainable provision of the terminal's energy needs. Tarragona is located only 55 minutes south of Barcelona airport, and construction of the new cruise terminal is expected to start in Q2 2023 and be finalized in May 2024. Tarragona is set to reach turnaround passenger records during the 2023 season with interporting regular itineraries.

Susana Gutierrez, Interim General Manager of Las Palmas Cruise Ports, provided an update on the three ports in the Canary Islands: Las Palmas, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote Cruise Ports. GPH, together with its local partner, started operations at the three cruise ports in October 2022. The project includes the construction of new cruise terminals in all three ports, with the largest one in Las Palmas. The project features a 14,400m2 terminal build from sustainable recycled materials to achieve low carbon footprint that will be able to provide smoother homeporting and transit operations at one of the busiest ports in Spain. With an ability to handle the largest cruise ships in the world simultaneously, the port will have new retail and F&B experiences, 40 bus capacity, and an improved operational structure. Construction of new cruise terminals in Las Palmas, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote will start in Q2 2023 and be finalized in March-May 2024 for Fuerteventura and Lanzarote and May 2025 for Las Palmas. Passenger volumes are set to rebound strongly in 2023, with an average increase of +20% expected across the three islands.

Jordi Guillem, Manager of Global Ports Services presented an overview of the company's offerings, which include integrated port services packages to cruise lines in all GPH ports and non-GPH ports worldwide, creating synergies. He also mentioned that the company is in its second season of providing port and ground agency services to cruise lines as part of their integrated service project model in Barcelona and all other Spanish and Portuguese ports. Additionally, Global Ports Services plans to expand its port and ground agency services within the ports under their network in Spain. For the first time, Global Ports Services provided turnaround services in Barcelona for Virgin, marking an exciting development for the company. In addition, GPCI was awarded the entrepreneurship award.

Javier Rodriguez Sanchez, Regional Director West Med & Asia said "We are proud to continue our commitment to sustainable and state-of-the-art cruise ports in the West Mediterranean region, providing exceptional guest experiences. Our ongoing projects in Alicante, Las Palmas, and Tarragona Cruise Ports, as well as exciting updates on Global Ports Services, demonstrate Global Ports Holding's dedication to meeting the evolving needs of the cruise industry and exceeding expectations."

Grenada Tourism Authority reports successful Seatrade Cruise Global

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 06 April 2023 06 April 2023

Senior officials of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) recently attended the Seatrade Cruise Global Conference, the largest cruise industry event in the world, from March 27-30 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The GTA delegation was led by Chairman Randall Dolland and included CEO Petra Roach and Manager of Nautical Development Nikoyan Roberts. The delegation also included Marlon Clyne, Manager, Administration of the Grenada Ports Authority and Sheldon Alexander, General Manager, Services Division, George F. Huggins & Co. Ltd. They joined more than 12,000 professionals from the cruise industry, including cruise line executives, port operators, travel agents and suppliers.

The conference presents opportunities to discuss trends and innovations in the global cruise industry and allows attendees to conduct one on one meetings to move forward commercial agreements.

The Grenada delegation participated in a series of meetings with cruise brands including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Silversea, American Queen Voyages, Princess Cruises, Oceania, Regent, Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection, Windstar Cruises, and Viking Cruises. Discussions centered around including Grenada in their itineraries, increasing the number of passengers disembarking in port, providing opportunities for Grenadian talent to be employed in the cruise industry workforce and providing a market for locally produced Grenadian products.

Petra Roach, CEO of the GTA, was optimistic about the conference and it’s expected impact on Grenada's tourism industry. "Seatrade Cruise Global Conference is not only an excellent opportunity for us to share updates in terms of improvements in Grenada's product but also the occasion for us to recommit to the cruise industry and communicate that we are open for business and serious about it. We look forward to solidifying these relationships with cruise line executives and other industry stakeholders and exploring different ways to attract more cruise visitors to our shores."

Photo: L-R: Marlon Clyne, Manager, Administration, Grenada Ports Authority; Nikoyan Roberts, Manager, Marketing, Sales, Nautical, GTA; Randall Dolland, Chairman, GTA; Petra Roach CEO GTA; and Sheldon Alexander, General Manager, Services Division, George F. Huggins & Co Ltd.

GPH Americas ports provide progress reports at Seatrade Cruise Global

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 04 April 2023 04 April 2023

Global Ports Holding Plc (GPH), the world's largest cruise port operator, highlighted the exciting changes underway at each of its ports in the Americas during Seatrade Cruise Global 2023. Company executives shared updates from Antigua Cruise Port in Antigua & Barbuda, Nassau Cruise Port in The Bahamas, San Juan Cruise Port in Puerto Rico, and Prince Rupert Cruise Port in British Columbia, Canada.

Dona Regis Prosper, General Manager of Antigua Cruise Port, confirmed that Antigua officially commissioned the fifth berth on December 6, 2022 – a major step forward in enhancing capacity on the beautiful Caribbean island which boasts 365 beaches. Antigua also launched homeporting operations in January 2023 and successfully completed the homeporting season with P&O Arvia in March. Antigua Cruise Port is quickly becoming a popular homeport for luxury cruise lines seeking to explore the Caribbean with passengers who desire exclusive and unique sailing experiences.

Mike Maura Jr., Regional Director for GPH Americas and CEO of Nassau Cruise Port, communicated that Nassau, the busiest transit port in the world, recently set a new one-day passenger record of 28,554 passengers aboard six cruise ships in February 2023. This massive number was made directly possible by the recent expansion of the berths to accommodate more and larger ships as a part of its ongoing $250 million-plus redevelopment project. Nassau will launch its highly anticipated Authentically Bahamian retail, dining, and cultural experience in May 2023. This transformative new addition to the downtown waterfront will include a state-of-the-art arrivals terminal, an immersive Junkanoo Museum experience, a 3,000-person amphitheatre, new shopping and F&B outlets, and much more.

Federico Gonzalez, General Manager of San Juan Cruise Port - the gateway to the eastern and southern Caribbean - shared that GPH has signed an agreement to upgrade, expand, and manage the cruise piers in San Juan. The $425 million project, which will start following the financial close of the concession, will include the repair and refurbishment of the existing port facilities and construction of a state-of-the-art cruise terminal. These enhancements will support the growth of the destination as San Juan “cruises into the future” by welcoming the world's largest cruise ships.

Kevin D’Costa, General Manager of Prince Rupert Cruise Port noted that GPH has signed a 10-year concession agreement with a 10-year extension option to manage cruise services at Prince Rupert Cruise Port in British Columbia. Only 40 miles from Alaska, this destination is the first GPH-managed cruise port in North America. Here, GPH will focus on strengthening and expanding the shore excursion capabilities of the destination by supporting the development of related opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

Mike Maura Jr., Regional Director of GPH Americas stated “This is truly an incredible period of growth for our company and especially for our regional ports. The investments being made in these destinations will enhance the experience for millions of cruise passengers each year and provide a boost in economic activity in the surrounding communities. These investments have been strategically designed to support the holistic development of each destination and clearly show why GPH is the world’s largest port operator. At GPH, we consistently combine our global mindset with a uniquely local approach in each port destination that we serve. We are not simply a cruise port operator and developer - we are capable and willing partners in community development.”

GPH currently manages 27 ports in 14 countries.