Historic Port Royal opens in Jamaica

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 25 January 2020 25 January 2020

The mystique and allure of historic Port Royal was boldly awaken on January 20, 2020 when the PAJ’s newly built Port Royal Cruise Port received its inaugural ship call by Marella Cruise Line’s Discovery 2 on January 20, 2020. The introduction of cruise shipping to Port Royal and by extension Kingston, represents an achievement of an objective which was first contemplated over 25 years ago. Port Royal joins Montego Bay, Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Port Antonio and it is anticipated that the new complement of five cruise ports of call will further strengthen Jamaica’s cruise shipping product and enhance the Cruise Jamaica brand. The PAJ built a cruise port in Port Royal to fulfil three main objectives which are to: create economic and social benefits whilst collaborating with other Government of Jamaica agencies; enhance the unique historical assets of Port Royal for the benefit of Jamaicans and visitors; as well as Create a gateway to Kingston, the ‘cultural capital’ of the Caribbean of the Caribbean in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Cruise Passengers on the Discovery 2 were treated to a grand fare representing an infusion of authentic Jamaican vibes, cuisine and music which was augmented by the natural heritage and culture that the town of Port Royal offers. The port’s courtyard buzzed with products and services from iconic Jamaican brands including Red Stripe Beer, Appleton Jamaica Rum and Devon House I-Scream which were all well received by cruise passengers and crew. Visitors experienced a taste of Jamaica through a number of tours, most of which were conducted in Kingston that included a visit to the Bob Marley Museum, Trench Town Culture Yard and New Castle for a Blue Mountain coffee experience. They also had a chance to experience the new Fort Charles, now upgraded and managed by the PAJ, where they were immersed in 17th century history and had the opportunity to visit the renowned Giddy House.

In addition to this historic call at Port Royal, the PAJ marked another milestone with its first use of the SeaWalk during the maiden visit on Monday (January 20). The SeaWalk is a floating articulated bridge that is motorized and under electronic control, which unfolds to meet a ship off the shore (analogous to a jet-bridge at an airport). It is anchored at the port at one end and positioned and secured alongside the ship at the other end allowing passengers, baggage, trolleys and crew to move from the ship to the bridge to the port. It facilitates the berthing of vessels in Port Royal without dredging and extensive infrastructural works typically required to construct a conventional berthing system. Therefore, the use of the SeaWalk technology in Port Royal enables the PAJ to both adhere to its environmentally conscious operational practices as well as fulfil the objective of establishing Kingston as a permanent cruise port destination. Passengers travelling on the Discovery 2 disembarked and embarked the ship using the SeaWalk.

Three more calls are scheduled for the rest of the 19/20 winter tourist season, one each in February, March and April. It is expected that the construction works on phase one of the new port development will be completed by the time it welcomes the last call of the season.

Meyer Turku floats out Mardi Gras

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 24 January 2020 24 January 2020

The float out of the coming flag ship of Carnival Cruise Line, Mardi Gras, was celebrated today at Meyer Turku shipyard.

At some 180,000 gross tons, it will be the largest vessel in the fleet of the company that is part of Carnival Corporation & plc and the fourth unit in a class of LNG powered vessels but at Meyer Turku and Meyer Werft for four brands of the Carnival group.

“We can’t wait for our guests to experience Mardi Gras, a one-of-a-kind ship that is true game changer and continues the evolution of the Carnival vacation experience,” said Ben Clement, Carnival’s senior vice president of newbuilds, in a statement.

“I believe Mardi Gras will be a truly special ship. She will be the first to use our now proven LNG cruise ship propulsion system in North American markets and feature many other sophisticated technologies – including BOLT, the first roller coaster onboard a ship," CEO of Meyer Turku Jan Meyer stated.

With the float-out Mardi Gras' six themed zones are also beginning to take shape with the interior build out of spaces like Emeril’s Bistro 1396 created by famed chef Emeril Lagasse and a groundbreaking new atrium concept with spectacular three-deck-high floor-to-ceiling windows and moveable LED screens.

A cruise ship is always a result of cooperation by many parties. The shipyard’s own design office works with the ship owner architects to create a custom designed ship for the signature style of the Carnival brand – a totally new architectural design. Next almost 1000 specialized companies are engaged in providing materials and complex services to create the cruise ship at Turku Shipyard.

CEO Jan Meyer reminds that the ships are truly smart floating cities:“We are building all the facilities a smart modern city would have: hospitals, IT-networks, restaurants and sophisticated environmental technologies, on a ship sailing the seas. It is a very difficult undertaking but also the end result is really spectacular.”

Mardi Gras will be delivered in late October and Carnival has announced she will enter revenue service on 14 November from Port Canaveral, Florida.

In the spring, Meyer Werft is due to deliver Iona, the first of two ships of the class, to P&O Cruises in the UK, while Meyer Turku delivered Costa Smeralda, to Costa Crociere in December. AIDAnova, the first unit of the class, was handed over by Meyer Werft to AIDA Cruises in late 2018.