Ports & destinations

Greenock cruise terminal to receive £14 million investment

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 01 December 2015 01 December 2015

Greenock cruise terminal on the Firth of Clyde on the west coast of Scotland will receive a £14 millin upgrade, which includes the introduction of a visitor centre.

The funding was announced on November 24 by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who was quoted by CruiseeCritic as saying: "The port at Greenock provides the gateway to Glasgow and the west coast of Scotland. This proposed investment in the ocean terminal would significantly expand cargo and cruise berthing facilities, creating and supporting local jobs."

Earlier this year, Greenock became the first Scottish port to receive more than 100,000 cruise passengers in a single year and welcomed the arrival of Queen Mary 2 as part of Cunard's 175th anniversary celebrations.

Speaking of the investment, Inverclyde Council Leader, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: "With the expansion of the quayside and development of a new visitor facility, Greenock Ocean Terminal can continue to be a major economic and tourist boost locally in Inverclyde and in Scotland, CruiseCritic said.

Greenock mainly handles cruise calls, but Fred.Olsen Cruise Limes operate a number of turn arounds there as well each year.

New strategy enables 83% growth in Tarragona

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 27 November 2015 27 November 2015

Alan Lam reporting

Spain’s Tarragona Cruise Port Costa Daurada has just ended the current season with an 83% growth in passenger number over the previous year.

The port is reaping the benefit of the commercial strategy initiated three years ago and, according to the port management, “is consolidating its position as an exclusive international cruise ship destination in the Mediterranean.”

A total of eleven cruise ships have moored at the cruise terminal in the Port of Tarragona, located on the Llevant Wharf during 2015, bring with them 11,600 passengers. The forecast for 2016 is even higher.

This development is consistent with the trend in a number of smaller Spanish cruise ports. Thanks to tireless promotion efforts, cruise lines and their guests are becoming more aware of the potentials of these ports.

The port targets premium cruise lines, or medium-sized cruise ships of about 2,500 passengers, the segment it considers to be best suited the current positioning of Tarragona in the cruise industry.

At present the facilities of Marina Port Tarraco, situated on the port promenade of Tarragona, are used to accommodate cruise vessels of less than 140 metres long. Ships of greater draft berth at the cruise terminal on the Llevant wharf. Responding to the future needs of cruise lines, in relation to the predicted volume of passengers, the port is considering the option of taking advantage of the construction of a new, multi-functional esplanade on the Prats wharf, with a view of using it exclusively for cruise ships in the future.

There are a number of attractions in Tarragona that draw cruise tourism, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, which are too often overlooked; chiefly among them are the remains of the old Roman Tarraco, listed as Site of Exceptional Universal Value, and the Monastery of Poblet.

“Cruise passengers are able to visit the wide cultural offer in our area,” said Alba Colet, Cruise Manager, “Tarragona is a destination where all the virtues of the Mediterranean way of life converge; ancient and modern exist in total harmony.” Indeed besides its proximity to Barcelona, Tarragona has a wide range of attraction of its own,

In 2015, about 42% cruise passengers arriving in Tarragona were British, 18% French and 15% Italian. Interestingly, Australians and North American each represented 6% of the total passenger throughput. The total economic impact of cruises on the area in 2015 has been calculated at around €719,000.

Azamara Journey makes her first call in Huelva, Spain

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 29 November 2015 29 November 2015

The Azamara Journey of Azamara Cruises made Saturday its first call at the South Dock Port of Huelva from Gibraltar with around 1,000 passengers and crew onboard. The ship docked at South Quay on the 8.30 am and undocked at 10.00 pm for the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean, according to the company Bergé consignee.

The Port of Huelva offers passengers shuttle buses that connect the South Pier with the centre of the city, where visitors are welcomed near Parque de las Palomas.

The president of the Port Authority of Huelva, Manuela de Paz, said that the efforts of the port in promoting it for the cruise industry have produced good results: this year the port has received six calls and for 21 are expected next year.

de Paz has also stressed the coordination between different institutions, companies and business organisations at the workgroup Huelva Cruise Network in order to join efforts to provide quality services to visiting cruise passengers.The port also offers WiFi in the South Dock so that tourists and the ship's crew have wireless Internet access.

The Port of Huelva has promoted the creation of a large working group  called Huelva Cruise Cruise Network along with representatives of various business organisations, tourist companies, transport and trade, Huelva City Hall, the Tourist Board, Chamber of Commerce and Federation of Employers Huelva, consignees, shipping companies, guides, agents of the State Security Forces, Port Authority of Huelva and other institutions, among others, in order to create the brand Huelva and promote this destination as cruise vessels.

AIDAstella docks at the new Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal for the first time

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 25 November 2015 25 November 2015

On Monday, November 23, 2015, the guests and crew of AIDAstella experienced a very special premiere in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. At around 8 p.m. local time, AIDAstella became the first cruise ship of the Costa Group to dock at the newly constructed Cruise Terminal in Mina Zayed.

“AIDA and Costa have developed the United Arab Emirates into one of the most popular cruise destinations for German and European holidaymakers. The new Cruise Terminal in Mina Zayed will further enhance the attraction of Abu Dhabi as important turnaround port in the region. With 60 visits in 2016, 40 of them by AIDA, the Costa Group is by far the most important cruise partner for Abu Dhabi," said AIDA President Felix Eichhorn.

Following the successful change of passengers at Abu Dhabi’s new cruise terminal, AIDAstella set course for its first 7-day voyage of the season to Dubai, Muscat and Bahrain. Another seven visits are still scheduled for this year. In 2016, AIDAstella will call at the new Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal a total of 23 times.

Abu Dhabi is also a fixed part of the program for AIDAaura on her 14-day voyages “Orient & India”. The first visit of this season will be on November 30, 2015.

In 2016, AIDAaura will call to the metropolis nine times on her voyages between the Orient and India.