Ports & destinations

Global Ports Holding and Las Palmas Cruise Port celebrate grand opening with “A Night at the Terminal”

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 19 September 2026 19 September 2026

Global Ports Holding (GPH), the world’s largest cruise port operator, together with Las Palmas Cruise Port, celebrated the grand opening of the new Las Palmas Cruise Port terminal with “A Night at the Terminal,” bringing together more than 1,000 cruise industry representatives, partners, local authorities and stakeholders.

The celebration marked the new terminal’s official introduction to the industry and set the stage for Seatrade Cruise Med 2026. Marking 30 years since its launch, the event will take place at the terminal for the first time on 16–17 September, with more than 2,000 cruise industry professionals in attendance.

The new 14,000-square-metre Las Palmas Cruise Port terminal represents a major milestone in GPH’s investment in the Canary Islands. Designed to strengthen operational capacity and enhance the passenger experience, the terminal can accommodate up to four cruise ships simultaneously and provides a modern gateway to Gran Canaria.

Guests experienced an evening inspired by the destination’s renowned carnival culture, featuring comparsa and batucada performances, live music, carnival-inspired entertainment, acrobatics and a spectacular drone show.

Ayşegül Bensel, Vice Chairperson of Global Ports Holding, said: “Tonight is about celebrating much more than the opening of a new terminal. It is about celebrating the cruise industry, our partners and the future of Las Palmas as an increasingly important year-round cruise destination. We are particularly grateful to the local authorities and partners whose collaboration and support have been instrumental in bringing this important project to life.”

Beatriz Calzada, President of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, said: “I would like to thank Global Ports for their trust and their firm commitment to our ports. Today we are proud to inaugurate Europe’s largest cruise terminal, which reinforces the role of the Port of Las Palmas as a cruise hub for the Mid-Atlantic. Doing so to coincide with the Seatrade Cruise Med event is, moreover, a milestone that allows us to showcase our port and our city to the world.”

Susana Gutiérrez, General Manager of GPH Canary Islands Cruise Ports, said: “This new terminal gives us the opportunity to offer an enhanced experience from the moment guests arrive, while creating a gateway that reflects the energy and character of Gran Canaria. Welcoming the international cruise community here for Seatrade Cruise Med is a very special way to begin this new chapter for Las Palmas Cruise Port.”

Following the opening, the terminal will host Seatrade Cruise Med 2026, bringing together cruise lines, ports, destinations, tourism authorities and industry suppliers from across the Mediterranean and beyond and giving delegates the opportunity to experience the new facility first-hand.

Port of San Diego kicks off the region’s biggest cruise season in over 15 years with Princess Cruises

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 15 September 2026 15 September 2026

The Port of San Diego is marking its biggest cruise season in more than 15 years, starting with Princess Cruises and continuing with 183 total voyages during the 2026-2027 season, which includes new homeports from Royal Caribbean and a second Disney ship, Disney Magic.

“We cannot wait to welcome more than 700,000 cruise passengers who will visit San Diego this year,” said Vice Chair Michael Zucchet, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners. “We are grateful for Princess Cruises and all our cruise customers and we look forward to welcoming them each season. The year-over-year growth shows that passengers and cruise lines come to San Diego for our beautiful waterfront, strategic location on the West Coast, and our proximity to Baja Mexico.”

“San Diego is a destination people around the world want to visit, and this milestone cruise season is another sign of the strength of our tourism economy,” said Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego. “More ships calling on San Diego means more visitors staying in our hotels, eating at our restaurants and supporting local businesses and jobs. Their spending also generates hotel tax revenue that helps us provide the services San Diegans rely on and invest in what makes America’s Finest City such a great place to live and visit. I’m grateful to the Port of San Diego and our cruise partners for their continued investment in our city and region.”

The Port of San Diego’s cruise season officially began on September 14, as the Ruby Princess docked at the B Street Pier Cruise Terminal for a seven-day Classic California Coast tour. This year’s calls are up 68 percent from 109 calls last year and 75 in the 2024-2025 season.

“San Diego has been an important part of the Princess Cruises story for more than 50 years, and we’re proud to continue our longstanding relationship,” said Marie Lee, Princess Cruises Chief Marketing Officer. “With an exciting lineup of ships and itineraries ahead, we look forward to helping more guests discover this incredible West Coast destination and create unforgettable memories both on land and at sea.”

In addition to new homeports from Royal Caribbean and expanded Disney service, this season’s full schedule also features long-time customer Holland America Line, as well as Norwegian – now in their second year of homeport calls in San Diego, Princess Cruises, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Silversea Cruises, Viking Cruises, and more. Disney and the Port have an agreement through at least 2031 that will approximately double the number of Disney cruises out of San Diego. More than 1 million Disney passengers are anticipated during the course of the agreement. It’s the first time in more than 20 years that a cruise line has offered a minimum annual guarantee at the Port of San Diego.

The Port’s cruise industry brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to the San Diego Bay waterfront each year, which injects millions of dollars into the San Diego region’s economy and supports more than 2,000 jobs in local tourism and maritime businesses.

San Diego is California’s third busiest cruise port behind Long Beach and Los Angeles, and it is the closest West Coast cruise port to Mexico, making it a key location for voyages to the Mexican Riviera. The Port’s terminals are conveniently located in the heart of the city and provide easy access for cruise passengers to explore the waterfront and visit regional attractions.

Photo: Vice Chair Michael Zucchet, Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners; Mayor Todd Gloria, City of San Diego; Marie Lee, Chief Marketing Officer, Princess Cruises; Scott Chadwick, Port of San Diego President & CEO; and Paul Garcia, Senior Director of Communications, San Diego Tourism Authority, standing in front of Ruby Princess

MedCruise approves key constitutional changes and welcomes 11 new members in Las Palmas

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 18 September 2026 18 September 2026

MedCruise, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports, held its 69th General Assembly this week in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, bringing together its members for an important session focused on the Association’s ongoing work, governance and future development.

As MedCruise celebrates its 30th anniversary, the 69th General Assembly marked the Association’s second General Assembly of 2026, following the 68th General Assembly held in Palermo in June. The meeting provided members with another opportunity to come together, review the progress achieved across the Association’s different areas of activity and take a series of important decisions supporting its continued evolution.

During the Internal Matters session, members of the MedCruise Board of Directors presented updates on their respective areas of responsibility, outlining the work carried out since the previous General Assembly and the priorities ahead. The presentations reflected the broad scope of MedCruise’s activities and the continued commitment of the Board to advancing initiatives that deliver value to the Association and its membership.

A major outcome of the General Assembly was the approval of 16 amendments to the MedCruise Constitution. Some provisions of the Constitution had required updating for some time, and the General Assembly provided an opportunity for members to review and discuss them collectively. The amendments aim to bring the Constitution up to date and ensure that the Association’s governance framework better reflects its current needs, priorities and ways of working.

The amendments addressed several key areas, including modernising communication methods, introducing more inclusive and gender-neutral language, strengthening member participation and reporting, and reinforcing sustainability and the role of local communities within the Association’s objectives. They also included organisational adjustments designed to support more effective governance and operations.

Of particular significance, all members present unanimously approved the inclusion of sustainability as an explicit objective of the Association, recognising its economic, social and environmental dimensions. The new objective places particular emphasis on supporting local communities, strengthening port-city relations and promoting cruise development that contributes positively to the long-term wellbeing of destinations.

MedCruise also continued to expand its international network with the admission of 11 new members: one Regular Member and ten Associate Members. Marmaris Cruise Port (Türkiye) joined the Association as a Regular Member.

The ten new Associate Members are Compagnie Commerciale Charbonnière et Maritime (CCCM) (Morocco); AKS Advisory (Italy); Worms - Medacruise (France); SeaCras (Croatia); Suardiaz (Spain); Lantimar Group (Spain); Petrol Ofisi (Türkiye); Ravenna Civitas Cruise Port (Italy); Shorelink Iberia (Spain); and Istanbul Shipping (Türkiye).

Their admission further expands MedCruise’s network of ports and cruise industry stakeholders, bringing new expertise and perspectives to the Association and strengthening opportunities for cooperation across its membership.

Commenting on the outcomes of the General Assembly, Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise, said: “This 69th General Assembly marks another important step in the development of our Association. I would like to thank everyone for the work carried out, which has enabled us to update our Constitution and provide MedCruise with a framework that will allow us to be even more effective in promoting and supporting the cruise sector.

“At the same time, economic, social and environmental sustainability are now explicitly reflected in our Constitution as key principles guiding the Association and its activities. I would also like to thank our colleagues and friends at the Port of Las Palmas for hosting us and for their warm welcome. We now look forward to meeting again in Istanbul for the 70th MedCruise General Assembly.”

The 69th General Assembly concluded with MedCruise reaffirming its commitment to strengthening cooperation among its members, continuously improving the Association’s governance and services, and representing the interests of Mediterranean and adjoining seas cruise ports and industry stakeholders.

As MedCruise enters the next chapter of its development following three decades of activity, the decisions taken in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria provide a renewed foundation for the Association to continue evolving alongside its members and the wider cruise industry.

French Atlantic Ports to showcase Atlantic cruise opportunities at Seatrade Med 2026

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 08 September 2026 08 September 2026

At Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 in Las Palmas (16–17 September), French Atlantic Ports will present a coordinated offer connecting the Atlantic coast with Mediterranean and Northern European cruise itineraries.

Representatives from Le Havre, Caen-Ouistreham, Cherbourg, Brest and Bordeaux will meet with cruise lines and industry partners to discuss deployment opportunities, port capacity, turnaround options, shore excursion programmes and new itinerary concepts combining the Atlantic, Mediterranean and North Europe.

Together, our ports provide a diverse range of destinations and operational strengths:
– Le Havre: Home to the new Le Havre Verrazzano Cruise Terminal, Le Havre offers modern, sustainable infrastructure with shore power (OPS), efficient turnaround operations, a UNESCO World Heritage city shaped by Impressionism, and direct access to Paris and Normandy's iconic attractions.
– Caen-Ouistreham : A boutique port in the heart of Normandy, dedicated to small ships cruises. Guests arrive in the city centre of Caen, the thousand-year-old city of William the Conqueror, with privileged access to the D-Day Landing Beaches and Normandy's highlights.
– Cherbourg: a deep-water port in Normandy and a prime cruise destination, offering a gateway to the region’s D-Day sites and rich cultural heritage, with the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of vessel sizes. Passengers arrive through the authentic Art Deco luggage hall, where historic character meets modern amenities.
– Brest: Brest welcomes cruise ships at one of its dedicated quays, specially arranged to provide a secure and efficient welcome for cruise passengers. With no size restrictions, the port offers easy access to the city and to Brittany’s exceptional cultural, natural and maritime attractions.
– Bordeaux: Three cruise terminals along the Garonne River and Gironde estuary provide a gateway to Bordeaux, the region’s vibrant capital with its UNESCO-listed heritage, elegant architecture and exceptional gastronomy, and to South-West France, a land of striking contrasts where world-renowned vineyards, Atlantic beaches and picturesque villages embody a unique French art de vivre.

Through their joint presence at Seatrade Cruise Med, French Atlantic Ports offer cruise operators a single regional point of contact to explore new opportunities along the Atlantic coast, with coordinated expertise, complementary destinations and a shared commitment to sustainable growth.

The five French Atlantic Ports attending Seatrade Cruise Med will use the event to strengthen dialogue with cruise lines, support the development of innovative itineraries and identify solutions that enhance operational efficiency and deliver memorable guest experiences.