Ports & destinations

Controlled return of cruises to Québec City

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 November 2024 15 November 2024

For the second year in a row, more than 150,000 cruise passengers visited the Port of Québec in 2024, confirming the recovery of the international cruise market and its impact on the economy of the greater Québec City region. Last season, the Port of Québec also continued its green shift, with the aim of reducing industry-related greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared to 2022 levels by 2030.

In 2024, no fewer than 112 cruise ships stopped over in Québec City, bringing a total of 154,299 visitors to the region, a number similar to the previous year and to pre-pandemic years. Over 4 million tourists visit the Québec City region every year and cruise passengers represent 4% of all tourists in the city.

“The Port of Québec continues to reinvent the way it welcomes cruise passengers by placing sustainable development and respect for our community at the heart of its actions, thanks to strengthened collaboration between stakeholders, notably with the Forum sur les croisières internationales de Québec. Together, we’re building a responsible tourism model that meets the expectations of cruise passengers while protecting our local heritage,” says Mario Girard, President and CEO of the Port of Québec.

Highlights of the 2024 season
– 112 ship stopovers
– 42 different ships from 23 different cruise lines
– 154,299 cruise passengers
– 8 new ships visiting Québec City for the first time
– 28 arrival and departure operations

The green shift continues

Over the years, the Port of Québec has implemented a number of measures to reduce the environmental impact of cruises. By 2014, it had become the first port in the world to proactively limit its number of visitors per day, introducing a cap of 15,000 daily visitors to reduce pressure on local infrastructure and negative impacts on citizens’ quality of life.

The Port of Québec was also among the first to adopt a sustainable tourism plan. The electrification of the three cruise wharves, a project estimated at $45 million, is a key element of this environmental commitment. Over the past year, funding applications have been submitted to both levels of government, as well as to Hydro-Québec, to make this initiative a reality.

In line with its 2035 Vision, the Port of Québec became a key partner of the MT Lab in 2023. This incubator supports innovation by fostering relationships between innovative Québec companies. This season, pilot projects focusing more specifically on the customer experience and sustainable mobility were implemented. These initiatives meet the needs of cruise passengers and citizens alike, while contributing to the Port’s sustainable development objectives for 2030.
Winter cruises

The next international cruise season kicks off in winter, with Le Commandant Charcot, Ponant’s polar exploration cruise ship, visiting in January. This visit will help boost winter tourism, a long-standing objective of local tourism stakeholders.

“The cruise season is a major contributor to the prosperity of the tourism industry in the Greater Québec City area. Not only does it make an important economic contribution, it also provides an exceptional international showcase. Through the network of cruise lines, Québec City is a destination for hundreds of thousands of travelers worldwide. We’re delighted to see how the Port and the industry are taking steps to make cruises increasingly eco-responsible. We salute the progress made” says Destination Québec cité’s General Manager, Robert Mercure.

Photo: Norwegian Sky in Quebec City. Credit: Teijo Niemela

Port Everglades welcomes Crystal Serenity back to its winter homeport

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 15 November 2024 15 November 2024

Port Everglades welcomed back Crystal Serenity on Nov. 9 to its winter homeport.

The newly rebranded luxury line made an exceptional entrance with the completely refurbished Crystal Serenity. The 740-passenger ship includes larger, updated suites with artisanal finishes, a new pickleball court and an industry-leading space-to-guest ratio (1 to 93.1 cubic feet).

On hand for the welcoming ceremony were Crystal Serenity's Captain Vincent Tallaird, Broward County Commissioner Steven Geller, Port Everglades Chief of Staff Peg Buchan, leadership from the Seafarers' House and Visit Lauderdale, and the port's law enforcement partners from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Broward Sheriff's Office.

"Our port is home to one of the most diverse collections of cruise ships and Crystal's reimagined luxury ships fit in perfectly," said Port Everglades CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris. "We look forward to welcoming their guests."

Crystal's return to the port comes on the heels of the port's announcement that it bested its own cruise passenger record with a preliminary count of 4.01 million guests embarking and disembarking during Fiscal Year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024. The new record is expected to be short-lived, however, as 4.4 million guests are anticipated during Fiscal Year 2025.

Port Everglades tops its own cruise passenger record

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 08 November 2024 08 November 2024

Port Everglades bested its own cruise passenger record with a preliminary count of 4,010,919 guests embarking and disembarking during Fiscal Year 2024, which ended September 30, 2024. The new record is expected to be short lived, however, as 4.4 million guests are anticipated during FY2025.

"We expected to do well with the addition of Disney Cruise Line to our fleet and a mix of short and week-long cruises throughout the summer. As the year progressed, it became evident that a near-record 4 million guests was within reach," said CEO and Port Director Joseph Morris. "Cruising is in high demand, and our cruise line partners are poised for greater gains with new itineraries and a variety of sailing dates."

In just one year, from FY2023 to FY2024, cruise passenger counts grew 39% and cruise ship calls rose 23% as the cruise lines fully recovered from the pandemic. The turnaround port's original record was set in FY2014 with 3,880,033 guests. In 2014, it took 887 cruise ships calls to set the port's passenger record compared to 648 calls setting the new record this year because the ships are larger.

Global Ports Holding announces strategic Board appointments

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 11 November 2024 11 November 2024

Global Ports Holding Limited (GPH), the world’s largest independent cruise port operator, is pleased to announce the appointment of three highly experienced professionals to its Board of Directors: Andrew Stuart, Scott Auty, and Florian Hubel. These appointments have been made as GPH embarks on a new phase of growth and strategic partnership, following its delisting from the London Stock Exchange and re-registration as a private company.

Andrew Stuart: Stuart brings over 30 years of cruise industry experience, having held numerous senior leadership roles at Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) where he served as President and CEO from 2015 to 2020. He was instrumental in driving growth, improving passenger services, and expanding NCL’s global footprint. With expertise in marketing, sales, revenue management, and product development, he will provide valuable insights as GPH continues to grow and innovate. Stuart is also a board member of an expedition cruise line and is Chairman of the Boys and Girls Club of Miami Dade. He holds a BSc in Catering Administration from Bournemouth University.

Scott Auty: Auty is a London-based Partner in DWS’s infrastructure investment business in Europe, where he is responsible for sourcing, executing, and managing infrastructure investments. He brings extensive expertise in infrastructure management, having served as a non-executive director on numerous portfolio company boards. Auty currently serves as a non-executive director of Stagecoach Group Limited, the UK’s largest transport operator. His leadership in infrastructure equity funds and comprehensive understanding of the transport and infrastructure sectors will be key assets to Global Ports Holding. Auty holds a BA Honours degree in Economics from the University of Exeter.

Florian Hubel: Hubel is a Senior Principal at DWS Infrastructure with significant experience in analyzing and executing infrastructure investments across Europe. He has previously worked with infrastructure investor OMERS and J.P. Morgan’s investment banking division, specializing in natural resources and energy. Hubel serves as a non-executive director of both Stagecoach Group Limited and Vertex Bioenergy SL, a Spanish bioethanol producer. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MS Honours degree in Management from the Vienna University of Economics and Business.

Mehmet Kutman, Chairman & CEO of Global Ports Holding, said: "We are excited to welcome Andy, Scott, and Florian to the Global Ports Holding board as non-executive directors. Their collective expertise in the cruise, transport, and infrastructure sectors will be invaluable as we continue to drive innovation and sustainable growth globally."

These appointments further strengthen GPH’s leadership as it embarks on its next phase of growth, with a focus on developing key infrastructure and enhancing passenger experience across its portfolio of cruise ports worldwide.

Cagliari Cruise Port celebrates its 500,000th passenger

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations; Published: 08 November 2024 08 November 2024

Cagliari Cruise Port, operated by Global Ports Holding, the world’s largest cruise port operator, celebrated the arrival of its 500,000th cruise passenger of the year, an exceptional achievement highlighting the city’s growing appeal in the international cruise tourism landscape. This day, November 5 was even more special thanks to the simultaneous presence of three ships: Costa Smeralda, a Tuesday fixture at the port from Costa Cruises, Island Princess from Princess Cruises, and Emerald Sakara from Emerald Cruises.

This special guest was welcomed by Cagliari Cruise Port's General Manager, Raffaella Del Prete; the President of the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, Massimo Deiana; and the Marketing Manager of the Port System Authority, Valeria Mangiarotti.

"The current cruise season has shown remarkable growth, with 76 additional berths in 2024 compared to last year, and for the first time, calls scheduled even in the winter months, providing significant economic benefits for the region throughout the year," stated Raffaella Del Prete, GPH Italian Cruise Ports General Manager.

“We have always believed that Cagliari is an ideal tourist destination for all seasons, not just for its beautiful beaches but for its unique history and outstanding features. As terminal operators, we are the first point of contact between cruise passengers and the region, so it’s natural for us to celebrate these extraordinary milestones by thanking the cruise lines that choose us and their guests, with a symbolic award for the 500,000th passenger.” she continued.

In 2024, Cagliari Cruise Port hosted 178 cruise ships compared to the 102 calls in 2023, representing an increase of over 50% in the number of tourists arriving on cruise ships.

"Today is a record-breaking day for Cagliari Port and the entire Sardinian Port System, which is set to close 2024 near 700,000 total cruise passengers," noted the President of the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, Massimo Deiana. "It’s a very positive and highly seasonally adjusted trend, with ships continuing to call at our ports weekly even in the winter months. Our goal over the next five years is to maintain this growth trajectory toward reaching one million cruise passengers and positioning ourselves at the top of Mediterranean destinations."

The exponential growth in traffic reflects the excellent collaborative work between Cagliari Cruise Port, the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, and local institutions, which has promoted Cagliari as a prominent tourist destination, helping to establish the Sardinian capital as a preferred Mediterranean destination.

Cagliari Cruise Port and all parties involved are committed to providing visitors with an authentic and unforgettable experience that begins at dawn with their arrival and ends in the evening when the ship departs.

To make the occasion even more special, Cagliari Cruise Port has awarded the lucky 500,000th passenger with two airline tickets for a return trip to Cagliari, allowing a deeper and immersive experience in which to fully enjoy the culture, tradition, and authentic spirit of the city and Southern Sardinia. Additionally, thanks to a partnership with Palazzo Tirso, the passenger will enjoy a stay for two at the prestigious hotel overlooking the sea.