Departments

FCCA announces official hotel for the 21st annual Conference & Trade Show

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 April 2014 29 April 2014

The Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) has selected of the Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa as the official hotel for the 2014 Conference & Trade Show, taking place in St. Maarten from October 6-10.

Nestled in a lush hillside and facing Dawn Beach, the Westin will host the Conference & Trade Show's events while providing attendees with beautiful views, beach access and numerous amenities to help balance business and pleasure, such as complimentary high speed Internet access, a business center, a fitness center, spa facilities, a casino and more.

"We are proud to partner with St. Maarten's top hotel," told Michele Paige, FCCA president. "The Westin's comfort, convenience and amenities will help attendees have a productive and enjoyable trip, leading to a successful event for all."

Attendees are urged to reserve rooms as quickly as possible due to the property's limited availability. Bookings with the event's special rates are available directly online (http://goo.gl/2LUAWo), telephone(1-800-937-8461, SET#432544 for property 1770) or by contacting Matt Karam (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

The FCCA Conference & Trade Show-the largest cruise conference in theCaribbean-will gather over 1,000 stakeholders from all sectors the cruise tourism industry, along with over 100 FCCA Member Line cruise executives, presidents and CEOs. Attendees will have access to these key decision makers during a four-day series of business sessions and networking opportunities, including one-on-one meetings, workshops and social functions.

To register for and/or learn more about the Conference & Trade Show, please visit https://www.regonline.com/fccastmaarten.

MedCruise membership expanding in the Black Sea

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 April 2014 29 April 2014

MedCruise membership expands in the Black Sea with the Port of Trabzon being the latest port in the region to express the wish to be member of the MedCruise family. MedCruise President Stavros Hatzakos and Secretary General Thanos Pallis completed an invited visit to Trabzon that has already applied to be a new member of the association.

MedCruise is now representing cruise ports hosting more than 80% of cruise traffic in the Med and its adjoining seas - more on the issue to follow.

During their visit, the MedCruise team held meetings and discussed the prospects of cruise expansion in the region with the Governor of Trabzon Honorable Mr. A. Celil Öz, the Mayor of Trabzon Mr. O. Fevzi Gümrükçüoğlu, the President of the Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. M. Suat Hacisalihoğlu and the General Manager of Trabzon Port (Alport Port) Mr. Muzaffer Ermiş.

The application of the port of the Trabzon has been submitted at the same time with that of the port of Istanbul (Salıpazarı Liman İşletmeciliğive Yatırımları A.Ş.) marking the increased significance of MedCruise in promoting cruise activities in the Med and its adjoining seas.

The completion of the accession to the 70-port members strong MedCruise will be formalised during the 44th MedCruise Association in Castellon Spain, the key cruise event of the Spring in Europe, to be held 21-25 May 2014.

CMP in talks to operate planned Visby cruise pier

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 25 April 2014 25 April 2014

Copenhagen Malmo Port (CMP), the Danish-Swedish port operator, is in talks with the provincial government of Gotland in Sweden to operate a cruise facility that the provincial government wants to build at Visby, the island's capital.

The number of cruise calls has more than halved to 64 in 2013 in the past few years as the size of ships cruising in the Baltic has increased. The present facilities in Visby are unable to receive most of these ships and as tendering is both cumbersome and subject to problems caused by weather, many lines have dropped the city that dates back to medieval times from their itineraries, said Arnt Moller Petersen, head of cruise operations and CMP.

The planned facility would be able to receive ships 350 metres in length and it would cost about SEK250 million to build. The Gotland government is expected to finalise the decision to build the facility in the next couple of months, while the board of CMP is due to seal an agreement to lease the facility for 20 years immediately afterwards, Petersen said at a presentation in Copenhagen.

"CMP will pay a leasing fee for the pier and receive all the income that it generates," he said, adding that the company is considering to add further cruise facilities to its portfolio. It currently operates extensive facilities in Copenhagen, where a new development with three terminals is due to open next month. In addition, it has one terminal received for cruise ships in Malmo across the Oresund on the Swedish side.

BVI welcomes Carnival Sunshine on first call to Tortola

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 April 2014 23 April 2014

A delegation representing the British Virgin Islands (BVI) Ports Authority, Ministry of Communications and Works, Premier’s Office, BVI Tourist Board and ROMASCO welcomed Carnival Sunshine on its first call to the cruise pier in Road Town, Tortola earlier today.

The ship, previously Carnival Destiny, brought over 4,000 passengers and crew members to the Territory.

At the official inaugural ceremony on board this morning, Captain Roberto Liotta and Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark Vanterpool exchanged plaques to commemorate the occasion.

The captain, who has been with Carnival for over 26 years, said it was his very first time to the BVI. Honourable Vanterpool, after welcoming the captain and crew, encouraged them to leave the ship and enjoy the shopping and beaches on island.

After the inaugural ceremony, the BVI delegation went on a tour of the ship’s new facilities including the top decks, theatre, water sports area, spa and gym.

Sunshine leaves at 5:30 p.m. today and its next stop will be St. Maarten. The ship returns to Port Canaveral, Florida on Sunday, where it began its eight day cruise.

Carnival Sunshine was originally built in 1996 and refurbished and subsequently renamed last year.

The BVI Ports Authority is responsible for the Territory’s cruise infrastructure and facilitates port calls.

Terminal 109/110 reopens in Venice

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 April 2014 15 April 2014

Terminal 109/110 with 14,000 sqm of floor area on two levelsl has opened in Venice in Italy after a refurbishment. "The refurbishment was initially lead by the architect Maurizio Paveggio and then by the architect Vincenzo Di Donato who has endorsed furniture and interiors," the port said in a statement.

"From the technological systems to the air-conditioning and the fire systems, from the elevators to the escalators, all the structural refurbishment interventions have followed a philosophy based on energy savings and eco-sustainability, emphasising the industrial archeology aesthetic, thanks to its elegant and minimal furniture," the port commented..