After its recent successful second round-the-Iberian-Peninsula voyage on Empress, with Bilbao as the first port of call, Pullmantur announced an increase in its presence in the Basque port next year. During the 2013 season, it will have four departures from Bilbao and convert the city into the port of departure for its new “Corazón de Europa” (Heart of Europe) itinerary. Alan Lam reports.

On its recent eight-day seven-night cruise, the Empress set sail from Cherbourg. Her first port of call was Bilbao where she picked up 1,500 passengers before proceeding to A Coruña, Cádiz, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Almería and Valencia, highlighting the demand in the region.

The company stated that it wished to offer its cruise products to the people of Basque Region and position one of its vessels in Bilbao - one of the most important Spanish ports. “In 2013, we will intensify our operation in the port of Bilbao,” said D. Sergio Jiménez, Pullmantur’s Sales and Marketing Director for Basque Region. “Pullmantur reaffirms its commitment to Spanish ports, and in particular Bilbao where we value, above all, its excellent facilities, the good cooperation of the port authority, and the proximity of tourist attractions to the terminal in Getxo.

The new eight-day seven-night “Corazón de Europa” itinerary from Bilbao will include calls at Dover (for excursions to London), Ijmuiden, Zeebrugge and Le Havre.

Alan Lam