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Rostock records 22% rise in passenger numbers

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 October 2013 29 October 2013

The Port of Rostock in Germany enjoyed a 22% rise in cruise passenger numbers this year and 14% of all passengers that visited the port took an excursion to Berlin, Port of Rostock said in a statement

This year, 28 international shipping companies had 365,000 cruise tourists on board their holiday vessels, who accounted for an annual passenger volume of 730,000 in the port on river Warnow, an increase by 22% over the previous year's record of 300,000 guests.

Of the total of 365,000 cruise travellers the majority were Germans (120,000 passengers), followed by 74,000 Americans, 47,0000 British, 21,000 Spaniards, 19,000 Canadians, 12,000 Italians, 9,000 Australians and 63,0000 tourists from 142 other nations. The ships also carried just under 140,000 crew members from 126 countries, more than one third of whom also went on shore leave.

Three more port calls by cruise liners are expected in Warnemünde this year. The vessels Marco Polo, Black Watch and Boudicca are scheduled for a visit to the Baltic Sea spa of Rostock on 23 October, 27 November and 28 December.

These three ships conclude the most successful German cruise shipping season to date. "With then 198 port calls by 41 passenger vessels Warnemünde holds its own as Germany's most popular cruise port the third year running", explains Ulrich Bauermeister, managing director of Rostock Port Development Company (HERO). Warnemünde set new German records in the two previous years with 158 and 181 port calls by cruise liners.

"14% of all cruise guests in Warnemünde, that is around 50,000, went on a day trip to Berlin by train or coach this season", states Ulrich Bauermeister. "About 197,000 passengers set out to discover Warnemünde, Rostock or Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and 118,000 started or ended their cruise in the passenger port at the mouth of river Warnow."

Port Everglades launches enhanced website, porteverglades.net

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 October 2013 23 October 2013

Port Everglades is launching its newly redesigned website, porteverglades.net, offering visitors an exciting user experience through a wide range of multimedia content, intuitive navigation and powerful visual appeal.

“Port Everglades is South Florida’s powerhouse port, so we decided to revamp our website to better reflect our position in the global market,” said Steven Cernak, Port Everglades Chief Executive and Port Director. “We based many features on user feedback and changing trends in the industry. Visitors to the new portevergaldes.net site will find enhanced content that is more tailored and easier to find, and all aimed at improving the overall experience for users.”

The website’s new clean look and simplified navigations allows for easy loading on smart phones, tables and other mobile devices.

The site is broken down into seven sections, each intended to efficiently serve its particular audience: about us, business, cargo, community, cruising, expansion and media. Navigation enhancements include global navigation at the top, social media links on every page, easy-to-read left-hand navigation, more photographs, improved site map at the bottom of every page, and handy icons for even faster navigation.

The homepage and landing pages feature visually creative marketing-branded icons that click directly to the most visited pages on the site and those that best tell the Port Everglades story. Travel links to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau also help cruise guests better plan their pre- and post-cruise visits to Greater Fort Lauderdale.

New tools since the site was launched in 2009 include a video gallery, an interactive Cruise Guide, printable pages, social media sharing, photo carousel, and “breadcrumb trail” that allows visitors to easily return to previously view pages.

Port of San Diego launches free cruise schedule app

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 18 October 2013 18 October 2013

The Port of San Diego has announced a new, free mobile app designed to help travelers plan and coordinate cruises to and from San Diego.

The "CruiseSchedule Port of San Diego" is a free download from the App Store designed for iPhones and iPads. The app’s release coincides with the start of the Port’s 2013-2014 cruise season.

The app provides updated information on this year’s cruise season schedule with full voyage itineraries. It also includes details about:

•              Scheduled cruise calls
•              Cruise line information
•              Cruise ship information
•              Cruise itineraries
•              Long term parking options

The must-have resource for travelers was developed through a partnership between the Port of San Diego and the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA).

"The Port of San Diego is one of several ports across the country launching the innovative CruiseSchedule app this year to better serve the public with information about cruises,” said Chair of the Board of Port Commissioners Ann Moore. “We are pleased to link with a national strategy that promotes the cruise industry and attracts visitors to our Port.”

The app was developed earlier this year by Neil Kutchera, an employee of the Port of Everglades. Other versions were then made for other Ports. He said approximately 1,000 copies of CruiseSchedule are downloaded each month.

“The feedback I have received has been overwhelmingly positive. The favorite features have been the interactive itinerary maps and deck plans,” Kutchera said. “If someone has booked a cruise they always want to open the deck plans to zoom in and see their cabin.”

The Port of San Diego kicked off its cruise season on Thursday, September 19, 2013, with the arrival of the year's first ship, the Holland America Zaandam. The Port's cruise season runs from September through May. Currently 70 vessels are scheduled to arrive, but that number may change as the season progresses.

Although the number of cruise calls has declined over the past few years, the Port of San Diego is confident that business will rebound. A study commissioned by the Port in 2011 by cruise industry consultants Bermello Ajamil & Partners estimates that business will increase by late 2015-2016.

Cambiaso & Risso to open new office in Hong Kong

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 October 2013 15 October 2013

As from November 1st, shipagent Paolo Risso & C. will double their presence in the Far East launching the new Hong Kong-based branch, after having strengthened their Singapore office that’s been providing full port logistic services to cargo and cruise ships for two and a half years.

"We have been conceiving a global plan to compete on all markets and export our philosophy to provide tailor-made services," reports Paolo Risso, the President and CEO of Genoese group operating in Monaco since long. "Our Far Eastern branches entail the beginning of a global expansion plan aimed at attaining a leadership standing in several markets, after the considerable growth we achieved on the Italian and Monegasque markets over the last twenty years," continues Paolo Risso adding that the favourable partnership with Diego Cosulich in Singapore induced them establishing a new branch in Hong Kong, as a preliminary step into the Chinese market, in partnership with this young and skilled professional.

"We are about to reach 4 000 annual calls and are currently conceiving new plans aimed at implementing a more international structure, such as possible joint ventures with international groups so as to be more competitive and provide a high quality ‘tailor-made’ service."

The Genoese company, founded in 1946, boasts branches in Monaco, Italy, France, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia, Singapore and now Hong Kong, recording overall 100 million sales and recruiting over 200 staff.

Cruise Norway predicts 8% fall in passenger numbers in 2014

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 October 2013 11 October 2013

Cruise Norway, the organisation that promotes Norway as a cruise destination, expects the number of both cruise calls and passenger numbers to fall slightly next year after an increase in both this year on 2012.

A total of 2098 cruise calls have been reported in the country’s ports for next year, while the number of guests is estimated at 2,740,693.

“This corresponds to a 4% decline in the number of calls and 8% fewer guests. Most Norwegian ports are operating with a forecast ship occupancy rate of 85%,’ Cruse Norway said in a statement.

This year there have been 2187 cruise calls at Cruise Norway`s 41 member ports, representing a total of 2,982,594 day visits. This is 6% up on 2012 measured by the number of cruise calls and an 18% increase in the number of visits.