Nassau Cruise Port confirms record-breaking 4.4 million passengers

The Nassau Cruise Port team closed 2023 with a record-breaking year, welcoming 4,490,802 passengers aboard 1,210 vessels. This figure represents a 14% increase over the previous record set in 2019, highlighting the impressive growth of the port and its vital role in the growth of the Bahamian tourism industry.

Mike Maura, Jr., CEO of Nassau Cruise Port Ltd., thanked key players for their support while expressing anticipation for further growth.

“A huge thank you to the cruise industry and its passengers, the travel agents championing The Bahamas, our government partners, the Nassau Cruise Port businesses, the entire community here in New Providence, and of course, our incredible team at Nassau Cruise Port. Each of you make a difference every day, owning your share of this success. And remember, the newly revitalized Nassau waterfront offers unique finds, fantastic entertainment, and delicious food and drinks, with even more on the horizon for 2024."

Nassau Cruise Port scored a steady stream of record-breaking achievements in 2023. In March, the team shattered its one-day passenger record by welcoming 28,554 visitors, only to surpass it again on December 27th with a remarkable 29,316 passengers. This momentum culminated in not only exceeding the annual passenger target of 4.2 million guests, but also in setting a brand-new record of 4,490,802 visitors for the year.

This figure contributed significantly to the historic nine million plus visitor arrivals that The Bahamas recorded last year, according to a recent statement made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, I. Chester Cooper. Once confirmed, the nine million visitor figure will be some one million above 2023 projections for the destination and 12.5% of the original projection made by tourism executives. The Minister emphasized that the arrivals increase is estimated to have generated more than $6 billion in visitor spending which has directly impacted the Bahamian economy.

Driven by this success, the port team is already setting ambitious goals for 2024, aiming to welcome a staggering 5.6 million passengers. With its dedication to providing an exceptional, Authentically Bahamian experience for all visitors, Nassau Cruise Port is poised to continue this impressive growth trajectory and solidify its position as the premier cruise travel destination in the region.

Lisbon Cruise Port declares 2023 as its best year ever

Lisbon Cruise Port declares 2023 as its best year ever, achieving a remarkable milestone with a record-breaking 758,000 passengers — an impressive 33% increase compared to 2019. This accomplishment reaffirms Lisbon's status as a premier cruise destination, attracting a growing number of visitors from around the world.

The substantial increase in passenger numbers, reaching more than 758K, showcases the enduring appeal of Lisbon as a preferred cruise destination. The 33% surge from 2019 demonstrates the city's ability to captivate and enthrall cruise enthusiasts, offering a memorable experience that goes beyond expectations.

Among the 347 calls received in 2023, Lisbon Cruise Port hosted 130 turnaround calls, constituting 40% of the total annual calls. This highlights the trust and confidence cruise lines place in Lisbon as a key embarkation or disembarkation point for their journeys. Lisbon Cruise Port's strategic importance in the cruise sector is evident through this significant achievement.

In addition to the impressive passenger and call numbers, Lisbon Cruise Port expanded its range of services in 2023. The port focused on delivering enhanced services, catering to the diverse needs of each vessel and ensuring an exceptional experience for passengers and crew members alike. The commitment to excellence in service has undoubtedly contributed to the record-breaking success achieved throughout the year.

Lisbon Cruise Port also announced its ninth win of the Europe's Leading Cruise Port prize by World Travel Awards for the year 2023. This prestigious recognition underscores the port's outstanding service provision and world-class infrastructure, solidifying its reputation as a leading cruise port in Europe.

Expressing gratitude to the cruise lines that selected Lisbon as their destination in 2023, Lisbon Cruise Port extends a warm invitation to others to explore this wonderful city. The port remains dedicated to providing an unforgettable experience, combining rich cultural heritage and vibrant atmospheres that make Lisbon a standout cruise destination.

A special appreciation is reserved for the incredible work done by all teams closely involved in Lisbon Cruise Port´s activity. Their unwavering commitment and exceptional work ethic played a pivotal role in achieving the unprecedented success of 2023. The teams´ passion and dedication have set the standard for excellence in the cruise industry, contributing to Lisbon's reputation as a must-visit destination.

As Lisbon Cruise Port reflects on the triumphs of 2023, it looks forward to building on this success, strengthening partnerships with cruise lines, and continuing to offer unparalleled experiences. The record-breaking achievements and prestigious award serve as a testament to Lisbon Cruise Port's position as a global leader in the cruise industry.

Photo below: Silver Moon departing Lisbon in 2022. Credit: Teijo Niemela

Global Ports Holding Chairman and CEO visits Tarragona Cruise Port construction site

On Tuesday, December 19, Mehmet Kutman, Chairman and CEO of Global Ports Holding (GPH), visited Port Tarragona to closely monitor the progress of the construction of the future terminal at the Tarragona Cruise Port. Accompanied by Javier Rodríguez, GPH's West Med and Asia Regional Director, and Alba Colet, Commercial Manager of Tarragona Cruise Port, the delegation met with Saül Garreta, the President of the Port Authority of Tarragona (APT), to present the current status of the construction work that GPH is undertaking at the Balears wharf in the port.

Alongside President Garreta, attendees at the meeting included the General Director, Ramon García; the Commercial and Business Development Director, Genoveva Climent; the Infrastructure Director, Carles Segura, and other members of the APT Executive Committee.

Since the start of construction in June 2023, significant progress has been made, with tasks distributed between Balears wharf, the location of the terminal, and the Almería warehouse where modules for the terminal assembly are being constructed. Once fully assembled, these modules, designed using industrialized construction methods, will form a functional, efficient, and sustainable building housing essential services such as a cafeteria, retail, offices, bathrooms, among others, distributed peripherally and forming a large part of the facade.

At present, 100% of the foundation has been completed at Balears wharf, including some modules, the central hall, and canopies. Currently, the focus is on the metal structure, with tree-shaped pillars in the central and peripheral areas taking shape. The lifting of the metal roof structure is also underway, completing the geometry of the central area, which corresponds to the part executed 100% on-site.

Last week, the transfer of modules from the Almería factory to the construction site began, starting with the first 6 pieces. This process will extend until mid-January, by which time it is expected that all 28 modules will have arrived, allowing the final and visible form of the building to take shape once assembled.

From this point onward, efforts will concentrate on the construction of the roof, interior finishes, and installations, with the goal of completing the project by April 30, 2024. Global Ports takes pride in the achievements so far and looks forward to the successful completion of this flagship project in the cruise industry. The Tarragona Cruise Port will be one of the venues for the 64th edition of the MedCruise Association Assembly and will host part of the activities in which cruise companies, agencies, and other stakeholders in the Mediterranean cruise tourism sector will participate.

Record Christmas season calls at Hamburg

Hamburg’s cruise industry closes the 2023 season with a special highlight: Two calls in a row by a fully booked AIDAnova make for an impressive passenger turnaround. The Christmas holiday voyages on December 22 and December 29 will set a new record of passenger turnaround per day at Hamburg’s cruise terminals operated by Cruise Gate Hamburg (CGH). In addition to the thousands of guests disembarking and embarking the ship on these days, staff will unload and load some 8,800 suitcases and accept 16 truckloads of food and drinks per each voyage.

Simone Maraschi, Managing Director of CGH said, "Ending this eventful cruise season with such a highlight is noteworthy on two counts. On one hand, it shows just how attractive and sought-after cruise trips departing from Hamburg are, even in winter. On the other hand, the logistics achievements of the employees are outstanding. Our well-practised processes at the terminal and the excellent co-operation of all parties involved make it possible to ensure efficient luggage services and smooth provisioning operations even on extremely busy turnaround days such as these. We want our guests to have the very best experience here, and we will do our utmost to make sure that they can set off on their Christmas holiday cruise carefree and relaxed.”

Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, “We are delighted to see so many guests wanting to spend Christmas and the New Year with us. Since 2016 when we launched our AIDAprima we, in conjunction with the city and CGH, the terminal operator, have been putting a lot of effort into making Hamburg a year-round destination. Roughly half of all cruise ships calling at Hamburg are AIDA ships, and we offer a wide range of cruise options from the Hanseatic city throughout the year. At the same time, we are one of the key drivers of tourism in the city; more than every second cruise passenger is an AIDA guest.”

Hamburg has been AIDAnova’s home port for the winter season since 11 November 2023, a first for the ship. Up until 4 May 2024 she will sail 26 times to major west European cities as well as Norway and Denmark on an alternate weekly schedule. The ship is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has the required equipment to run on shore power while docking at Cruise Center Steinwerder. Apart from Altona, the terminal in Steinwerder is Hamburg’s second cruise centre with shoreside power infrastructure. Cruise Center HafenCity, which is currently under construction, will also sport a shore power facility. As ships can use shore power while at the berth in the Port of Hamburg, their emissions will be cut to almost zero.

The 2023 cruise season in Hamburg started on January 1st; the last ships will be turned around on December 31st. Hamburg is a year-round destination that offers season-independent cruise trips to attractive places.

At the moment 268 calls are scheduled for the 2024 season, of which nine cruise ships will sail to Hamburg on their maiden voyages, among them the Azamara Onward, Costa Favolosa, Mein Schiff 7, Ocean Albatros, Queen Anne, Seabourn Quest, Sirena and Sky Princess – as well as one ship from Disney Cruise Line whose Disney Dream is scheduled to call at Hamburg for the first time on 3 September 2024.

(Photo credit: Cruise Gate Hamburg)

MSC World Europa connects to shore power for the first time in the Mediterranean

MSC Cruises continued advancing its commitment to environmental sustainability last Wednesday by successfully connecting MSC World Europa to shore power in the port of Valletta, Malta – the first operational shore power facility in the Mediterranean.

The cruise line performed its first tests at Valetta earlier this year, which led to refinements in the port’s shore power implementation process and last week’s successful connection. MSC World Europa will connect to the shore power facilities from now on while calling in Valletta. The ship will call every week during 2024 and 2025.

MSC Cruises is committed to using shore power wherever it is available. The technology is an integral part of the company’s journey toward net zero greenhouse gas emission operations by 2050. Using shore power allows a ship to connect to the local power grid and removes the need to keep a ship’s engine running, which eliminates direct emissions while the vessel is connected in port.

Every new ship joining the MSC Cruises fleet since 2017 has been equipped with a shore power connection, with plans underway to retrofit additional ships. The line has been able to increase the number of port calls utilizing shore power as more ports introduce the required facilities. The historic connection in Valletta follows recent successful connections in Northern Europe – including Warnemünde in Germany; the Norwegian ports at Bergen, Aalesund and Haugesund; and Southampton in the UK. Earlier this year, MSC Cruises inaugurated a new shore power facility in Kiel, Germany.

MSC Cruises aims to add at least 15 new ports to its shore power plan between 2024 and 2026, focusing on ports in Italy, including Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples and Trieste, as well as prominent ports such as Barcelona, Hamburg, Valencia, Marseille, Copenhagen, and at its new cruise terminal in Miami opening next year. MSC Cruises acknowledges the importance of collaboration with ports and regions in achieving sustainable maritime practices. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance shore power facilities in the Baltic Sea area, and similar commitments are being pursued with other ports in the Mediterranean Sea.

Michele Francioni, SVP Cost Optimisation & Process Improvement, MSC Cruises, said, "Our shore power plan demonstrates that we are fully committed to reducing emissions from our ships. Using shore power is a major step forward because it allows us to eliminate a ship’s direct emissions whilst berthed. We need more ports across Europe and beyond to introduce shore power as quickly as possible so that we can further reduce local air emissions. We will ensure our ships are ready to connect wherever the facilities are available to us. Connecting MSC World Europa to the shore power in Valletta is a proud achievement and we are grateful for the collaboration and excellent cooperation with Transport Malta, Infrastructure Malta and the Maltese authorities, as well as with the Cruise Port of Valetta.”

MSC World Europa was MSC Cruises’ first vessel to be powered by liquefied natural gas. As one of the world’s best performing large cruise ships in terms of CO2eq emissions per passenger, MSC World Europa represents a major step forward on MSC Cruises’ journey toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. MSC World Europa is also among the first contemporary cruise ships to incorporate solid oxide fuel cell technology, with trial tests showing very promising results.