Ports & destinations

Royal Caribbean to return to Jamaica in November 2021

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 05 October 2021 05 October 2021

Royal Caribbean International, the second largest cruise line in the world, through their senior leadership team informed Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, in Miami, Florida, last week that they will resume limited operations to Jamaica in November of this year.

The senior executives added that once a number of logistical matters – some of which are outside Jamaica’s remit – are effectively resolved they will be in a position to significantly boost cruises to Jamaica, bringing in tens of thousands of fully vaccinated cruise visitors. The Senior Executives also reiterated their very strong desire to employ thousands of Jamaicans across a wide range of job functions and are awaiting government’s regulatory amendments to make it a reality.

In response Minister Bartlett expressed delight that “Royal Caribbean will recommence sailings to Jamaica after the over a year and half hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a few pressing matters to resolve forthwith so that they can boost cruises to Jamaica and in return boost economic and social livelihoods of thousands of Jamaicans who depend directly and indirectly on the cruise industry. Beyond that the government will move speedily in facilitating the cruise line’s efforts to employ thousands of Jamaicans, for what are truly exciting job opportunities that will have a positive impact for many. Our people are in demand and the cruise lines are fully cognizant of this.”

The new developments come following another meeting led by Minister Bartlett and his team with Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation, the largest cruise company in the world, Arnold Donald and other senior company executives in Miami where they informed of plans for 110 or more cruises with more than 200,000 fully vaccinated visitors for Jamaica over the next few months. The target is subject to continued close collaboration between Jamaican authorities and Carnival on logistics.

Bartlett was joined by the Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Lynch; Director of Tourism, Donovan White; Senior Strategist in the Tourism Ministry, Delano Seiveright and Deputy Director of Tourism for the Americas, Donnie Dawson. The Royal Caribbean International engagement is one of a series of meetings with several travel industry leaders, including major airlines and investors, across Jamaica’s largest source markets, the United States and Canada. This is being done to drive increased arrivals to the destination in the coming weeks and months, as well as, to cement further investment in the local tourism sector.

The cruise industry was among the worst affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, shutting the industry down for over a year. However, with the most robust health and safety protocols in the global travel industry, including fully vaccinated passengers and crews, the industry has slowly resumed operations to multiple destinations including Jamaica.

Port of Tarragona to invite tenders to build cruise terminal at Balears wharf

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 05 October 2021 05 October 2021

The Port of Tarragona in Spain said it has approved launch of a public the tender for the construction and operation of a cruise terminal on the Balears Wharf.

“The agreement was reached by the Port's Board of Directors and consists of a public tender for the award of a concession for the construction and operation of a public cruise terminal. This agreement changes the paradigm in the management of the Port of Tarragona cruise terminal from public management to a concession.

The minimum surface area covered by the twelve-year concession will be 5,900 m2 and it is expected to be operational from March 2022,” the port said in a statement.

The period for presenting bids will open before the end of 2021.

“The Port aims to create an innovative terminal that will become another reference for the Port and the city. The optimisation of passenger and vehicle mobility, respect for the environment and a high quality service are priorities for the Port. They are all actions included in the Agenda 2030 Sustainability Plan, which must be an integral part of this new project,” the port said.

Lisbon expects 45 cruise ship calls in October

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 01 October 2021 01 October 2021

Lisbon Cruise Port (LCP), part of Global Ports Holding network of ports, is officially back in business. LCP expects 45 cruise calls in October following 13 calls in September. This fall season is showing a strong promise of back to business.

Lisbon Cruise Port has been a host to many layup operations through the pandemic, as well to regular calls. In September, LCP hosted 13 calls with over 15k passengers. Operating as both a turnaround and transit port, LCP’s 24% of arrivals has been turnarounds. For a safe return to cruising LCP has been in compliance with port health & safety protocols.

The month of October is also looking positive with an expected of 45 calls and 45k passengers. The month will start with the call of Seven Seas Splendor of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises. The maiden voyages of the Iona cruise ship and Le Commandant Charcot will also be out of Lisbon Cruise Port for which the LCP team has made the operations ready. With calls from MSC, Costa, Norwegian & P&O cruises, the October cruise levels will be back 88% of the level that of October 2019.

The newly appointed General Manager of Lisbon Cruise Port, Duarte Cabral, commented: “We are delighted that the industry is picking up at a steady rate. We will make sure that all protocols are in place, allowing the passengers to have a controlled environment that will ensure their health & safety.”

As a Global Ports Holding network of ports Lisbon Cruise Port is committed to ensuring the safe start and continuation of the cruise industry. In line with the policies, the port has received the "clean & safe" seal from the "Tourism of Portugal" ensuring that all the health measures are in place, the "European Tourism Covid-19 Safety Seal” and “Safe Travels” by WTTC.

MedCruise welcomes the re-opening of cruise between Greek and Turkish ports

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 01 October 2021 01 October 2021

MedCruise is pleased to communicate the re-establishment of cruise itineraries between Greece and Turkey, a result of the decision of the Greek Government to remove the restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic in the case of itineraries reaching Greek ports following calls at the ports Galataport Istanbul and Kusadasi.

Following consistent communication of the state at Turkish ports, the Greek authorities appreciated that both Galataport Istanbul and Kusadasi have established and maintained a public health emergency contingency plan based on the European, high standards and have all capacities to provide appropriate public health emergency response.

Throughout the last period, MedCruise worked intensively to make this development happen. Among others, MedCruise President Aris Batsoulis has met and briefed the authorities and national administrations in Greece and Turkey in detail. MedCruise also organised technical site visits of the EU Healthy Gateways joint action team in the ports of Istanbul and Kusadasi in order to clarify the applied process and protocols, and take all the steps to secure safe cruising. The site visit was led by MedCruise President and Secretary General.

In this process, MedCruise had the strong support of CLIA Europe, cruise lines, as well as the scientific support of the European Union’s Healthy Gateways joint action team, headed by Prof. Christos Hadjichristodoulou. In addition, instrumental has been the role of the Galataport Istanbul Chief Port Officer, Figen Ayan, the Regional Director Eastern Mediterranean of Global Ports Holding, Aziz Gungor, and the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA).

Excited by the success of this initiative, MedCruise will continue to develop all the essential activities and similar campaigns to support each and all of its members, facilitating the safety and sustainable growth of cruise activities in the Med, its adjoining seas, and beyond.

Cruise visitors are back in Toulon Bay

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 21 September 2021 21 September 2021

On Thursday, September 16, 2021, the Ports of Toulon Bay welcomed the first cruise passengers for more than 18 months, with the welcoming of Mein Schiff 2 from TUI Cruises at La Seyne Cruise Terminal. During the crisis the piers in Toulon Bay did not remain empty however, since the port and local community have kept on welcoming cruise ships for lay-up calls. At a rate of 2 to 3 ships berthed continuously since spring 2020, 15 calls have been accommodated in Toulon Bay, with a duration ranging from a few days to several months. So, September 16 was a very special day marking a milestone in the history of the cruise activity in Toulon Bay, with the return of cruise visitors.

Despite a full halt in receiving of cruise passengers, the Ports of Toulon Bay have continued to refine their strategy of promoting the "slow" marketing positioning of Toulon as a cruise destination. Work has been undertaken to develop the offer ashore, particularly for independent passengers, favoring a "slow" destination positioning, that is, offering "slow-paced tourism, with low CO2 emissions, synonymous with in-depth discoveries, improved knowledge and cultural achievements." A choice that respects the territory, and that also responds to the need of visitors to slow down the pace and enjoy slower times during their cruise.

The launching of brand-new accounts on social networks "@cruisetoulonbay" on both (Facebook and Instagram) aims to develop the awareness of the international B2C target toward this positioning, linked to authenticity, off the beaten track, and far from mass tourism, translated into a new punchline "Toulon, out of the crowds, close to the people...” It seems that this positioning and all the involved work is well appreciated by cruise companies as the schedules for 2022 are promising with an expected average of 90 calls from 16 different companies, for about 200 000 cruise guests (based on full capacity).

Moreover, that is interesting to see that this strategic turn seems to have a real impact on market segmentation in Toulon Bay as 84% of cruise calls scheduled in 2022 are expected from the premium and luxury segments.