Ports & destinations

Cruise season begins in Baie-Comeau

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 May 2016 23 May 2016

The arrival of the Pearl Mist marks the start of the international cruise season in Baie-Comeau on Wednesday May 25th. This is the first time we welcome a cruise ship so early in the season. In 2015, the same vessel visited Baie-Comeau’s port June 1st. Pearl Seas Cruises’s ship will come to visit us for a third year in a row and for a total of four time in 2016. Cruise guests of the Pearl Mist will visit several tourist attractions of the region such as: Franquelin Lumberjack Village, the Church of St. Amelia, and the Manor of Baie-Comeau.

However, it’s this fall that most of the cruise ships will come into port. Eleven calls are expected in Baie-Comeau for 2016. Baie-Comeau Cruises’10th season will reach a record, the organization is expecting more than 8800 passengers and crew members, a season that promises to be busy, that’s an increase of 13% regarding 2015. And for the first time in Baie-Comeau Cruises’ history, two ships will be coming into port at the same time; the organization will host two ships on the same day; Seabourn Quest and the Pearl Mist, September 15th. That same day it's 1046 passengers and crew members that will visit Baie-Comeau.

Baie-Comeau Cruises is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and develop the various tourist attractions and businesses of Baie-Comeau and the Manicouagan region and to operate an international port of call to help raise Baie-Comeau’s profile in international markets.

MedCruise promotes Med in Asia

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 18 May 2016 18 May 2016

MedCruise President Kristijan Pavic and Secretary General Thanos Pallis promoted the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas during Seatrade Cruise Asia that was held in Busan, Korea, 12-13 May 2016.

Kristijan Pavic joined the Travel Agents Training programme as a key speaker and educator. This special programme provides a comprehensive education platform that helps agents in Asia better understand the cruise industry.

Pavic invited travel agents to cruise to the magic world of the Mediterranean Sea explaining that there is nowhere else on earth where one can cruise to so many different countries within a short period of time and sample as many flavours, cultures and retrace the footsteps of history as one can in the Med and its adjoining seas.

Τhe MedCruise delegation updated cruise lines, travel agents, and other stakeholders on the facilities offered by MedCruise port members and the prospects of cruising in one of the most interesting regions of the world.

MedCruise was the sponsor of the Travel Agent Training programme, with all delegates receiving the latest MedCruise Yearbook, Statistics Report, as well as a specially designed MedCruise newsletter in Korean language. The programme was attended by travel agents from different regions of the Far East, who had the opportunity to discuss with the MedCruise team on the richness of the destinations of the Med and the opportunities offered by the region.

This is part of a pioneering MedCruise project that commenced in 2014 and promotes the attractiveness of its members in the Far East, in a strategy aiming to transform Asia into a key passenger source market for Cruises in the Med. Earlier this year MedCruise participated also at COTTM and CETCOM events in Beijing, China - whereas a Chinese website circulates news about MedCruise ports in the China tourist market.

MedCruise member ports further benefit from the work of the Association by expanding their professional network with key travel agents around the globe.

Explorer of the Seas to open the cruise season in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 May 2016 15 May 2016

President & CEO of the Nanaimo Port Authority, Bernie Dumas anticipates a warm island welcome for the largest cruise ship to date to visit Nanaimo. The 137,000 gross ton Explorer of the Seas will call Nanaimo on Wednesday May 18th.

Dumas comments: “The Explorer of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships calling in British Columbia with an impressive passenger capacity. If you are anywhere near the Nanaimo Harbour you won’t miss her. As usual, passengers will be enjoying local & regional shore excursions to the Alberni and Cowichan Valleys including the Parksville - Qualicum area. As passengers arrive in the Cruise Ship Terminal, Tourism Nanaimo Travel Counsellors greet passengers with Nanaimo Bar samplings and point the way to photo opportunities with the RCMP in Red Serge, the Big Tub and displays of racing Tubs from the Loyal Nanaimo Bathtub Society. Cannon Firings at our historic Bastion are scheduled for 11 AM, noon, and 1 PM."

“Passengers can also take in the popular farmer’s market in the Pioneer Waterfront Plaza and a Classic Car Show in Diana Krall Plaza from 10 AM to 2 PM. Complimentary shuttles transport passengers from the cruise terminal through downtown where they engage local volunteers organized by the DNBIA. Contact with local culture include the downtown area, museums, galleries, eateries and walking tours which receive positive passenger feedback on a consistent basis.”

“Economically, each cruise visit has an immediate impact of over $250,000 to the region. Also, passengers seriously consider our destination for a future multi-day visit.”

The Nanaimo Port Authority is one of 18 Port Authorities across Canada, established under the Canada Marine Act, to promote and support the National, Regional and local economy and to ensure a safe and secure harbour for cargo operations.

Port of Adria welcomes its maiden call

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 18 May 2016 18 May 2016

Port of Adria, operator of Port of Bar, Montenegro, welcomed its first scheduled cruise ship, Thomson Celebration on May 11th, 2016. Port of Adria is a subsidiary of Global Ports Holding, world’s largest cruise port operator.

Thomson Celebration, docked at 280m long quay, brought 1 222 passengers and 550 crew members to Bar. Passengers arrived from Hvar and sailed towards Dubrovnik, the last stop at their itinerary.

Passengers of Thomson Celebration were welcomed with local offerings and folk dances. Some of the passengers attended to shore excursions to discover the wonders of Montenegro; such as Stari Bar, Skadar Lake and Sv. Stefan tours. The rest of the passengers and crew enjoyed the beautiful town of Bar featuring mountain and Adriatic Sea views at the same time. Local food market at the city center had been a pleasant surprise for the independent passengers.

“It is our please to be able to provide today necessary infrastructure, in accordance with the international standards, to host cruise passengers. Port of Adria has all conditions for accommodating large ships. Our intention is to enhance these conditions in the future.” said Sedat Kara, acting CEO of Port of Adria.

Municipality President, dr Zoran Srzentić emphasized the significance of development of cruising for local economy. “We recognize the significance and possibilities for Bar economy if, apart from commercial operations, our port would be able to attract cruisers as well. These are the first, but certainly important steps in this direction. Therefore, as local government, in cooperation with public companies, we would like to provide necessary support for partners in this process.”

“From the first days of doing business in Montenegro, Global Ports Holding includes Bar as new destination in its promotional activities. We believe that Bar and Montenegro have great potential in terms of cruise tourism development. We shall continue to promote Bar in order to increase the number of cruisers and create opportunities for local economy. I believe that good impressions of this first visit shall result in Bar obtaining a significant place on the Adriatic cruise itineraries” said Arpak Demircan, Deputy CEO of Global Ports Holding.

Wallem Ship Agency Japan handles its first cruise ship call

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 12 May 2016 12 May 2016

Wallem’s agency team in Japan recently welcomed the MSC Lirica on her maiden call to Japan. The vessel arrived in Fukuoka (Hakata) on April 29 with 1,764 passengers and 743 crew onboard before heading back to Shanghai.

This call marks both the first Japanese port for the ship on its inaugural season in Asia and the first cruise call for Wallem’s agency team in Japan.

“Thanks to Wallem’s strong experience in the cruise business, particularly in Asia (handling over 450 calls across Asia this cruise season), the team made sure that every eventuality was prepared and planned for so that this inaugural call went off without a hitch,” the company said in a statement.

Wallem has been providing port agency services for MSC ships calling at Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand since 2015. With this new business, the company will now look after MSC calls throughout the region, including Hong Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan.

Following its maiden call, the MSC Lirica will call at other Japanese ports (Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Beppu, Kobe and Yokohama) in the future and Wallem Japan will handle these regular weekly calls across Japan.