Ports & destinations

97.3% increase in cruise tourists arriving in Nicaragua

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 02 November 2014 02 November 2014

While Costa Rica has been waning as a Central America cruise destination in recent years, with the number of cruise calls falling from 345 in 2011-12 season to the current 190, Nicaragua is on the rise, rapidly. Alan Lam reports.

According to the Ministry of Tourism figures, during the first eight months of last year, 26,341 cruise passengers entered Nicaragua on 37 cruise ships, a 10.8% increase on 2012. This year, the increase will be phenomenal; the country is on course to record a 97.3% increase on the figure of 2013.

The Central America as a whole is expected to experience a 5.6% rise in cruise visitor number during 2014. Honduras, which received 1,132,057 cruise tourists last year, will continue to have the lion’s share on account of its more developed cruise tourism, followed by El Salvador, which received 539,211 passengers in 2013.

The region as a whole is expected to welcome over 2,900,000 cruise tourists by the end of the current year, of which Nicaragua will contribute about 55,000.

Though Nicaragua’s cruise statistics may be seen as having limited significance in the bigger picture, they nevertheless represent a growing trend in the region. This trend also supports the assertion that cruise tourists are constantly seeking out new destinations. Obviously the determining factor is the ship calls. Increasingly Nicaraguan ports are being included in the cruise line itinerary planning.

San Juan reports record cruise traffic

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 30 October 2014 30 October 2014

As another sign of the Caribbean revival and the strength of the regional cruise market, the port of San Juan has just released the latest, impressive passenger number for the July-September period. Alan Lam reports.

For the second quarter of the 2014-15 fiscal year, the port reported a cruise passenger throughput of 254,129, a massive increase of 148% from the 102,391 of the same period in 2012.

For the first quarter, according to Rolando J. Torres Carrión, Interim Executive Director of Port Authorities, San Juan received 78 cruise calls, the highest number in ten years.

Torres Carrión attributed this disproportionate improvement to the recent initiatives launched by the Governor, Alejandro García Padilla, which included anewly modified law on cruise ship incentives (Ley de Incentivos de Barcos Cruceros) and the implementation of the low season tariff programme (Programa de Tarifasde Temporada Baja) in May by the port authorities.

“Thanks to those plans and strategies established by theGovernor, García Padilla,” said Torres Carrión, “we have achieved a consistency in increasing the numbers of cruise ships and passengers arriving at Port of San Juan. In the same manner, we aim to welcome a record number[of cruise tourists] in the coming high season and continue our determination in strengthening the industry and the economy of the country.”

The port authorities of Puerto Rico are continuing their effortsto improve port infrastructure.

Strong Arabian cruise season under way

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 October 2014 23 October 2014

As Europe slides into winter, the Arabian cruise season has started with the Sultanate of Oman forecasting the arrival of 300,000 cruise tourists on 134 ship calls this winter - a record number. Alan Lam reports.

A strong growth trend is also apparent in Dubai. Its Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has forecast a total of 110 ship calls, bringing in about 381,500 passengers this season, as compared to 93 ships and 320,000 passengers of the previous season.

In response to the increasing demand of the cruise industry, the port of Muscat has this year changed from handling both freighter and cruise ship traffics to just cruise. The authority has moved cargo-handlingoperations to the port of Sohar, about 230 kilometres north of the capital city.

The first ship to call at Oman’s southern port of Salalahthis season was Seabourn Odyssey. One of this winter’s high profile arrivals will be Queen Mary 2.

While many parts of the Middle East continue to be mired in violent turmoil, winter ocean cruise is a thriving business in the Gulf region.

Besides keeping an eye on the wider geopolitical concern, one of the key issues facing the cruise operators in these parts is how to attract Arab passengers to their ships. At present only about 5% of cruise passengers arriving in Arabian cruise ports are of Arab origin.

The recent annual Gulf Cooperation Council cruise roadshow highlighted that Saudi Arabians, in particular, were yet to be convinced of the value of cruise holidays.It was noted that a significant number of them were not fully aware of the attractions of cruise holidays, which included the benefits of accommodation for children, entertainment and a stunning array of onboard amenities.

Med Cruise contributed to Green Ports Cruise Conference

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 23 October 2014 23 October 2014

MedCruise said it actively participated at the Green Ports Cruise Conference 2014 that was held in Barcelona in 14 October 2014.

Invited by the organisers, Carla Salvadó, President of MedCruise, Thanos Pallis, General Secretary of MedCruise and Aimilia Papachristou, Policy Advisor of MedCruise shaped several sessions of the conference.

Carla Salvadó, President of MedCruise, under her capacity as Manager of Strategy of Commercial and Cruise of Barcelona Port Authority delivered a presentation on Port-City relations: Carla Salvadó, focused on how ports and cities work together to cope with the ever increasing numbers of passengers visiting cities via cruise ships. She went on to presented the port-city integration in the case of Barcelona, detailing the different actions that Port Authority of Barcelona takes in order to build a solid win-win relationship between cruise lines and the city, while offering the authenticity of the destination respecting its citizens life and environment.

Thanos Pallis, General Secretary of MedCruise moderated the second session of the Conference focusing on environmental management practices in ports. During this session Aimilia Papachristou intervened on "Waste Reception Facilities in MedCruise ports”. Aimilia presented the work that was successfully completed by MedCruise in the context of the LIFE+ Project on existing waste reception facilities in MedCruise Ports.

She also pointed out the importance of Environmental Management for cruise ports, highlighting that the development of the European cruise industry is a key pillar of the Blue Growth strategy and the necessity of collaboration with cruise lines. Both members of the MedCruise secretariat had the opportunity to communicate to participants and the media how Medcruise port members in the Med and its adjoining seas are actively promoting sustainable practices and profile of cruise activities.

MedCruise member Valeria Mangiarotti, Marketing Manager of the Port Authority of Cagliari, had the opportunity to highlight and discuss the possibility to reduce the ships’ emissions at ports argued on cold ironing or LNG and presented a study conducted in Mediterranean ports.

Rivages du Monde chooses the Port of Montreal as home port for the 2015 season

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 22 October 2014 22 October 2014

The Rivages du Monde company, which specializes in unique cruises on one-of-a-kind vessels along the world's most beautiful seaways, has chosen Montréal as its home port for its cruise ship, the M/V Saint-Laurent Prestige for the entire 2015 season.

The company will offer future passengers a brand-new cruise on the St. Lawrence River that will allow them to discover the beauty of Lake Ontario and Niagara Falls, then go downriver past Trois-Rivières up to Québec. With this new offer, nearly 7,000 more passengers will leave from the Port of Montréal during the 2015 season.

"I am thrilled that the cruise offer on the St. Lawrence has become increasingly sophisticated and varied," said Yves Lalumière, President and CEO of Tourisme Montréal. "We are proud that Rivages du Monde has chosen Montréal as its home port, not only because it generates economic spin-offs and increases the city's visibility in France, but also because it offers a product that appeals to Québec clients."

The entirely revamped 4-star M/V Saint Laurent Prestige can accommodate 220 passengers. A 90-member crew is on hand to ensure that passengers enjoy an intimate cruise and attentive services.

"The itineraries offered by Rivages du Monde will attract a new market niche for clients seeking river cruises. This will allow us to diversify the demand for stopovers upstream of the St. Lawrence," said René Trépanier, Executive Director of the Cruise the Saint Lawrence Association.

Supported by Tourisme Québec, the Montréal Cruises Committee comprises the Montréal Port Authority and Tourisme Montréal, as well as six other associations and local organizations: Aéroports de Montréal, the Old Port of Montréal Corporation, the Casino de Montréal, the Société de développement commercial du Vieux-Montréal (Old Montréal business development corporation), the Hotel Association of Greater Montréal and the Ville de Montréal.