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Port of Skagen joins Cruise Baltic

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 27 September 2013 27 September 2013

At Seatrade Europe in Hamburg this week, Cruise Baltic has taken the opportunity to announce news of Denmark's Port of Skagen, joining the network, bringing the total cruise destinations to 28.

Geographically, the Port of Skagen is the northernmost cruise port of Denmark, located where the waters of the North Sea and the Kattegat meet. At Grenen, the headland of the Skagen Odde spit, visitors can actually stand with one foot in the Baltic and one in the North Sea.

The decision to join Cruise Baltic comes at a time when a report conducted by Bermello Ajamil & Partners has indicated tremendous potential for future cruise business to Skagen; while Summer 2013 saw the news announced that by Spring 2015 the port facilities will be expanded in order to attract more cruise ships, with a new 450-metre long cruise berth and extending an existing berth from 170 metres to 200.

Says Willy Bent Hansen, Managing Director, Port of Skagen: "This is therefore a significant strategy for us to partner with leading association Cruise Baltic at this time, looking to grow our cruise business. I believe it will also prove invaluable in terms of knowledge sharing with other destinations and provide us with a platform for discussing current and future issues which face us as a region."

In response Cruise Baltic Director, Bo Larsen commented: "We are proud to include such an attractive destination in our portfolio; and with its plans for development over the next 18 months, believe that without doubt the Port of Skagen will add value to the overall cruise product in the Baltic Sea Region."

The Port of Skagen is Denmark's leading fishing harbour and yet retains a charming, elegant atmosphere. The port area also features a remarkable marina with enchanting open-air fish restaurants; and the nearby market town with its boutiques, museums and art galleries contributes to attracting international cruise line passengers and tourists to the area, particularly in the Summer months. Skagen Museum, founded in 1908 by a group of local painters houses hundreds of paintings, drawings and sculptures and is situated in a beautiful garden close to Brøndum’s Hotel, where many of the artists stayed and gathered.

Skagen is renowned for experiencing annually the highest number of sunshine hours in Denmark – ideal for travelling out of town to see the Skagen Odde Nature Centre onBøjlevejen, which is devoted to the effects of sand, water, wind and light; or Grenen, also rich in bird life and ideal for walks along the sandy beaches.

P&O Cruises confirms 2015 call at Banana Coast, Honduras

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 25 September 2013 25 September 2013

P&O Cruises' Adonia has scheduled a call at Banana Coast Feb. 27, 2015. P&O is the fourth cruise line to commit to first-season calls at the western Caribbean's newest cruise destination.

Built in 2001 and described as "reassuringly British," the 710-passenger Adonia is the line's smallest ship, and is reserved exclusively for adults. P&O Cruises is considered the oldest cruise line in operation, tracing its roots back more than 175 years to the Peninsular Steam Navigation Co. in 1837.

"We are very excited the Banana Coast will feature in our new Caribbean, Central and South America fly-cruise program on Adonia, launching in spring 2015," said Christopher Edgington, P&O Cruises marketing director. "We think our passengers will love visiting the lesser-frequented, smaller and more intimate Caribbean destinations such as Trujillo and enjoy everything the Banana Coast has to offer."

"We are pleased to welcome P&O Cruises, and look forward to the beginning of what we hope will be a long-lasting relationship," said Randy Jorgensen, general manager of Grande Trujillo Autoridad, which owns the port and includes partners Life Vision Properties and Miami-based Global Destinations Development. "Our ability to attract the interest of top lines like P&O Cruises is a testament to the quality of Banana Coast's product."

Banana Coast features diverse retail shopping and 10 acres of beachfront right in the colonial town of Trujillo, Honduras, which was established in 1525. An array of shore excursions highlights the region's Spanish colonial heritage and lush tropical setting with cultural, historical, soft-adventure and eco-tour shore excursions.

Holland America Line was the first cruise company to schedule a series of port calls at Banana Coast, beginning in November 2014. Two luxury cruise operators also have slated calls in December 2014 and March 2015.

Port of Cork joins Atlantic Alliance

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

The Atlantic Alliance has welcomed the Port of Cork to the association. With the addition of Cork, the first Irish port to join the Alliance, the marketing project now covers in total eight countries. "The Alliance is proud to extend the region by aiming towards establishing a Euro-Atlantic destination on its own," says Nadine Palatz, Manager Atlantic Alliance. Cork represents a key strategic member in terms of the implementation of the new EU sulphur directive which is due to come into effect in 2015. Within a North Sea context, this gives Cork an advantage for future cruise calls.

Port of Cork is on the South Coast of Ireland and makes the Euro-Atlantic picture more complete, as marketed by the Atlantic Alliance.

"Cork is home to some of Ireland’s most famous tourist attractions such as Blarney Castle and Jameson Whiskey Distillery and also serves as a convenient gateway for visiting the many picturesque towns and sights of West Cork, Waterford and Killarney. We are delighted to be joining Atlantic Alliance in promoting Cork as a ‘must see’ destination on Ireland’s south coast," commented Captain Michael McCarthy, Commercial Manager, Port of Cork Company.

The Port of Cork is home to Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth in Cobh and will have welcomed a total of 61 cruise vessels carrying over 100,000 passengers and crew by the end of the 2013 season. This is up from 35 calls in 2005 and the Port of Cork has ambitions to grow the number of cruise calls to 80 over the next five years and to increase turn-around calls and overnight stays.

All cruise vessels that call to Cork are given a very special welcome courtesy of Cork Cruise, providing tourist representatives who go on board each vessel, a display of traditional Irish dancing for passengers and a fond farewell on the quayside with a performance by a local brass band. These efforts do not go unnoticed by the passengers and the cruise lines and in 2011 the Port of Cork was awarded two Cruise Insight Awards for ‘Best Shore Side Welcome’ and ‘Best Tour Guides’.

Hamlet’s castle targets cruise trade with events, ballet, theatre

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 12 September 2013 12 September 2013

Kronoborg Castle in Elsinore (Helsingor) in Denmark, immortalised by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is targeting the cruise industry by promoting it as venue for events like receptions, ballet and theatre, Visit Nordjylland, the local tourist organisaion, said.

“Now you can invite your guests to a private dinner or Viennese Ball in the grand surroundings of the Ballroom of Kronborg Castle in Elsinore,” the organisation said in a statement.

Such events have been held in the grand Ballroom, and an exclusive event suited for a particular target group can also be arranged.

“In addition to the event in the castle, you may wish for your own private Shakespeare performance. The performance can take place in the courtyard, in the surrounding areas or in one of the other many intriguing rooms of the castle,” Visit Nordjylland said, adding that Kronborg is within walking distance from the Royal Quay in Elsinore, where cruise ships up to 150 metres in length can dock.

Banana Coast receives positive marks from FCCA site inspection

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 10 September 2013 10 September 2013

Banana Coast cruise port received an enthusiastic response from the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association's Security Operations Committee following an August site inspection. The committee toured the facilities of the new western Caribbean cruise destination as well as the tourism attractions of adjacent Trujillo, Honduras.

Committee members who visited Honduras' first mainland cruise port included FCCA President Michele Paige, Eric Benedict of Norwegian Cruise Line, Federico Gonzalez-Denton of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. and Stephen Nielsen of Princess Cruises.

"The cruise industry is very excited about the opportunities that Banana Coast in Trujillo offers as a cruise destination," said Paige. "We found the local government and people of Trujillo to be engaged and supportive of the port development."

Paige noted that the committee characterized the tour program as diverse and professionally executed, and said the port facilities are fully equipped, well laid-out and Americans with Disabilities Act–compliant, offering appealing retail, restaurants and bars; beach access and designated areas for taxis and tour vehicles.

"We were thrilled to host the FCCA and have them experience firsthand our creation of a world-class cruise destination at Banana Coast," said Randy Jorgensen, general manager of Grande Trujillo Authoridad. "We especially appreciated the assistance of the Honduras Ministry of Tourism, which helped us welcome the committee to Trujillo."

Banana Coast has diverse retail shopping and 10 acres of beachfront right in the colonial town of Trujillo, which was established in 1525. Diverse shore excursions feature the region’s Spanish colonial heritage and lush tropical setting with cultural, historical, soft-adventure and eco-tour offerings.

Holland America Line was the first cruise company to commit to a series of port calls at Banana Coast, beginning in November 2014. Luxury operator Silversea Cruises has slated calls in December 2014 and March 2015, and Oceania Cruises also is scheduled to call in March 2015.

The nonprofit Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association is composed of 15 cruise lines calling at Caribbean ports. The organization coordinates dialogue between Caribbean destinations and regional businesses and the cruise industry.