Ports & destinations
Hamburg to handle in four weeks annual 2008 passenger volume
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations
- Published: 16 May 2012 16 May 2012
The Port of Hamburg will be visited a total of 33 times by cruise ships in May. “While the volume of passengers for the whole of 2008 stood at 89,000, passenger turnover in May 2012 alone is anticipated to hit the 94,000 mark,” the port said in a statement.
Eight cruise ships - AIDAblu, AIDAluna, AIDAmar, AIDAsol, Deutschland, Le Boréal, MSC Lirica, Queen Mary 2, Star Flyer and the training vessel Alexander von Humboldt 2 all made an appearance on the port’s 823rd anniversary (11 to 13 May 2012). In addition, this month will also witness three maiden visits, five double visits, three triple visits, one quadruple and even one quintuple visit. Around 1.4 million people celebrated the port’s 823rd anniversary.
Senator Frank Horch, head of the responsible Ministry for Economy, Transport and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, summed it up, “Over the three days, the port was livelier than it has ever been. More than 300 ships from every area of the maritime community produced a truly unique spectacle for the residents of Hamburg and visitors from all over the world.”
The crowning glory and absolute icing on the cake this year was surely the world’s biggest ship’s christening involving the AIDAmar. Accompanied by three sister ships, the latest ship in the AIDA Cruises fleet was named on Saturday evening in an elaborately staged event at the Port of Hamburg. Hundreds of thousands of spectators followed the exceptional naming ceremony.
Turku Cruise Port is getting ready for a new season
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations
- Published: 05 May 2012 05 May 2012
The 2011 cruise season was a good one for Turku with seven cruise calls and a record number of passengers 5456 in total. Turku being the European Capital of Culture gave added flavour to cruise passengers' day in Turku.
The 2012 season will start earlier than ever before with Saga Shipping's Quest for Adventure arriving on 26 May. It is her first call in Turku and part of a Gulf of Bothnia cruise. Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Black Watch will call three times ending the cruise season in Turku on 20 September.
Free reception of waste water from cruise vessels
The Port of Turku has taken a decision to continue offering free reception of waste water from cruise vessels until end of 2015. This is the port's environmental contribution to improving the state of the Baltic Sea. The waste water will be transported by tank truck to a specific collection point at the port area for further delivery to the city sewage treatment plant. The free collection system was introduced in 2010.
Costa Crociere’s Palacruceros in Barcelona enjoyed strong 2011
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- Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen
- Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations
- Published: 26 April 2012 26 April 2012
The Palacruceros, Barcelona’s cruise terminal managed by Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s n.1 cruise company, enjoyed a 20% rise in passenger volume last year on 2010, Costa Crociere said in a statement.
“The number of passenger movements at the Palacruceros was 731,621, with an increase by 20% in comparison with the previous year. These figures confirms the investment of €12 million that the company did for the construction of the terminal,” Costa Crociere said.
“Furthermore, in 2011 reservations coming form Costa Cruises fleet set up by 50% of the total traffic in the Catalan terminal, which offers the best standards of quality also for the largest ships of the fleet. “
In addition to the facility in Spain, Costa Crociere also operates the Palacrociere terminal in Savona in Italy.
Holland America's Oosterdam to kick off Seattle's homeport season Sunday, May 6
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations
- Published: 05 May 2012 05 May 2012
When Holland America Line's Oosterdam arrives at Seattle this Sunday, May 6, it will mark the beginning of the city's summertime Alaska homeport cruise season. The line's Westerdam arrives Saturday, May 12, and ms Amsterdam begins its roundtrip Alaska sailings from Seattle on Friday, May 18.
In addition to the 52 roundtrip Seattle cruises this season, six South Pacific or Pacific Northwest cruises will either begin or end at Seattle, for a total of 58 calls and more than 104,000 guests.
"We always look forward to the start of the Alaska season because it represents a homecoming of our ships to our hometown of Seattle," said Richard Meadows, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. "It's meaningful not only for our officers and crew, but also for our shoreside employees and the many vendors and service providers we support in Seattle and throughout Washington State."
With three Seattle-based ships sailing out of the homeport for the five-month cruise season in 2011, Holland America Line contributed US$186 million to the Seattle economy and US$222 million across Washington State just from cruise ship calls alone. Factor in office and payroll costs for the 1,335 people the line employs locally at its headquarters, and its total economic impact rises to US$372 million in Seattle and US$526 million statewide.
Indeed, for each port call by the 1,380-guest Amsterdam the line spends approximately $169,000 locally on provisions. For the 1,916-passenger Oosterdam and Westerdam, provisioning costs about $272,000 per week. Holland America Line works with 654 local vendors, from food and beverage suppliers to piano tuners, office supply stores and marine suppliers, among many more.
Holland America Line provisions each ship on "turnaround" dates. Provisioning a ship means bringing aboard all of the supplies and food products needed during a cruise. For example, Oosterdam requires some over 23,000 eggs and 1,375 gallons of milk each week - all coming from local farmers. In addition, local growers supply 147,550 pounds a week of fresh produce.
Also contributing to Holland America Line's economic impact in 2011 was spending by passengers and crew in local shops, restaurants, hotels, museums, sightseeing attractions and taxicabs. Other expenditures include maintaining its ships, plus port fees, charges and taxes.
Cruise season kicks off at Cruiseport Boston
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- Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä
- Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations
- Published: 22 April 2012 22 April 2012
Cruiseport Boston’s 2012 season got underway April 21 when Norwegian Dawn sets sail on a special 6-day cruise to Bermuda, the first of 22 weekly cruises to the island. This is the second year for the 2,224 passenger ship to sail the ever-popular 7-day itinerary. The season also brings with it a boatload of new itineraries giving vacationers many more cruising options from Boston. The main newcomer at Cruiseport Boston is Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,974-passenger Carnival Glory, which will sail a series of 4, 5 and 7-day itineraries to New England and Atlantic Canada during the months of June and July. The first Carnival cruise leaves Boston June 3 heading out for 7 days to Portland, Maine; Saint John, New Brunswick; and Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia. Thereafter Carnival Glory will sail a series of 4-day “long weekend” cruises to Saint John, New Brunswick, and 5-day cruises to Halifax, Nova Scotia and Saint John, New Brunswick.
"We’re going to have a very busy season at Cruiseport Boston this year," said David S. Mackey, Massport’s Interim CEO & Executive Director. "In 2010 we completed an $11 million renovation of the facility to bolster our appeal to the cruise lines, and that investment is paying off with all the new itineraries being offered from Boston."
Another indication of the popularity of the renovated Cruiseport Boston facility is the number of passengers starting and ending their cruise vacation in Boston is now 60 percent, compared to the Port-of-Call passengers who visit the city for the day. That increase is helped by the entry of Carnival Glory.
Carnival is known as “The World’s Most Popular Cruise Line®,” with 23 “Fun Ships” giving their guests the sense that they're crossing over into a whole new world of fun every time they walk up the gangway. The 13-deck Carnival Glory was launched in 2003 and offers spacious accommodations, a 270 square foot poolside Seaside Theatre LED screen showing movies, concerts and other programming; a 13,300 square foot spa, four swimming pools – one with a 214-foot-long Twister Waterslide; expansive, modern play areas for children, ’tweens and teens; and Serenity, an exclusive adults-only retreat. Several dining options are also available such as a 24-hour pizzeria, a patisserie, and a classic American steakhouse.
"We’re looking forward to launching our first extended cruise schedule from Boston aboard the Carnival Glory in June," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines president and CEO. "These four- and five-day cruises not only provide our guests with a convenient and affordable ‘Fun Ship’ cruise choice departing from one of America’s great cities but also offer an opportunity to visit two of Atlantic Canada’s most charming and picturesque destinations, Halifax and Saint John," he added. In addition, Holland America’s Veendam, and three luxury cruise lines: Compagnie du Ponant’s LeBoreal, Seabourn’s Seabourn Soujourn and Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony will all offer new itineraries to Canada & New England ports. As will Norwegian Dawn upon completion of regular weekly Bermuda cruises. Veendam will also offer an18 and 31-day repositioning cruise to South America via the Panama Canal, and Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas will now sail weekly on Sundays to Canada & New England rather than Saturdays.
This new season has the widest array of cruise options in the 26 year history of the Terminal, with something to appeal to all ages and every budget. In 2012, 112 ship calls are scheduled, and Massport anticipates a third consecutive year of more than 300,000 passengers traveling through its Black Falcon Cruise Terminal and an expectation to break the 2010 passenger record high of 322,161. The 2012 cruise season runs from April to November.
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