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New facilities for cruise business at Lerwick ahead of record seasons

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 12 April 2017 12 April 2017

Lerwick Harbour is providing additional facilities for the cruise industry which is expected to deliver another two record seasons at the Shetland port, continuing a trend which saw record traffic in 2015 and 2016.

The new £16.5 million multi-purpose jetty at Holmsgarth North, completed in late 2016, is set to be used by a cruise ship for the first time on 12 June when Viking Star berths.

The outside arm of the jetty will be used initially for vessels up to 230 metres in length and Viking ships will be among a number to use Holmsgarth North this summer.

Lerwick Port Authority has commissioned a new unit to be used at the location to provide a focal meet-and-greet station and as an information point for visitors. The towable unit will be a flexible asset to assist the welcoming team with their well-received service.

Victor Sandison. Senior Commercial Executive, Lerwick Port Authority, said: “Holmsgarth North is significant addition to our capacity to welcome cruise ships alongside at a time when the port is attracting more passengers.”

The port is currently expecting almost 62,000 passengers this season, up 22% on 2016, with an increase of 18.2% in the gross tonnage of shipping to 2,591,975 – both new records. The number of ships due is expected to be 76, three fewer than last year, with July and August the busiest months, with 22 and 21 calls respectively.

The season gets underway this week with a visit on Friday (14 April) by AIDA Cruises’ vessel, AIDAvita, on a 13-day Nordic Islands & Norway cruise. The last call is due on Wednesday 27 September by Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jade on a transatlantic 11-day “In the Path of Vikings” cruise, arriving from Southampton, en route to New York, via Reykjavik, Iceland.

There will be maiden calls by nine vessels, including Cruise and Maritime Voyages’ new flagship, Columbus on Sunday 9 July.

Three new records are expected in 2018, with 90 ships currently booked – and more expected; 4,132,710 gross tonnage of shipping; and an estimated almost 96,000 passengers, with the increase influenced by more bookings by larger capacity vessels. There are 10 maiden calls booked to date.

Sandison added: “Continuing growth in the international cruise industry, our record bookings and our positive approach to industry requirements, including expanded infrastructure, all augur well for the port and the Shetland tourism sector in the future.”

Adriatic Sea Tourism Report shows mainly healthy trends of business

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 April 2017 11 April 2017

A preview of some of the data from the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report shows that in 2016 there was a rise in cruise passenger numbers (approx. 5.1 million, +5.5%) and ferry passengers (17.6 million, +3.5%) and a positive situation for turnover in the marinas and charter companies.

The organisation will hold its annual conference in 27 and 28 April.

The number of cruise calls in the Adriatic region rose to more than more than 3,700, an increase of 10.5% on 2015. Last year, Italian ports recorded a figure of 2.3 million passengers (-2.5%) and 843 calls (-1.4%); yet these results have confirmed Italy at the top of the country list, ahead of Croatia and Greece, the organisation said in a statement

Acapulco registers a 64 percent increase in cruise ship arrivals during 2017

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 28 March 2017 28 March 2017

Acapulco is a destination that attracts both national and international travelers year-round to enjoy the destination’s beaches, nightlife, natural attractions and so on. Acapulco’s port receives ships coming from North and Central America during the cruise season, which takes place between September and July.

Acapulco is ready to receive 28 cruise ships, which have been confirmed for 2017, compared to 18 cruise ships during 2016, representing a 64 percent increase for this upcoming season despite Holland America’s announcement about their route adjustment. Therefore, meetings have been established with Holland America’s executives to present them with ongoing security advances at the port.

Acapulco will receive a total of 10 more cruise ships this year while continuing to promote and supervise the port of Acapulco’s operations to attract more ships, in collaboration with international cruise lines. Currently, the following nine cruise lines operate in Acapulco: Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas, V-Ships, Silversea, Oceania Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Global, Saga and Hapag-Lloyd.

Recently, a delegation headed by the Acapulco Tourism Board and integrated by the directive of the Integral Port Administration (API) of Acapulco, executives of the Acapulco Destination Marketing Office and several tour operators were present at the international convention, Seatrade Cruise Global - held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - where they held meetings with the major shipping companies. Similarly, a meeting is scheduled with the Operations Committee of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) to deliver a firsthand report on the operation of cruise ships at the destination.

It is important to highlight that Norwegian Cruise Line Holding, a company with regular operations in Acapulco, put this destination as an example before the Port of Lima, as its operations model has been executed with zero incidents in recent years. Thus, Peruvian authorities from Lima will visit Acapulco to experience firsthand the successful program which links the port with the city of Acapulco for travel tours, supported by various reputable travel agencies.

Cruise operations in the Port of Acapulco are assisted by the Center for Tourist Attention and Protection (CAPTA), which is an innovative organization recognized worldwide for tourism assistance and safety implemented for the first time in Mexico. The federal, state and municipal authorities reiterate their commitment to the successful operation of the cruise ships in Acapulco and will continue collaborating with the international cruise lines, resolving their concerns while continually attracting tourists to the destination by sea, as well as providing the necessary conditions for their visit.

New digital travel company GoBe.com launches

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 24 March 2017 24 March 2017

GoBe.com launched yesterday, setting a new standard in the tours and activities sector. GoBe offers an interactive digital platform that travelers can use to book thousands of day tours and activities in hundreds of destinations worldwide. The highly anticipated venture is the only site of its kind that allows users to completely customize and build private itineraries.

GoBe has hand-selected every tour and experience on the site with authenticity, value, and fun in mind. With an activity searchable by nearly any traveler’s interest, the website offers easy-to-use search features that allow travelers to search by Destination, Interest or Group requirements. The site has three primary categories of activities: high-value group tours, private excursions, and exclusive, completely tailor-made “Travel Creations” that are found nowhere else online. Additionally, the easy-to-navigate portal searches cruise schedule itineraries, pricing, and availability for a wide variety of experiential activities, from architecture walking tours and culinary adventures to wildlife exploration and over-the-top bucket-list experiences. With hundreds of tours added each week, GoBe emerges as the world’s easiest-to-use online tour provider.

“We’re thrilled to officially open GoBe to every type of traveler, from hotel guests and staycationers to business travelers with a long layover. Today marks the start of our continued growth and evolution as the leading experiential online tour provider,” said Billy Campbell, Managing Director for GoBe.

Responding to travelers’ growing desire to uncover authentic local experiences, iconic attractions, and off-the-beaten path adventures, GoBe draws from decades of connections and expertise, guaranteeing an unprecedented level of reliability and security in every online booking. With energetic, responsive web design, GoBe allows users to search and book seamlessly on any device.

Penang Port and Royal Caribbean Cruises enter joint venture to upgrade Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 18 March 2017 18 March 2017

Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) will collaborate with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) in a joint venture to upgrade and improve Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) in Georgetown, Penang, to accommodate berthing of larger cruise ships at its facilities. The 60/40 joint venture will be jointly managed by both parties, with the majority stake held by PPSB.

Plans for the facilities include extension of the existing berths to 688 metres from its current length of 400 metres. This will enable the terminal to berth two mega cruise liners carrying over 4,900 passengers each at any one time, in line with the industry requirement as Penang comes of age as a “choice port of call” for international cruise operators.

In addition, the redevelopment will include spaces for tour buses to ease the flow of traffic in the areas around SPCT. The USD35 million project will further focus on improving accessibility for the aged and physically challenged throughout the terminal from ship to shore.

This planned development has received unyielding support from both State and Federal government and associated government agencies including Tourism bodies, and will be a focal part of Malaysian Tourism EPP6 plan to create a “Straits and Borneo Cruise Riviera”.

This joint venture between RCL and PPSB, will showcase Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage site to a fast-growing tourism market, the “water tourists” that travel the world on luxury cruise liners. The ability to handle more and larger cruise vessels in Swettenham Pier will entrench Penang as a major cruise destination in the region.

RCL is scheduled to make 38 calls in Penang in 2017.