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Seattle cruise season starts, $381 million revenues in sight

Details: Category: Ports & Destinations; Published on Thursday, 02 May 2013 12:26; Written by Kari Reinikainen

The 2013 cruise season in Seattle gets underway today at Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal with the arrival of Crystal Cruise’s Symphony. This season has 188 cruise ship calls scheduled, bringing an estimated 852,000 revenue passengers through Seattle, the port said in a statement.

“Seattle cruise means thousands of jobs and millions in revenue for our region,” said Port Commission President Tom Albro. “Each of these vessel calls generates $2.1 million for the local economy.”

“A major goal of the Century Agenda is to double the amount of revenue cruise produces in the next 25 years,” said Commissioner John Creighton. “We aim to accomplish this by encouraging passengers to spend more time and money in Washington state while visiting here.”

This is the first year that Oceana Cruise Lines’ Regatta will be calling Seattle, along with Celebrity Cruise’s Solstice, the largest cruise ship to call at the Port of Seattle, with a capacity of 2,850 passengers.

Seattle’s cruise business—currently leading all cruise homeports on the west coast in passenger volume—is responsible for more than 4,000 jobs, $381 million in annual business revenue, and $16.8 million annually in state and local tax revenues.

All cruise ships that homeport in Seattle use either low-sulfur fuel or plug into shore side electrical power while docked. Smith Cove Cruise Terminal can provide shore power for two ships at once, eliminating the need to run engines while at berth.

A Memorandum of Agreement between The Port of Seattle, the Washington Department of Ecology and the Northwest and Canada Cruiseship Association sets strong standards exceeding federal requirements for the treatment of waste discharges from cruise ships operating in Washington waters.

Smith Cove Cruise Terminal and Bell Street Pier provide panoramic views of the city’s skyline, Mt. Rainier and the Olympic Mountains. Both terminals feature concierge services, luggage storage, on-board airline check-in, rental cars, and secure parking facilities.

Port Canaveral generates $2 billion in community impact

Details: Category: Ports & Destinations; Published on Monday, 29 April 2013 12:34; Written by Teijo Niemelä

Business activity at Port Canaveral generated $2 billion and 17,000 jobs for the local community in 2012, up 73 percent in business revenue since the last economic impact analysis three years ago. Leading industry consulting firm Martin Associates of Lancaster, Pa, was commissioned to analyze cruise, cargo, real estate and marina activity at Port Canaveral, the world's second busiest cruise Port and central Florida's outlet to the sea for cargo.

The survey of 294 tenants and service providers found that Port Canaveral business activities generated an increase of 30-percent job growth, personal income of $808 million and $248 million in local purchases. State and local taxes paid totaled $74.3 million.

"This analysis again confirms Port Canaveral's importance to our regional economy," says Interim Port CEO John Walsh. "The significance of our business operations create business opportunities and jobs that provide income for our neighbors and contributes to our quality of life with the local and state taxes paid from the wages earned."

"The success of Port Canaveral is the success of the community," says Tom Weinberg, Chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners. "As we celebrate 60 years, we continue our commitment and understand our responsibility as an efficient, consistent economic engine for Brevard County and all of central Florida."

The study found that 40-percent of cruise passengers stay in a local hotel at least one night before their cruise and each passenger spends at least $100 while in Brevard County. Crew members were found to spend $385 per visit in the area, mostly on retail purchases.

Panama, Colombia, Hawaii and more on menu of Port of San Diego's 2013-2014 cruise season

Details: Category: Ports & Destinations; Published on Friday, 26 April 2013 07:04; Written by Teijo Niemelä

Explore the Baja outback atop a camel, watch capuchin monkeys frolic in the rainforest, see the deepest lake in Central America and learn the rich history of the Mayans. These are just a few of the many offerings in the Port of San Diego’s 2013-2014 cruise season.

The Holland America Zaandam will be the first ship of the season on September 19, 2013 as it finishes up a four-day Pacific Coast cruise which began in Vancouver, B.C. Guests departing the ship will be welcomed by San Diego’s balmy late-summer weather which may persuade them to extend their vacations for a day or two.

On September 22, 2013, the Celebrity Solstice pulls into harbor early in the morning from Catalina Island, its last port of call. Passengers can spend the day exploring San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter and Old Town, or enjoy prime shopping and culinary adventures in picturesque La Jolla before departing for the final port of call; Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.

That same day, the Celebrity Millennium departs San Diego for an exciting, 15-day Panama Canal adventure. This action-packed voyage starts in San Diego and heads for more sunshine and warmth in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala and Puntarenas, Costa Rica. It then heads for the exotic and lush landscape of Panama and crosses through the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal before heading to Cartagena, Columbia and finishing up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

There are plenty of offsite excursions for guests when the Millennium docks in the various ports of call. Of special note is an eco-tour through the Baja outback in Cabo San Lucas. Adventurers can appreciate the beauty of the desert landscape with an ocean view from atop a camel. The outing takes guests to a local ranch where they can dine on regional Mexican food and tequila.

In October, additional cruises with San Diego on the itinerary include a 30-day journey to Hawaii and French Polynesia on Holland America’s Statendam. The cruise begins in San Diego on October 4, 2013 and returns to San Diego on November 3, 2013.

For those wanting to take in the best of California, Princess Cruises offers a seven-day California Coast voyage on the Star Princess. The cruise begins September 29, 2013 in Los Angeles and arrives in San Diego on October 4 , 2013. It also stops in San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Ensenada.

Port of Valencia doubles passenger throughput in April

Details: Category: Ports & Destinations; Published on Friday, 26 April 2013 09:00; Written by Kari Reinikainen

Recent port infrastructure investment and efforts made by the city to attract cruise tourism seem to have paid off for Valencia. ACCIONA Trasmediterranea, the cruise terminal manager, has reported that cruise passenger number for April will reached 77,000, with 34 ship calls (40,000 passenger and 23 calls in April 2012). At 37,000 passengers more than the same period in the previous year, the number has practically doubled. Alan Lam reports.

This week alone ACCIONA will host 12 calls in Valencia, expecting about 21,000 passengers

Although perceived to be languishing in the shadow of its giant neighbour, Barcelona, as a secondary port of call Valencia is increasingly attracting the attention of major cruise lines. On Friday 26 April, the port will welcome the arrival of Costa Serena, Azamara Quest, Wind Star and Queen Elizabeth. On Sunday 28 April, its busiest day, three ships – Oriana, Costa Fortuna and AIDAMar - will bring in no fewer than 7,000 passengers.

ACCIONA expects a similar number for May, with calls made by Costa Fortuna, MSC Splendida and Azura, among others

35 cruise calls in April for Valencia

Details: Category: Ports & Destinations; Published on Friday, 19 April 2013 09:46; Written by Kari Reinikainen

The cruise season has started exuberantly for Valencia. Its cruise terminal manager, ACCIONA Trasmediterranea, has just reported that the port would host 35 cruise calls in April this year, 12 more than the same period last year. On Friday 19 April alone the port will receive five of the ten calls of the week. Alan Lam reports.

These five calls - made by Wind Surf, Wind Spirit, Deutschland, Costa Serena and Costa Fortuna – will collectively bring in about 7,000 much-needed cruise tourists to the port city.

Other ships calling at Valencia this week include L’Austral, MSC Splendida, Azamara Quest, and Crystal Serenity.

On Sunday 21 April, Carnival Legend will call at Valencia for the first time ever, bringing in a further 2,000 passengers.

In total, more than 12,000 cruise tourists will visit the city and its surroundings this week.

It seems that, under the cruise service arm of ACCIONA Trasmediterranea, Valencia is thriving as a cruise port, attracting the attention of the entire spectrum of cruise operators.