FCCA Central America Cruise Summit successfully fosters future business for region

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Category: Ports & Destinations

Published on Monday, 03 June 2013 02:02

Written by Teijo Niemelä

Hosted in Antigua, Guatemala from May 29-31, the FCCA Central America Cruise Summit gathered nearly 200 tourism stakeholders from the region along with government officials and cruise executives from FCCA Member Lines. The congregation took part in a series of workshops and one-on-one meetings to promote education about the industry and foster future business in the region. Additionally, the cruise executives met with the government officials in attendance – including ministers and vice ministers of tourism and even the Guatemalan president, Otto Perez Molina, and vice president, Roxana Baldetti – to establish ties and pave inroads for further dealings.

"This was a momentous event for the cruise industry and Central American region," said Michele Paige, president, FCCA. "By establishing crucial relationships and educating the local tourism stakeholders, we started on the right path for future cruise business throughout the region."

St. Kitts to receive calls from Royal Caribbean's new Quantum of the Seas

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Category: Ports & Destinations

Published on Thursday, 23 May 2013 17:59

Written by Teijo Niemelä

Further advancing the impressive growth of St. Kitts' cruise tourism sector, the island will be receiving six port calls from Royal Caribbean International's Quantum of the Seas in its inaugural 2014/2015 season. Quantum of the Seas is the first of Royal Caribbean's new Quantum class of ships and will include St. Kitts in its 11-night Eastern Caribbean and 12-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.

"The fact that Royal Caribbean has included St. Kitts as a port of call for this new ship is a testament to the quality of the destination's expanding infrastructure," said Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport, Trade, Industry, Commerce & Consumer Affairs. "Our wealth of attractions and activities set against the backdrop of our rich
nature, culture, history and friendly people provide an authentic Caribbean experience that clearly has an enduring appeal to cruise passengers."

Quantum of the Seas will sail roundtrip from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ. It will feature the North Star, an awe-inspiring experience where a jewel-like glass capsule takes guests on a spectacular journey more than 300 feet in the air to deliver unprecedented 360-degree views; RipCord by iFly, the first skydiving simulator at sea; as well as the first bumper car and roller skating offerings at sea; continuing Royal Caribbean's legacy of delivering "firsts at sea" for decades such as The Rock Wall, ice-skating rink, and FlowRider surf simulator.

St. Kitts cruise tourism industry continues to grow robustly, with a recent study conducted by US-based research firm BREA (Business Research & Economic Advisors) reporting an increase in cruise passenger arrivals to the island from 117,000 in the 2005/2006 cruise year to 629,000 in the 2011/2012 cruise year, an increase of more than 400% as compared to an increase of 13% throughout the Caribbean over the six-year period. In the 2009/2010 cruise season, St. Kitts exceeded the half million passengers arrival mark for the first time in its history. St. Kitts is currently projecting cruise
passenger arrivals to reach approximately 650,000 in the 2013/2014 season and to exceed 700,000 in the 2014/2015 season.

Cruise Norway forecasts 2224 cruise calls for 2013 season

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Category: Ports & Destinations

Published on Tuesday, 28 May 2013 22:31

Written by Teijo Niemelä

Cruise Norway’s forecast for the 2013 season is now 2224 cruise calls at Cruise Norway's 41 member ports, and more than 3 million cruise visitors. "Because we have received cancellations of around 100 calls from CIC,  our figures are down from 2324 calls. But still a new record this year," Cruise Norway said in a statement.

The cruise season in Norway started in February, and this year there are only 2 months without cruise calls. In 2009 Norway had its first winter cruise, and in 2013 we had 10 winter cruises in the months of February and March - cruises in search of the Northern Lights. "We can report more than 50 cruise calls in Norway in February and March, all with overnight stays in Alta and some in Tromsø. In 2014 we expect cruise calls at Norwegian ports in all 12 months. Fred Olsen Cruise Line will visit Norway in November, December and January, as the first cruise line ever in these months."

Port of Barcelona hits an annual record

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Category: Ports & Destinations

Published on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 13:15

Written by Teijo Niemelä

The Port of Barcelona received 17 cruise vessels carrying a total of 64,000 passengers on 17, 18 and 19 May, setting this year’s record for cruise vessels and passengers in just one weekend. On Friday, 8 cruise vessels berthed in the Port involving the movement of 29,000 passengers. On Saturday, three more vessels arrived and on Sunday a further 6 vessels sailed into Barcelona with a total of 26,500 passengers on board.

On Friday 17th May, two vessels were turnaround cruises (starting and ending their journey in the city): Carnival Sunshine and Celebrity Equinox. On the other hand, the vessels Amadea and Aidavita were in transit, calling at the Port of Barcelona and continuing with their schedule, while MSC Preziosa, Liberty of the Seas, Costa Fortuna and Costa Mediterranea carried out mixed operations of mainly transit with some turnaround operations. Friday was also the busiest day of the year in terms of cruise passengers and cruise vessels calling at the port.

On Saturday 18th May, two ships were turnaround – Grand Holiday and Sovereign–, while Braemar was in transit. Four of the six cruise vessels berthed on Sunday 19th May have designated Barcelona as their home port: Norwegian Epic, Serenade of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Europa. The vessel Aidablu was in transit and Costa Fortuna carried out mixed operations.

Contribution to tourism

The bustle of cruise activity in Barcelona also coincides with an increment in tourist activity and visitors to the city due the concurrence of various mass events.

"The more than 64,000 cruise passengers visiting the city over the weekend add to the other activities generating wealth in the fields of business, recreation, culture and tourism, such as Museum Night, the Motor Show and X-Games – highlighting the attraction of Barcelona and its port," according to the president of the Port of Barcelona, Mr Sixte Cambra.

The Port of Barcelona collaborates throughout the year with the City Council, Turisme de Barcelona and other institutions to ensure that cruise flows run smoothly. On days where over 60% of operations are turnaround such as last weekend, operations are jointly coordinated with Barcelona Airport – EL Prat with regards to the baggage handling requirements of some vessels.

60% of the cruise passengers who passed through the Port of Barcelona in 2012 were turnaround, either starting or ending their schedules in the city. This means that over 1,400,000 passengers either embarked or disembarked with luggage in the Catalan port area. Turnaround traffic represents a significant contribution to the economy of the city and Catalonia, since in many cases passengers spend an extra night in Barcelona or in some other Catalan or Spanish destination.

Significant contribution to the economy

According to estimates from Turisme de Barcelona, each turnaround passenger spends an average of 114 euros per day while transit passengers spend 61 euros. Vessel crew members also contribute to the economy of the city with average daily spending of 30 euros. Based on these figures, the economic impact of cruise traffic on the city of Barcelona in 2012 (excluding income from port activity itself: terminals, stevedores, suppliers, etc) is estimated at more than 232 million euros.

In 2013, the Port of Barcelona expects to reach 2.6 million cruise passengers, which will come close to achieving the record established in 2011. The Port of Barcelona is the leading cruise port in Europe and the Mediterranean and the fourth homeport to cruise ships in the world.

The prominence of the Port in this type of traffic is secured by the quality and operational capacity of its facilities, public terminals managed by Creuers of the Port of Barcelona (terminals A, B and C in the Adossat quay and the Nord and Sud Quays of the WTC) as well as the privately operated terminal Palacruceros (Carnival Group) in the Adossat Quay.