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Global Ports Holding expects sharp rise in passenger volumes

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 15 May 2023 15 May 2023

Global Ports Holding plc (GPH), the Istanbul based company that is the largest cruise port operator in the world, experts strong rise in passenger volumes for its current financial year and expects a growing cruise fleet to drive investment in ports facilities around the world.

“In the 2024 Reporting Period, we expect to welcome 11.8 million passengers to our consolidated and managed cruise port portfolio. A more detailed financial outlook will be provided when GPH releases its financial statements for the Reporting Period,” the company said in a trading statement. In the 12 months to 31 March 2023, the group handled 9.2 million passengers.

“Our inorganic growth aspirations continue and we expect to add San Juan Cruise Port and St Lucia Cruise Port to the network in the 2024 Reporting Period with additional opportunities under review,” the company said

GPH pointed out that the scheduled launch of new cruise ships in the year ahead means the number of available berths across the global cruise fleet will reach all-time highs in 2024. “Industry booking patterns have been rebuilt to market norms over the last 12 months, and all major cruise lines have reported record booking trends for 2023,” it said.

Investment in port facilities should accelerate

Looking further into the future, long-established demand and supply trends in the cruise industry have re-established themselves as key drivers of cruise industry growth. “Before Covid,-19, it was a requirement for many cruise ports to invest significantly in their infrastructure to meet the needs of the growing number of cruise ships and the growing size of cruise ships as well as the increased demand from passengers for an improved cruise port experience,” GPH stated.

“Those requirements have re-emerged even stronger, as the anticipated growth in the industry brings exciting prospects and potential risks for those involved in the cruise port industry. Cruise ports will face some substantial obstacles due to the growing size of cruise ships and the continuous growth and segmentation of the passenger base,” it pointed out.

Revenues in the 12 months to 31 March 2023 rose to $213.4 million from $128.4 million in the same period a year earlier, while adjusted EBITDa rose to $72.7 million from $7.0 million. Shares in the company that is listed in London rose by 10% on the news.

Image: Cruise ships at Lisbon

Silversea's Mark Conroy to transition to Senior Advisor role

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 May 2023 12 May 2023

In 2023, the year he celebrates his 50th year in the travel industry, Silversea Cruises' Mark Conroy will transition from his position of Managing Director, The Americas, into a Senior Advisor role – supporting the cruise line’s Sales team. Conroy joined Silversea Cruises in 2016 and has since delivered exceptional results to affirm the cruise line’s position as the market leader, overseeing the reservations and sales activities in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. Reporting to Massimo Brancaleoni, Senior Vice President of Global Sales, Conroy will continue to pledge his expertise in his new position, while cruise industry veteran Joe Leon will drive trade sales in the Americas as Silversea’s Head of Sales – also reporting to Brancaleoni.

“All of us at Silversea Cruises are incredibly grateful to Mark for his contributions over the years, and we congratulate him on 50 successful years in the travel and hospitality industry – a truly remarkable achievement. At the forefront of our U.S. operations, Mark has played a vital role in our company’s growth in the market since joining in 2016, helping to establish Silversea as the world’s leading ultra-luxury cruise line by continuously building strong personal relationships with travel agents throughout the region. Few people possess Mark’s depth of knowledge, experience, and expertise in the luxury cruise segment; he has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on our industry. Mark will support the transition of leadership in the U.S. market, while pledging his expertise as a Senior Advisor to the Sales team,” said Barbara Muckermann, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises.

“It has been a privilege to lead Silversea Cruises’ team in the Americas, working alongside some of the industry’s sharpest talent to strengthen the cruise line’s position at the forefront of ultra-luxury travel,” said Conroy. “After 50 years in the travel and hospitality industry, I step back from my position as Managing Director, The Americas, continuing to lend my expertise as a Senior Advisor to support our cruise line’s strategic growth. I thank Barbara Muckermann, Jason Liberty, and my colleagues at Silversea Cruises and Royal Caribbean Group for the unwavering support throughout the years and for this new opportunity. I would like to thank our trade partner community, many of whom have become close friends, for their inspirational commitment to our guests. Their support has been, and will continue to be, of fundamental importance to the cruise line’s sales strategy. And, last but certainly not least, I would like to thank Silversea’s guests for their passion, loyalty, and dedication – I will remain at our guests’ disposal while I transition into this new role.”

Conroy is one of the most respected leaders in the cruise industry, known for the close relationships he has nurtured with the travel agent community in the Americas. Setting out in the industry in 1973, he has accumulated many accomplishments in an array of senior positions in the luxury travel sector throughout his 50-year career. Most notably, Conroy led start-up Diamond Cruises, which later merged with Seven Seas Cruise Line to become Radisson, and later Regent Seven Seas Cruises; he was also the President of Renaissance Cruises, Vice President of Sales for Royal Viking Line, and Director of Group Sales and Passenger Services for Norwegian Cruise Line. Conroy also held the position of Chair of the Executive Committee of Cruise Lines International Association between 2002 and 2004, and was subsequently inducted to CLIA’s Cruise Industry Hall of Fame in 2013.

Virgin Voyages’ third ship to enter service

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 12 May 2023 12 May 2023

Resilient Lady, the third ship of Virgin Voyages, will sail on its maiden voyage on 14 May from Piraeus in Greece.

The seven night cruise will include calls at Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum and an overnight in Mykonos before they return to the Greek capital, the company said in a statement.

Following its inaugural season in the Mediterranean, the ship will be repositioned to Melbourne in Australia, where it will operate a series of cruises from 11 December 2023 to 27 March 2024. This would be the first time the company has operated cruises in the country.

Virgin Voyages, which is based in Florida, is part of the London based Virgin Group of companies. However, the company also has several other shareholders, including the US based private equity investor Bain Capital.

Following the entry into service of Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages still has one more similar ship of about 110,000 gross tons due from Fincantieri in Italy.

Windstar Cruises announces deployment through Summer 2025

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 May 2023 11 May 2023

Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has released its sailing schedule through summer of 2025, with several key deployment moves for its fleet of six ships including three all-suite motor yachts and three classic sailing yachts.

“People are spending more and traveling longer, and they are taking notice of the tremendous value that a Windstar cruise provides,” says Windstar President Christopher Prelog. “Our new deployment works towards responding to those trends with longer and even more remote options in Tahiti, as well as more connections between different itineraries to extend trips in new and exciting ways.”

Key developments by region include:

South Pacific
Windstar will go beyond its usual Tahitian cruise stops (where the line has sailed for more than 35 years and is considered to be the small ship expert) to the extremely remote Marquesas Islands on the brand-new, 14-day Tahitian Treasures & Magnificent Marquesas in 2024 and 2025 aboard all-suite, 312-guest Star Breeze. The cruise accesses the Tuamotu Islands of Fakarava and Rangiroa en route to and from the Marquesas, where the yacht spends time in Omoa, Fatu Hiva; Atuona, Hiva Oa; and Taiohae, Nuku Hiva, ending with the Society Islands of Tahaa, Bora Bora (an overnight), Moorea, and Papeete. Prelog says, “We’ve been hearing from travel advisors and guests that they want us to offer different cruises in Tahiti, and we’re pleased to be able to take them beyond the more expected locales to far-flung islands that have fewer than 1,000 residents.”

Canary Islands
Windstar will launch new cruises in the Canary Islands beginning in 2024 on all-suite, 312-guest Star Pride. The eight-day Captivating Canary Islands from Lisbon to Las Palmas includes time on Madeira, as well as overnights in Funchal and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

In 2025, two new itineraries in the region include the 10-day Canary Island Idyll and 8-day Colorful Canary Islands with overnights or late nights to take in the renowned nightlife.

Mediterranean
Debuting in July of 2024, Adriatic Icons & Venetian Treasures is a nine-day roundtrip cruise from Venice on board 148-guest motorized sailing yacht Wind Spirit.

Central and South America
Starting winter 2024, a new seven-day Naturally Costa Rica cruise includes inaugural calls to enjoy the unspoiled Pacific coastline in San Juan del Sur and Corinto, Nicaragua. The new option, on 148-passenger motorized sailing yacht Wind Star, easily combines with a Panama Canal itinerary for a 14-day adventure in the region.

Middle East
Windstar is excited to introduce its guests to the Middle East with first-ever itineraries beginning November 2023 on all-suite, 312-passenger Star Legend, taking guests to sites from world religions to Egyptian temples, Bedouin villages, and oil-rich cities that have risen from the desert over the past few decades.

Sail dates are now listed into spring of 2025, with 12 different itineraries to choose from. Indicative options include:

– (10 days) from Dubai, UAE to Muscat, Oman and the reverse (with ports in UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman).
• Note November 23 will feature optional tickets to the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (a Windstar exclusive)
• A New James Beard Foundation cruise has been added to the 2/1/24 sail date, guest chef TBD
– (9 days) from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Aqaba, (Petra) Jordan and the reverse (with ports in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan)
– (18 days) from Athens, Greece to Dubai, UAE (with ports in Egypt, Jordan, Oman, and UAE)

Timed with the announcement is a new, limited-time offer where guests booking 2025 cruises in Europe, Tahiti, and Canada/New England receive a $100 per guest shipboard credit AND a free upgrade to All-Inclusive Fares, which means unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails; Wi-Fi; and gratuities. The offer expires July 5, 2023. More details at https://www.windstarcruises.com/specials/.

Vista named at Valletta Cruise Port

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 11 May 2023 11 May 2023

Oceania Cruises, the destination-focused cruise line, has named its newest ship, Vista, at Valletta Cruise Port (Malta) on May 8.

The 1,200-passenger Vista is the line’s first new ship in more than a decade. Valletta Cruise Port ids part of the Global Ports Holding group that is the world’s largest operator of cruise facilities in the world.

An international organising team with the support of local representatives SMS Group, Malta Tourism Authority and Valletta Cruise Port worked on a line-up of celebratory events to mark this day, involving tens of suppliers brought in specifically for the event: from AV suppliers and set builders to florists and makeup artists and hairdressers.

“We would like to congratulate Oceania Cruises on this momentous day. This is a proud moment for Valletta and Malta, and we are pleased to be have been entrusted with hosting the naming ceremony of such an anticipated ship in our historical Grand Harbour. The Capital City of Valletta served as the best possible backdrop for this event”, commented Stephen Xuereb COO of Global Ports Holding and CEO of Valletta Cruise Port, in a statement.

A traditional plaque exchange was held early in the day aboard the Vista between local port authorities and Captain Luca Manzi. At 241 meters long and more than 67,000 tons, Vista offers a staffing ratio with two crew members for every three guests.