Ports & destinations

Asuka II marks a new milestone for the port of Rouen

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 30 May 2015 30 May 2015

On Thursday, 28 June, the French port of Rouen marked the end of a high profile three-day call by the Japanese cruise ship Azuka II, which is currently on her 20^th Anniversary World Cruise. Alan Lam reports.

Arriving from Vigo, Spain, Rouen was the only French port of call during this voyage. The ship has now departed for New York via Ponta Deldaga in the Azores.

With its myriad of attractions, ranging from the legend of Joan of Arc to the Impressionist Art Movement, Rouen is a popular destination for Japanese visitors.

On the final day of the ship’s call, over 400 passengers took a trip of a lifetime to the Palace of Versailles in Paris; this was followed by a Gala Dinner, attended by about 340 of the guests.

In 2014 France was the only European country enjoyed a double-digit growth in cruise business – 13.5%. Rouen, with its two terminals, has been a main beneficiary: the port received 42 calls and welcomed about 24,700 passengers last year; at the close of this year, it expects a total of 60 calls and 35,500 passengers, a nearly 70% increase year-on-year, way above the national average.

Owned and operated by Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Asuka II was built by the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki and launched as Crystal Harmony for Crystal Cruises in 1989.

Maiden calls at Heraklion

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 29 May 2015 29 May 2015

At Heraklion port, Monday the 18th and Tuesday the 19th of May 2015, approached almost 5,500 visitors with the cruise ship Princess Emerald of Princess Cruises and the cruise ship Oriana of P & O Cruises International on their maiden calls to the port.

Guests enjoyed the Heraklion Municipality’s instrumental band of 25 in interpretation of favorite music from famous films and musicals, a welcome that was held by Heraklion Port Authority and Mr. Bras.

Courtesy visit also took place in the vessels where commemorative plaques and gifts exchange was held.

Passengers and captains said they were excited by the reception they received which is a very important issue for our port, since every first approach of a new cruise ship in a port (maiden call) takes place its scoring by the officers, crew and passengers of the ship, which defines the cruises companies’ opinion and the following selection of the port for subsequent approaches.

Mr. Ioannis Brass emphasized in his statements that he promises to continue the important recent years’ work of the Management providing high quality competitive services, implementing modern practices, interventions, initiatives, actions and plans in the cruise sector within the promotion of the Greek tourism product which seek to serve in the best possible way many professional sectors and all permanent or periodic port users.

Corner Brook welcomes first cruise ship of the season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 19 May 2015 19 May 2015

The Port of Corner Brook will welcome the first ship of the 2015 cruise season on Saturday, May 23. The Oceania Cruises vessel Marina is scheduled to spend a full day in port, arriving at 8 a.m. and departing at 5 p.m. This will be the third year in a row that the Marina has been Corner Brook’s first cruise ship of the season. The vessel made its inaugural call to the City on June 3, 2013 and returned again in 2014 to kick off the season on May 30, 2014. The ship has a capacity of 1,250 passengers and 800 crew. The vessel will also be the first to visit Newfoundland and Labrador for 2015.

The Oceania Marina will visit Corner Brook as part of a 16 day River Routes & Channel Crossings itinerary originating in Montreal, Quebec on May 18 and concluding in London, England on June 3. The vessel will visit a number of ports in Canada before setting sail across the Atlantic for several calls in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Following its departure from Corner Brook, the vessel will call on Sydney, Nova Scotia on May 24.

Corner Brook Port Corporation is expecting 11 cruise ship visits this season, an increase from 9 vessels scheduled in 2014. Following the first call on May 23, the next scheduled call will be the Black Watch (Fred. Olsen Cruise Line) on June 11. There will be two visit in July, the inaugural call of the Insignia (Oceania Cruises) on July 27 followed by the Veendam (Holland America Line) on July 28. In August, Corner Brook will have an overnight visit from the Marco Polo, a ship operated by Cruise & Maritime Voyages, on August 20 & 21 and the Black Watch will return on August 23.

The remaining five calls are scheduled for the fall and include Silver Whisper (Silversea Cruises) on September 21, Albatross (Phoenix Reisen) on September 27 and the Caribbean Princess (Princess Cruises) on September 28. The Marco Polo will return for a second overnight visit on October 1 & 2 and Saga Sapphire (Saga Holidays) will visit Corner Brook for the first time to close out the season on October 3. A complete list of scheduled calls for 2015 can be found at www.cornerbrookport.com.

MedCruise promotes cruise in the Med and Black Sea at the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 28 May 2015 28 May 2015

MedCruise had a leading role during the eventful 3rd Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum that was held in Athens, Greece in 26 and 27 May 2015, with the signing of the partnership agreement between MedCruise and CLIA Europe being the highlight of the event.

Carla Salvadό, MedCruise President was among the keynote speakers in the high-level panel on "The Cruise industry in Today's Europe and the East Mediterranean" during the first day of the forum.  During her speech, Carla Salvadό stressed the role of collaboration between the key stakeholders, saying that "it is for the industry to collaborate further and identify the best way to apply relevant principles that benefit all" and emphasised that "several cruise ports in the Μed and its adjoining seas have taken initiatives at operational and institutional level to increase the potential of cruise activities."

The second day of the Forum, MedCruise Secretary General Thanos Pallis spoke at "Ports and Cruise Operators – The infrastructure debate" panel. Thanos Pallis, presented extracts from the MedCruise Fact Finding Survey on the state of the cruise ports industry in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas – to be presented in full during the forthcoming 46th MedCruise GA in Zadar – on private investments in port infrastructure and berthing policy.

With more than 650 participants and 32 exhibitors from 25 countries attending the two-day industry focused dialogue, industry representatives agrees that East Med and Black Sea region could enhance its position as one of the world’s leading sea tourism destinations, but it isn’t plain sailing yet.

The headlines though were at the CLIA Europe – MedCruise partnership announcement. CLIA Europe and MedCruise, the biggest port association of the world, announced on Tuesday a major initiative, the creation of a platform to educate travel agents, in a major step for the interest of the membership of both associations.

Busy cruise month in Hamburg

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 18 May 2015 18 May 2015

It all started on 1 May with the MSC Splendida from MSC Cruises. At 333 metres long, 37 metres wide and with 1,637 cabins for up to 4,300 guests, it is the largest passenger ship that will set sail from the Hanseatic city this summer. On 1 May, at the maiden call in Hamburg, MSC Splendida expected a gala reception with the traditional handing over of the plaque between captain and port captain. At the ceremony, Hamburg's Senator for Economics, Frank Horch and MSC Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago were also on board, to exchange the symbolic gifts. At the HafenCity Cruise Centre, in addition to the on board official ceremony, there was a festival for the whole family, for visitors and boat enthusiasts alike. On offer was a colourful stage show with live music, exciting acts and entertainment for both young and old.

On the following weekend from 8 to 10 May 2015, the festivities were focused on the 826th Port anniversary. For the port anniversary, six cruise ships made their appearance (AIDAbella, AIDAsol, Amadea, Artania, Europa 2, and Queen Elizabeth). The Amadea and Europe 2 made multiple visits to the port during this time. The highlight was Saturday night, when the traditional AIDA fireworks lit up the night sky over Hamburg. Despite the stormy weather, hundreds of thousands of onlookers flocked to the jetties to take part in the 826th Hamburg Harbour anniversary celebrations. On the river Elbe, the AIDAbella cruise ship presented a laser show. This year, AIDA Cruises is also the main sponsor of the biggest maritime folk festival.

Further first maiden calls in this packed month were Ocean Diamond on 12 May, Poseidon Expeditions’ Sea Spirit on 16 May, followed by TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 4 on 22 May.

To ensure the success of the maiden calls, the Hamburg Cruise Centre (HCC) is on hand for cruise lines. A welcome with a sea shanty: not something you get on every cruise. But on 30 April, for the approximately 3,500 guests of the Regal Princess, the HHLA shanty choir belted out loud and clear - a gift from the HCC in honour of the first point of call of the Princess Cruises shipping company’s newest fleet member. To celebrate a ship’s launch in a fitting manner, the HCC offers cruise companies a whole range of services, such as support for PR activities, or even a welcome with a firefighter boat. And if you have something else in mind - no problem: The HCC sees itself as a creative partner for everything connected to the ship’s visit.

"It is important to us, that a ship’s maiden call, or even a first visit by a cruise line to our Hanseatic city, is a special experience. After several years of working on acquisitions, receiving the ship in the port of Hamburg is the crowning glory and will be attended to by us with all means at our disposal," stated Nadine Palatz, HCC e.V management.

In May, the HCC expected around 40 ports of call with an accompanying passenger volume of over 100,000.