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Lisbon Elected Europe’s Best Cruise Destination for the Third Time

October 13, 2026 19:13

Portuguese capital once again wins at the World Cruise Awards, following previous victories in 2021 and 2024 The city of Lisbon has been named Europe’s Best Cruise Destination at the 6th edition of the World Cruise Awards, held on 12 October in Jamaica. This marks the third time the Portuguese capital has received the distinction, following its victories in 2021 and 2024, further strengthening its position among Europe’s leading cruise destinations. Lisbon stood out among some of the continent’s most renowned cruise destinations, surpassing cities and regions such as Athens, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Funchal, Monte Carlo, Nice, Rome, Oslo, and Southampton. According to the Port of Lisbon Authority the award recognises the efforts of the entire cruise tourism ecosystem in the city: “This award is the result of the dedication and commitment of everyone working within Lisbon’s cruise ecosystem, who strive every day to provide unique and memorable experiences for our visitors, as well as the hospitality of Lisbon’s residents. Lisbon is increasingly establishing itself as a destination of excellence, competitive, innovative and sustainable.” Created in 2021, the World Cruise Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in the global cruise industry. Since their inception, Portugal has maintained a prominent presence in the category of Europe’s Best Cruise Destination, with Lisbon and Madeira repeatedly earning this prestigious recognition. This latest accolade further reinforces Lisbon’s position as a gateway for thousands of international visitors, supported by its privileged location, modern port infrastructure, and diverse tourism offering. The distinction comes in a year when the Lisbon Cruise Terminal has also been nominated, for the sixth consecutive year, as Europe’s Best Cruise Terminal, further highlighting the international recognition of the quality and excellence associated with cruise tourism in the Portuguese capital.

Falmouth Cruise Ship Ambassadors Celebrate 20 Years of Welcoming Visitors to Cornwall

October 8, 2026 21:48

Falmouth’s Cruise Ship Ambassadors are celebrating 20 years of welcoming visitors to the town – with another reason to celebrate after being named finalists in the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2026. The Falmouth Cruise Ship Ambassadors (FCSA) began with just six volunteers welcoming cruise passengers to Falmouth’s docks in the summer of 2006. Today, the group is more than 40 strong and has become a familiar part of the experience for thousands of cruise passengers arriving in Falmouth each year. To mark its 20th anniversary, the group will come together at The Cove, Maenporth, on Saturday 10 October for a three-course dinner and live music from Cornish folk performer Will Keating. The Cove has kindly waived its usual venue fee in support of the occasion. The anniversary year has been made even more special by the news that the Ambassadors have been selected as finalists in the Visitor Information Superstars category of the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2026. The team is now guaranteed a Gold, Silver or Bronze award, with the result due to be announced at the awards ceremony in November. Made up largely of retired local men and women, the Ambassadors give their time to share their knowledge of Falmouth and Cornwall, helping visitors make the most of their time ashore and providing the warm, personal welcome for which the group has become known. Their achievements over the past two decades also include a Gold Award from Enjoy England in 2008 for outstanding service and accreditation as members of the Cornish Heritage Volunteer Scheme in 2024. The celebrations come towards the end of another busy cruise season for Balaena Falmouth, with Holland America Line’s Rotterdam due to call on 21 October. Phil Boddy, Honorary Secretary of the Falmouth Cruise Ship Ambassadors, said: “I’ve been extremely proud to be the Honorary Secretary of this amazing group for the past 15 years, and I know I speak on behalf of all of us when I say we are absolutely delighted to be celebrating our 20th anniversary. “Over those 20 years, we have built a wonderful reputation with visitors from around the world. The comments we receive from cruise passengers show just how much that friendly Falmouth welcome is appreciated. “To be recognised as finalists in the Cornwall Tourism Awards in our 20th anniversary year makes it particularly special. We’ll have to wait until November to find out whether it’s Bronze, Silver or Gold!” Drystan Jones, Director of Port Development, Falmouth, said: “The Falmouth Cruise Ship Ambassadors have become part of the identity of cruise in Falmouth. “For 20 years, they have given their time, enthusiasm and local knowledge to make sure passengers stepping ashore receive a genuinely warm welcome. They are extremely well regarded by cruise lines and their passengers and have become an important part of Falmouth’s success as a cruise destination. “Behind the numbers and the ships, cruise is ultimately about people and the experience they have when they arrive. Our Ambassadors understand that better than anyone. “To see their contribution recognised by the Cornwall Tourism Awards in their 20th anniversary year is thoroughly deserved. We’re delighted to celebrate this milestone and thank every Ambassador, past and present, who has contributed over the last two decades.”

New member: Port of Kemi

October 1, 2026 12:40

As the northernmost cruise port in the Baltic Sea and Lapland’s only cruise harbour, the Port of Kemi provides cruiselines with a strategic and flexible option for itinerary planning in Northern Europe. Located on the island of Ajos, just 15 minutes from Kemi’s compact city centre, the port enables efficient cruise calls and has the capability to support turnaround operations with short transfer times and clear passenger logistics. Its location offers direct access to Sea Lapland and the wider Lapland region, making Kemi well suited for both summer and winter season. Cruise traffic has been growing with interest particularly coming from expedition, luxury and boutique cruiselines. This year there are 10 calls and 7,000 passengers scheduled with Plantours and Oceania Cruises both making maiden calls and Hanseatic nature calling September 26. This compares with four/2,000 in 2022 and seven/4,800 in 2024. The port has six berths ranging in length from 160m (berth 6) to 420m (berth 7) and depth from 9.1m (berths 4 and 5) to 13.5m (berth 7), permitting the accommodation of a wide range of vessels. LNG and biofuel bunkering capability is available at berth 7. At present, there is not a permanent dedicated cruise terminal. The port continuously maintains and develops its quay infrastructure to support both cargo and cruise operations, is fully ISPS-compliant, provides vessel waste reception services in accordance with Finnish and international environmental regulations. Environmental responsibility is a key priority for the Port of Kemi, which operates under certified management systems: ISO 9001 Quality Management; ISO 14001 Environmental Management; and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety. The port is located in the sensitive ecosystem of the northern Gulf of Bothnia and actively promotes sustainable operations, energy efficiency, waste recycling and environmental awareness. The changing scenery due to upthrust, the low salinity of the sea water and the vulnerability of the Northern nature create an unique operating environment, which the port wants to preserve. “The Port of Kemi strives to provide high-quality services to fulfil the customer's needs while respecting nature. The port constantly monitors and develops its activities and operational systems and is committed to follow the legislation and regulations of authorities,” explains Ritva Torikka, development director, Port of Kemi. “In accordance with the occupational health and safety standards, the port emphasises safety in all its activities, as well as the prevention of injuries. With the environmental quality standards Port of Kemi aspires to prevent harmful environmental impacts of the operational activities and to improve the environmental awareness of its employees, stakeholders and interest groups.” Kemi’s location offers direct access to Sea Lapland and the wider Lapland region, making it well suited for both summer and winter season. As interest in northern routes continues to grow, the port offers cruiselines a ‘Lapland by the sea’ experience and is a northern anchor point for innovative seasonal and Arctic-focused itineraries. Light and darkness define the rhythm of life in Lapland. During the winter season, Kemi experiences kaamos/the polar night when the sea and surroundings are wrapped in a calm, blue twilight. Icebreaker Sampo is an iconic attraction giving visitors the chance to experience the Arctic ice and frozen sea. Around midsummer, the Midnight Sun/yoton yo lights the sky almost around the clock. Long days invite leisurely walks, island cruises, and relaxed moments by the sea. Whether visiting in winter or summer, Kemi offers cruise travellers an authentic and memorable introduction to life in the Arctic right from the harbour.

Keflavik welcomes first turnarounds

October 1, 2026 12:36

This summer saw the first turnaround operations at Keflavik, marking an important milestone for the port and demonstrating its ability to offer cruiselines a practical, new turnaround option in Iceland. Of the eight calls, four were turnarounds: two from Adventure Canada’s Expedition, one each from Polar Latitudes Expeditions’ Ocean Victory and Grands Espaces’ Heritage Discoverer. "For Keflavik, the turnarounds represent much more than individual cruise calls. They show the potential for the port to develop into a new gateway for Icelandic cruise itineraries, particularly for smaller and medium-sized vessels. They also create opportunities for cruise guests to spend time in Reykjanes rather than simply travelling directly between the ship and the airport,” says Linus Mattson, managing partner and co-director Nordic Port Group. The port’s location, only around 5km from Keflavik International Airport, creates particularly favourable conditions for passenger transfers, luggage handling and crew changes. The turnarounds also allowed the port and its partners to test the complete passenger journey in a live operational environment. This included coordination with the airport, baggage handling, border control and other local services. Among the solutions introduced were onboard check-in and the possibility of delivering boarding passes directly to the ship, helping to make the transfer between the vessel and the airport as smooth as possible. “The first operations provided valuable experience and identified several areas for continued improvement. The next steps include enhanced facilities for passport and border control, better weather protection for passengers, expanded baggage-handling areas and further development of the passenger flow between ship, port and airport,” explains Mattson. Reykjanes offers a destination experience in its own right, including volcanic landscapes and geothermal areas. The port itself is located within the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark. The ambition is therefore to combine efficient turnaround operations with pre- and post-cruise stays and local excursions. The port is continuing its phased development. The first phase is intended to accommodate vessels of up to approximately 200m, while a later phase includes dredging and infrastructure development for vessels of up to approximately 240m, together with improved terminal facilities.

CE ports learn from each other, on site and in practice

October 1, 2026 12:33

The Cruise Europe (CE) Port Exchange 2026 has just wrapped up in IJmuiden and Amsterdam, bringing members together for two days of knowledge sharing, port visits and first-hand insights into cruise operations. The programme included a visit to Passenger Terminal, Cruise Port Amsterdam (CPA), and its shore power facilities introduced by Frank Schoenmaker, sea cruise & facility manager CPA, as well as a ship visit onboard P&O Cruises’ Ventura. That evening the group visited Haarlem, Jopenkerk, a local brewery, and ended the evening on the terraces behind Bavo Cathedral. The next morning started with a tour through Felison Ferry Terminals, using IJmuiden as an example of an EU external border where visible physical modifications to the terminal demonstrate the impact on space, passenger flow, etc. A key part of the programme was the exchange between participating ports themselves, sharing experiences, challenges and solutions around everything from cruise operations and terminal infrastructure to EES, border requirements and the realities of managing cruise alongside other maritime activities. The exchange concluded with a lunch at the cruise terminal, where Felison is celebrating the parent company's 150th anniversary, 25 years of cruise operations in IJmuiden, and a record year for cruiseships, highlighted by Alexander Coesel, manager operations, Felison Terminal. “I would like to thank Amsterdam and IJmuiden for being very professional hosts. The objective of the port exchange programme is to learn from each other with a focus on operational topics. All delegates contributed brilliantly to this. The Cruise Europe Port Exchange & Educational Programme is here to stay,” commented Jens Skrede, managing director CE.