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Qatar announces easier entry for cruise passengers

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 September 2016 23 September 2016

With a large number of cruise passengers expected to arrive at the country’s ports, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), in co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior and Qatar Ports Management Company – Mwani Qatar, have announced new measures to facilitate their disembarkation and entry for a seamless tourism experience.

Officials from the three entities have confirmed that, thanks to enhanced technology and close collaboration between cruise operators and security officials, cruise passengers will be able to disembark within minutes and begin enjoying their on-shore excursions.

As part of the new operating procedure, a passenger manifest containing passport details of passengers and crew will be shared with immigration officials 48 hours in advance of the ship’s arrival in Qatar. This will allow immigration officials to process all relevant information and clear passengers for entry before the ship berths.

In addition, QTA and the Ministry of Interior have confirmed that cruise passengers, due to the short duration of the stay, will be eligible for transit visas, which will further ease their entry into the country.

According to Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at QTA, the new procedures have been introduced in anticipation of significant increases in the number of cruise passengers. While Qatar has previously welcomed smaller ships carrying less than a thousand passengers, the coming season will be the first to witness the arrival of larger ships with over 1,500 passengers on board. The MSC Fantasia will be the first megaship to arrive in Qatar. It will dock in December with an expected 3,900 passengers and 1,500 crew-members on board.

“Cruise Tourism forms an important part of our strategy to increase the number of visitor arrivals to Qatar. That is why we are placing great emphasis on streamlining all processes related to cruise as well as developing the sector’s capacity to welcome a large number of passengers,” commented Al Ibrahim. “Studies show that once tourists have had a taste of a destination that they visited on a cruise, they are likely to return for a longer visit later, giving us further impetus to focus our strategy for the next two years on this important sub-sector of tourism.”

He added, “Cruise passengers currently spend eight hours on average during their stops in Qatar, so it is important to minimise the time spent on formalities on the day of their visit. We are grateful to the Ministry of Interior for their initiative and support in implementing a solution that will ensure our visitors get the most out of their visit without compromising on our nation’s security.”

Director General of General Directorate of Nationality, Borders and Expatriates Affairs, Brigadier Abdullah Salim Al-Ali, commented, “The Ministry of Interior always strives to facilitate government services while maintaining the utmost vigilance and security, for the sake of visitors and residents. The revised process for the entry of cruise passengers will enhance our visitors’ experience in Qatar while giving us more time to process information thoroughly using the passenger manifest, which will arrive 48 hours before the ship is due to dock.”

Destination prepares to offer seamless tourist experience to over 50,000 passengers this season.

The announcement comes as QTA and the Ministry of Interior step up efforts to facilitate entry for tourists in a bid to increase visitor arrivals into the country. Qatari officials recently signed an agreement with VFS Global that will soon allow for a fast-tracked and transparent tourist visa application process.

Thirty-two ships carrying over 50,000 passengers are expected to arrive in Qatar this cruise season, which continues until April 2017. The first ship of the season is expected to dock on October 18th at the Doha Port in the heart of Qatar’s capital.

Meanwhile, QTA is continuing to work with destination management companies and tour guides to ensure cruise passengers receive a warm welcome and enjoy an authentic Qatari experience during their stays. Tour guides have received intensive training on the management of large tour groups and effective communications about the destination.

All visas are approved and issued at the sole discretion of Qatar’s Ministry of Interior.

Alaska Welcomes Its 1,000,000 Cruise Ship Visitor in 2016

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 September 2016 23 September 2016

For the first time in seven years, Alaska welcomed its one millionth cruise ship visitor.

Wendy Yoisten from St Albert, Alberta, Canada with her husband John, arrived on the Holland America Line Zaandam, which docked this morning in Juneau, Alaska. Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott, Juneau Mayor Ken Koelsch, CLIA Alaska President John Binkley and a number of local officials and residents of Juneau surprised Mrs. Yoisten as she disembarked for the day.

Native dancers greeted the couple and Mrs. Yoisten received a medallion, plaque and basket of gifts from Alaska businesses.

“We are so excited to welcome you to Alaska and our capital city of Juneau,” said Binkley. “Your arrival is a significant milestone. Reaching one million cruise visitors this year demonstrates the health and bright future in our industry.”

Governor Walker issued a proclamation for the occasion, declaring September 22, 2016, Alaska Cruise Ship Visitor Day. In his remarks, Lt. Gov. Mallott recognized the proclamation, which states that visitor spending generates more than $4 billion in economic activity, helping all regions of our state. He added that cruise ships bring approximately half of all visitors to Alaska. Mayor Koelsch read a proclamation highlighting Juneau’s position as Alaska’s most popular cruise ship port. Koelsch noted that visitor spending supports Juneau businesses, creates local jobs and accounts for 20 percent of sales taxes collected year-round.

The industry is expected to bring even more visitors next year as Alaska continues to increase capacity. Holland America Line recently announced that it would be adding a seventh ship to the Alaska market next year. Seabourn has also announced that it will be returning to Alaska in 2017 for the first time in 15 years.

The last time Alaska saw more than 1,000,000 cruise visitors was 2009. “Following years of amazing growth, Alaska took a big hit,” Binkley said. “We lost about 15 percent of our market. Many businesses suffered and statewide, Alaska lost more than 5,000 jobs.

“Alaska is now seeing the benefits of the improved tax and regulatory environment enacted in 2010,” Binkley said. “Demand has also improved, following several years of significantly increased destination marketing. We have been able to build back our industry and all indications are that we will continue to grow.

“With our economic situation, the challenge now is to keep Alaska competitive with the rest of the world and to keep marketing programs robust,” Binkley said.

CLIA Alaska, formally the Alaska Cruise Association, was formed in 2007 as a not-for-profit organization whose membership includes the major cruise tour companies operating in Alaska.

Largest cruise ship to date calls at Portland Port

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 September 2016 23 September 2016

Holland America Line's newest cruise ship, the Koningsdam, made its inaugural call to Portland Port recently.

The 99,500 gross ton, 2,650-passenger cruise ship departed from Italy on her maiden voyage in April of this year. She is the largest cruise ship to call at the port to date.

Ian McQuade, General Manager (Commercial) for Portland Port, commented: “It is exciting that Holland America’s newest flagship chose to call at Portland Port during her first year of operation and shows that the port’s cruise business is gaining momentum.”

The 2016 cruise season is nearly at an end for Portland Port, however the port is already eagerly anticipating the 2017 season when the Koningsdam will be visiting twice more. The excitement is enhanced by the imminent start of building works for the eagerly awaited cruise berth extension. The seabed surveys have been completed and the works are scheduled to begin in October, with completion anticipated in good time for the start of the 2017 season.

Portland is one of just three ports on the south coast of the UK that can already handle vessels up to 300m LOA alongside. The new facility will further strengthen the ports position by increasing this capability to berth vessels in excess of 340m LOA alongside. The extension will boast a new suite of mooring bollards, high capacity pneumatic floating fenders and a minimum water depth of 9.6m CD.

Ian McQuade, General Manager – Commercial, at Portland Port commented: “We are lucky to have minimum water depths of 9.6m on our main cruise berth, now with the berth extension we will be able handle ships in excess of 340m LOA, putting us in a very unique group of ports along the English Channel. When we add this to our proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Stonehenge, Bath and the Jurassic Coast, along with easy access to the many attractions of the beautiful English countryside, we feel we will be very well positioned to continue to serve an ever increasing range of cruise line customers."

The cruise berth extension and the arrival of cruise line flagships like Koningsdam and Mein Schiff 5 are good indicators for the future of Portland Port and its cruise programme.

As the cruise ships sailing the world continue to grow in size, the new cruise berth will allow Portland to accommodate some of the biggest cruise ships in operation.

Pacific Eden puts Cairns on cruise base port list

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 September 2016 15 September 2016

P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Eden has made history, becoming the first cruise ship ever to be based in Cairns in the state of Queensland, the company said in a statement.

“The 1500 guest ship, which set sail on her first roundtrip cruise from the city on Saturday (Sept 10), will call Cairns home until November 11, carrying an estimated 13,000 holidaymakers on nine cruises from the city, including to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands,” the company said.

The inaugural season is expected to deliver more than AUD6 million to the State’s economy in passenger and crew spending, provedoring and associated port charges.

According to industry figures, Queensland is the second biggest source market for Australian cruisers with more than 280,000 Queenslanders cruising in 2015. Queensland is also home to more cruise destinations than any other state in Australia, with P&O ships now sailing to 11 destinations along its coast. In addition to launching Cairns as a new homeport, the cruise line has opened up a range of new Queensland ports in recent years including Gladstone and Fraser Island earlier this year.

With an estimated 40% of guests travelling from interstate to join the Cairns’ cruises, the two-month cruise season will provide a boost to local accommodation and travel operators, restaurants and cafes. According to industry figures, domestic cruisers spend an average AUD483 a day on accommodation, shopping, dining and transport before boarding a ship in an Australian port, said P&O Cruises Australia, which is part of the Carnival Corporation & plc group.

More than 230 cruise ships to transit Panama Canal 2016-17

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 September 2016 14 September 2016

Alan Lam reports

According to a communication from the Panama Canal authority, during the forthcoming 2016-17 cruise season, more than 230 cruise vessels will use the Canal to carry their passengers from one ocean to another.

The season will extend from October 2016 to April 2017. The first ship to arrive will be Coral Princess, which will use the original canal on 4 October on her voyage from Los Angeles, California, to the East Coast of USA.

During this period, among the Canal’s cruise clients are some of the smallest vessels, such as Un-Cruise’s Safari Voyager and Lindblad’s National Geographic Sea Lion, on account of the fact that cruise ships are generally not yet using the neoPanamax passage.

A number of new clients are expected for the season: they include Seven Seas Explorer of Regent Seven Seas, which is due to arrive on 2 January, Eurodam of Holland America Line, scheduled to use the Canal on 13 April, and Hebridean Sky of Noble Caledonia, which will arrive on 17 April.

The Canal authority has announced that it is ready to accept cruise ship bookings for the New Panama Canal from next year. To date, eleven cruise vessels have booked to use the neoPanamax Canal during the following season, between October 2017 and April 2018.