Ports & destinations

Port Everglades cruise passengers to enjoy benefits of new FLL runway

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 25 February 2014 25 February 2014

Air-sea travelers will find Port Everglades even more convenient when a second runway at neighboring Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) opens September 2014. The new 8,000-foot runway will help improve flight times and reduce delays at FLL, which is one of the fastest growing airports in the country and a major hub for low-cost domestic carriers. In addition, FLL’s Terminal 4 will expand from 10 to 14 gates, with increased concession choices for passengers.

“Our airport and seaport are within two miles of each other, which is wonderful for cruise passengers who can take advantage of discount air fares and short rides to their cruise ships,” said Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief. “It is also a wonderful advantage for our residents who benefit economically through job creation and retention.”

The number of cruise passengers is expected to reach 4 million during 2014. More than 23 million passengers passed through FLL in 2013, and of those passenger, an estimated 15 percent were going on a cruise out of Port Everglades.

“The combination of a world-class seaport and an international airport located in a popular vacation destination make Broward County a terrific choice for travelers,” said Broward County Vice Mayor Tim Ryan, whose district includes Port Everglades and FLL.

Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport are self-supporting Enterprise Funds of Broward County government.

FLL is ranked 21st in the U.S. in total passenger traffic and 13th in domestic origin and destination passengers. There are more than 300 departure and 300 arrival flights a day. FLL offers nonstop service to more than 100 U.S. cities and international service to Canada, Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexico, Latin America and Europe.

Port Everglades is one of the three busiest cruise ports in the world with nearly 4 million passengers expected in 2014. Eight cruise lines, one ferry and more than 40 cruise ships sail from the South Florida seaport including: Balearia’s Bahamas Express, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises and Seabourn. The Port's wide-ranging fleet of cruise ships provides guests with an array of cruise vacation choices from the sunny Greater Fort Lauderdale area. Port Everglades, where the best cruise ships launch and the greatest getaways begin.

Norwegian Cruise Line schedules 16 calls at Banana Coast

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 19 February 2014 19 February 2014

Norwegian Cruise Line has scheduled 16 calls at the port of Banana Coast beginning in October. The 2,376-passenger Norwegian Jewel is slated to call at Banana Coast in Trujillo, Honduras, through April 2015.

To date, six cruise lines have scheduled 34 calls on eight ships at Honduras' first mainland cruise port. Holland America Line was the first major cruise company to commit to a series of Banana Coast calls from November 2014 through March 2015. In addition to Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America, Silversea Cruises has slated calls in December 2014 and March 2015, and P&O Cruises and Oceania Cruises plan to call in the first quarter of 2015.

In all, Banana Coast expects to host more than 80,000 passengers and crew during the 2014-15 winter cruise season.

"On October 15 Norwegian Jewel will be our first big ship call and we're ready to welcome thousands of guests and crew," said Randy Jorgensen, general manager of Grande Trujillo Authoridad, which developed the port. "When we built the port we planned it to have a little something for everyone."

Banana Coast, "where the rainforest meets the sea," has shopping, a tender dock, reception center and transportation hub as well as 10 acres of beachfront right in the town of Trujillo, which was established in 1525. Diverse shore excursions feature the region's Spanish heritage and lush tropical setting with cultural, historical, soft-adventure and eco-tour offerings.

The newest western Caribbean cruise destination welcomed its first ship, Travel Dynamics International's 138-passenger Yorktown, Feb. 10.

Allure of the Seas to bring 158,000 passengers, generate EUR 17.5 million in Barcelona

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 14 February 2014 14 February 2014

Next year Barcelona will be the turnaround port for the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's the Allure of the Seas, a vessel measuring 361 metres in length with a capacity for 6,318 people (equal to the entire population of the Catalan village of Tremp). This Oasis-class cruise ship, the sister of the Oasis of the Seas (which this year will also visit the Catalan capital) will set sail 25 times from Barcelona. This will be the first time that this cruise ship has visited Europe – up to now she has cruised exclusively around the Caribbean from her base in Port Lauderdale.

"The choice of Barcelona as a base for the Allure of the Seas for the entire 2015 season is a challenge for the large scale of operations that the ship will be making, but it also helps to consolidate Barcelona as the leader in the European and Mediterranean cruise sector" said Sixte Cambra, president of Barcelona Port Authority.

At a joint press conference, Belén Wangüemert, CEO of Royal Caribbean in Spain and France, highlighted the enormous boost that the arrival of a vessel of this type represents for tourism and for business directly linked to cruise activity, involving a full range of port services and supplies. Specifically, Belén Wangüemert said that 158,000 passengers are expected to pass through the Port of Barcelona in the vessel's turnaround operations (start and end of the cruise), contributing 17.5 million EUR to the city's economy.

This estimate is based on the latest study from Barcelona Tourist Board, which has calculated that cruise passengers in turnaround spend an average of 113 EUR, but this is not the only impact the Allure of the Seas will cause on the local economy. Wealth creation also includes business generated by ship supplies (food, fuel, water and all kinds of consumer products); services and port fees; the benefit in tourist terms of bringing passengers to Barcelona from all over the world; or the positive impact it has on the international image of the capital of Catalonia.

Sixte Cambra pointed out that Barcelona is the only Mediterranean port with appropriate facilities to handle large-scale operations for vessels such as the Allure of the Seas, with more than 12,000 passengers embarking and disembarking daily (6,300 in each operation). To ensure that these run smoothly and efficiently, Terminals B and C, managed by Creuers del Port de Barcelona (Port of Barcelona Cruises) and located on Adossat wharf, will provide service to the Royal Caribbean vessel simultaneously.

Cambra stressed that Barcelona is well prepared to host these operations thanks to infrastructure investments valued at over 100 million EUR undertaken in recent years by the Port and private operators, but also thanks to the professionalism of the Port Community and all the stakeholders associated with the cruise industry in the city. "The international terminals run by Port of Barcelona Cruises are especially functional and have been designed to suit the needs of the market in terms of the size and capacity of ships. Therefore we are well equipped to handle large-scale embarking and disembarking operations with the highest levels of safety, security and efficiency," he added.
This year, the busiest day in passenger terms will be 18 May, with the arrival of 31,534 tourists at the Port. The busiest weekend for passenger arrivals will be from 12 and 14 September, with more than 57,700 tourists arriving in Barcelona.

Last year, the Port of Barcelona received a total of 2.6 million passengers, an increase of 8% year on year and equal to the record high of 2011. Nearly 60% of passengers were in turnaround, in other words they began and/or ended their journey in the city. Passengers in this mode contribute the most to the local economy, since they spend more in the city, mainly in hotels, restaurants, shops and transport.

The Allure of the Seas is scheduled to arrive in Barcelona in May 2015, and will operate there until mid-October. During that time, she will make one short cruise and 22 seven-night circuits with itineraries that will include visits to the ports of Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, La Spezia (Florence- Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome) and Naples. In addition she will also make two transatlantic trips, at the beginning and end of the season.

Royal Caribbean has been operating at the Port of Barcelona since 1996, when the company brought its Splendour of the Seas cruise ship here. Wangüemert pointed out that vessels from the Royal Caribbean fleet have been based in the city or have made stopovers there for 18 years: "The arrival of the Oasis and Allure of the Seas confirms Royal Caribbean’s commitment to Barcelona, which has established its role as a key port for our company."

Shipping agent Medov srl partners with tour operator TNM Corp in Central and South America

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 18 February 2014 18 February 2014

In January Italian shipping agent Medov srl acquired a significant shareholding stake in TNM Corp, a leading South American tour operator and shipping agent.

Specializing in cruise line ground handling, shore excursions, port agency and pre/post tours, TNM Corp provides services in 66 cities throughout 12 countries in Central and South America.

The agreement, which strengthens and expands Medov's presence in the global cruise marketplace, calls for Medov to support TNM in developing its cruise and agency business in the countries where it currently operates directly or through local partners, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Uruguay.

"The acquisition of a stake in TNM fulfils Medov's need for diversification and horizontal integration to remain competitive in the contemporary cruise business," said Giulio Schenone, chairman and CEO of Medov srl. "Thanks to this partnership we can expand in a new and growing market while strengthening our relationships with customers in the Italian and French markets where Medov already is a leading service provider."

"Cruise line customers will not see a change in TNM's service delivery in the short term," Schenone said, but as the two firms develop operational best practices, there may be some long-term positive effects.

"Partnering with Medov confirms TNM's desire to remain a market leader providing shore excursions and cruise-related leisure activities in Central and South America," said Kenneth Munro, chairman of TNM Corp. "It is not by coincidence that we have signed an agreement with one of the most accomplished and well-structured shipping agencies in Europe. Our partnership puts both companies in a better position to provide cruise lines with a complete package of services, both in port and ashore, throughout the region."

Banana Coast welcomes first cruise ship call

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 10 February 2014 10 February 2014

Banana Coast, the newest western Caribbean cruise port, welcomed its first cruise ship call at Trujillo, Honduras, today. Travel Dynamics International's U.S.-flagged 130-passenger Yorktown made the inaugural call and is scheduled to return next Monday.

After tendering ashore Yorktown guests were treated to performances by Garifuna musicians, browsed locally made crafts and set out on tours to the nearby rainforest as well as enjoyed the beach.

"It was rewarding to see Banana Coast come to life today with its first cruise passengers," said Randy Jorgensen, general manager of Grande Trujillo Authoridad, which developed the port. "Travel Dynamics' guests are interested in culture, history and nature when they cruise, and we are proud to offer a destination that delivers all of that and more."

Travel Dynamics International specializes in high-caliber educational cruises aboard intimate coastal cruise ships in North America, the Mediterranean, Antarctica and Africa. Banana Coast was added to Yorktown's "Tropical Islands, Rain Forests & Ancient Sites of Central America" itinerary.

Banana Coast has shopping, a newly built tender dock, reception center and transportation hub as well as 10 acres of beachfront right in the town of Trujillo, which was established in 1525. Diverse shore excursions feature the region’s Spanish colonial heritage and lush tropical setting with cultural, historical, soft-adventure and eco-tour offerings.

To date, five cruise lines have scheduled 20 calls on eight ships at Honduras' first mainland cruise destination. Holland America Line was the first major cruise company to commit to a series of port calls beginning in November 2014 through March 2015. Silversea Cruises has slated calls in December 2014 and March 2015. P&O Cruises and Oceania Cruises are slated to call in the first quarter of 2015.