News

Kalundborg celebrated the first call from Thomson Spirit this season with a Cruise Marathon. Sunday May 21 the guests and crew onboard the Thomson Spirit were invited to participate in a Cruise Marathon. The route was set along the quays of the port and into the beautiful countryside, visiting the Castle of Lerchenborg and the Lerchenborg park before returning the quay side and the ship.  

On a perfect day to run a Marathon the winner time was 3.26.13!

Port of Lisbon nominated for the 4th consecutive year for best cruise port in Europe

The port of Lisbon maintains popularity, and proof of this is the re-nomination to the World Travel Awards Europe, the fifth consecutive year in the category of Europe's Leading Cruise Destination and the fourth consecutive year in the category of Europe's Leading Cruise Port.

It is a great honor for Port of Lisbon to see these nominations in the "Tourism Oscars", sharing the challenge with the ports of St. Petersburg, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Oslo and Venice, a total of 11 nominees for Best Cruise Destination, and 15 nominees for Best Cruise Port.

It is unquestionable that the appointment of the Port of Lisbon to the WTA is in itself, a way to promote this port with the tourism industry in general, and the cruise industry in particular. However, to repeat the results of 2009, the year in which the Port of Lisbon won the award for Best Cruise Destination in Europe, we will vote online until the 16th of June in http://www.worldtravelawards.com/.

The awards ceremony of the 2013 edition will be held in Antalya, Turkey.

The World Travel Awards honor the best examples of good practices in the tourism sector, and it is in this direction that the Port of Lisbon Authority has worked and will continue to work together with all stakeholders in the cruise activity pursuing a common goal – to drive the Port of Lisbon, Lisbon and our country as a cruise destination of excellence.

In May are expected three new cruise ships

In May, arrives in Lisbon 3 of 15 ships planned to call the Portuguese capital city for the first time.

The first, on May 6 will be the Quest for Adventure, the first call in Lisbon is part of a cruise starting in Seville and ending in Portland, calling the ports of Portimão, Leixões (OPorto) Villagarcia de Arosa, Santander, Bordeaux, Belle Ille, Lorient and St Peter Port.

The Quest for Adventure, renamed in May 2012 by her operator Saga Cruises, is the old Saga Pearl II. Built in 1981, Quest for Adventures has been subject to refurbishments over the years in order to keep the level of comfort of her guests.

 On May 24 the Europe 2 arrives in Lisbon, the latest acquisition of the German operator Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and the most exclusive cruise ship.

Just been built in the STX Europe shipyard in Saint Nazaire, Europa 2 ends in Lisbon her maiden voyage that starts in Hamburg, and  on May 25 she will start a new voyage from the Portuguese capital city to Barcelona, her final destination, calling Portimão, Malaga, Cartagena, Valencia and Mahon.

With 225 meters long, 42 830 tons, the Europa 2 has 251 suites, all with balcony, and a maximum capacity of 516 passengers and 370 crew members. Europa 2 is distinguished by personalized service, gastronomy diversity, the luxury environment, wellness and fitness, and a diverse program of entertainment.

 On May 29, arrives in Lisbon the FTI Berlin, formally owned by Saga Cruises, and then named Spirit of Adventure, and now belongs to the FTI Cruises. With 139 meters length and capacity for 352 passengers, FTI Berlin call Lisbon on a journey that starts in Nice and ends in Ijmuiden, in the Netherlands, and passing through Barcelona, Seville, Portimão, Vigo, Falmouth, St. Peter's Port and Tilbury.

For ships and passengers traveling on board of these cruise ships as well as for their captains, the port of Lisbon will organize welcome actions.

Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) recognized the city of Tallinn for the fifth time as one of the world's seven (Top7) most innovative communities. The resulting recognition Top7 is the second phase of the contest of more than 400 competitors for the title of "Intelligent Community of the Year 2013".

The Intelligent Community Forum  (ICF) announced the communities making it to this year’s Top7 (Top7 Intelligent Communities of the Year). Those belonging in the Top7 list are examples of exemplary economic development and being included in it is considered a badge of honor in itself. This is an important acknowledgment for the City of Tallinn as a community.

Tallinn City Secretary Toomas Sepp said that Tallinn, as well as other competitors had the same topics when submitting the application - innovation and employment on the basis of which they were evaluated and compared with other communities. "However, it should be noted that innovation and employment are the processes that are in conflict with each other in several aspects. Generally innovation sets an aim to produce, with a smaller number of employees, a larger amount of high quality services or goods. Employment is expected, however, to ensure the maximum number of jobs and reduce unemployment, "said Sepp.

In the application, the development plans and programs were described, which have created a real foundation for innovation in the City of Tallinn, including the initiative of the creation of the IT Academy, the Estonian Information Society Development Plan until the year 2013 +, the Innovation strategy of Tallinn and others.

Intelligent Community of the Year 2013 will be announced on 7 June. City of Tallinn has been recognized also in the past - in the years 2007-2010 Tallinn was selected to the list of the First Seven Communities . During the last two years Tallinn has not been participating in the contests between communities.

 Intelligent Community Forum  is a non-profit organization that brings together intelligent communities all over the world. The organization presents the achievements of its member communities worldwide, develops private mutually beneficial relationships of the leaders of public and private sectors of the member communities, develops research programs, contributes to the peaceful development of the communities and strives to ensure the best opportunities for IT, innovative and dynamic development of the communities.

Organization membership is available only to communities who qualify as Smart21, the Intelligent Community of the Year or the Seven First Communities or have received the Founder Prize from the Intelligent Community Forum. The City of Tallinn is a founding member of the Intelligent Community Association from the year 2010.

Participation of the City of Tallinn in the work of the Intelligent Community Forum provides great opportunities to obtain information necessary for further development of the IT sector of the City of Tallinn on contemporary IT and other hi-tech solutions of the public sector from the different countries of the world. It also provides an opportunity to introduce the City of Tallinn as a progressive and developed community and the urban governance use of modern solutions on a broader scale outside European Union borders.

Additional Info: www.intelligentcommunity.org/

The first and biggest Full Metal Cruise in Europe made ​​some noise in Le Havre yesterday. The 2,000 metal fans of Mein Schiff 1 were greeted by a "Full Metal Cruise" party organized in collaboration with "Metallian Magazin". Under the circus tent "the Magic Mirrors", the program began at noon to finish at midnight, starring the Brazilian Sepultura metal legend.
A press conference was held at the Cruise Terminal with TUI cruises representatives. The organizers of the event at the Magic Mirrors welcomed the cooperation with the Greater Le Havre Tourist Office, operator of the Cruise Terminal and opened the way for a new edition in 2014. Mein Schiff 1 had left Hamburg on May 5th. The ship is today on call at Southampton and continues its route to Amsterdam before returning to Hamburg on May 11th for the port’s anniversary and the end of the cruise, a day later. The Caribbean Princess and Adventure of the Seas, on maiden call, were also in Le Havre yesterday.

The beautiful Emerald Princess will more in Rotterdam again, the 10th of May.

(Photo taken May 2012)

PRESS RELEASE OF ESTONIAN HISTORY MUSEUM AND PORT OF TALLINN
on 7th of May 2013

On Friday, 10th of May, the outdoor exhibition of Port of Tallinn and Estonian History Museum "THE JOURNEY OF A FREE NATION " will be opened near Admiralty Basin of Port of Tallinn.

On the 24th of February 2013, the Republic of Estonia celebrated its 95th birthday. On the event of the festive birthday-year the exhibition completed jointly by Port of Tallinn and Estonian History Museum "THE JOURNEY OF A FREE NATION" takes a look into the past, recalling the key events and developments of the past decades at the formation of Estonian statehood. This time the exhibition views our past through photos. Photographers have perpetuated important moments leaving a print in the history. But also more colorful persons and moments from everyday life casting novel light at one and the other event and providing the joy of recognition even today, have caught sight of the objective.

The exhibition brings the birthday-year of the Republic of Estonia to Tallinn and to Estonia's "largest tourist gate", reminding us of the complicated history of one country and introducing it to foreign visitors. This way a piece of Estonia's history is reachable to everyone in the public city room in Tallinn Old City Harbour.
According to Sirje Karise, the director of Estonian History Museum, the outdoor exposition is a great opportunity to provide a short overview of our country right at the port: "The role of the museum has clearly changed today, we want to be closer to the public, hence we try to leave the walls of the museum to better communicate our knowledge and introduce the subject we together with other memory institutions preserve for future generations. "

According to Ain Kaljurand, the chairman of the management board of Port of Tallinn, the company wants to give the highest possible value to the seaside room, which among the rest means adding of new and interesting functions to the port-area: "From year to year Port of Tallinn has searched for and created possibilities for people to find their way to the port. The exhibition stands placed near the Admiralty Basin last year not only provide the joy of discovery in the form of interesting exhibitions, but also found recognition as a city room element. The exhibition on the theme of the Republic of Estonia is a good reason to once again come to spend time by the seaside. "

The exhibition remains open on the pedestrian walk-way near Admiralty Basin of Port of Tallinn until the spring of 2014.

On 3rd May, the port of A Coruña welcomed three cruise vessels simultaneously (“Pullmantur Empress”, “MSC Poesia” and “Aida Mar”), which brought to the city around 7,400 tourists,the biggest amount of visitors to our city on the same day this year.

The port hosted as well the first interporting operation with 180 passengers embarking in the “Empress” thematic cruise itinerary, focused on Eurovision Song Contest, where the pop-rock band “El sueño de Morfeo”, representing Spain in the contest, will offer a concert onboard the ship. We wish them most luck in Malmö, where the festival will take place next 18th May.

The month of May, after September, will be the busiest during 2013 cruise season, as 18 cruise calls are expected; one triple call, as mentioned, and four double calls. This means a total of 27,000 estimated passengers (+ crew members).

Yesterday the Cruise Terminal of Le Havre hosted the Europa 2 on maiden call. This was the first stop after the shipyards for the brand new luxury cruise ship. The ceremony featured Captain Friedrich Jan Ackermann, Deputy Harbour Master Nicolas Chervy and Deputy Mayor Agnès Firmin Le Bodo. Travel agents and some stakeholders involved in passenger ships business embarked for a cruise bound for Hamburg where the Europa 2 will start her maiden voyage after her christening on May, 10th.

The second edition of the Normandy Impressionist Festival, entitled "Dazzling Reflections" was officially opened at the Fine Arts Museum of Rouen by Laurent Fabius, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and other high ranking government officials on Sunday 28 April 2013.

On display in the exhibition are 180 works, including 40 by Monet, 15 by Sisley and other  renowned Impressionist artists; Pissarro, Caillebotte, Renoir , Signac, Cézanne and photographs among others by Gustave Le Gray, Charles Marville and Peter Henry Emerson.

The theme of the festival is entirely based on water and in particular the lure it had to the great masters. It is no wonder that the Seine River featured so strong in many a masterpiece, with its ever changing light and an unparalleled beauty that compared to none.

The exposition will run from the 29 April, Monday from 9 am to 18 pm, and until September 30 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Rouen.

Passengers and crew on the MS Hanseatic, due to arrive in May would be able to visit this incomparable exhibition, with many guided tours and special events on offer.

The other big festival gracing the shores of Rouen in 2013 is the 6th edition of the Armada, from 6th to 16th June 2013. The last edition lured millions of visitors during its ten days filled with free concerts, fireworks and many other events.

This year will stand equally proud, hosting some of the most beautiful and tallest sailing ships in the world, over 45 international sailing ships and a host of international war ships (Monge, HMS Blyth, and Russia’s Alexander Shabali) will sail up the Seine River and anchor next to its quays, giving a feast to the eyes to all ship lovers.