News Archive

22/05/2023

Small is beautiful pays off for Harlingen

There are many cruise ports around the world that regularly enjoy calls in excess of 200 per year, including even the largest ships. Then there are others, such as Harlingen situated north of Amsterdam, in the Friesland region of Holland, which is so tiny, it has to fight every step of the way to receive just one call. Harlingen is unique. The port was integral to the Dutch Golden Age of shipping and exploration going back to the 1300’s. In addition, the approach is from the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right, due to the thousands of species of sea-life that make the area their home. Such is the approach to the port, only ships of up to a maximum of 160m length overall can call, making it ideal for specialist small-ship and expedition companies to call. Due to the Wadden Sea approach, the nearest suitable tendering point is 15 nm away, which is too far for passengers. Harlingen is , therefore, celebrating receiving three different cruiselines in a single week: on May 1 Hurtigruten’s Fridtjof Nansen called, to be followed two days later by Plantours’ Hamburg, and soon afterwards Grand Circle’s Clio. Kathe Kuperus, managing director Cruise Port Harlingen, comments: “We are very fortunate to have the backing of the municipality which is very keen to receive ocean going cruiseships in addition to our regular river cruise programme and supports the operation accordingly. In addition, because the port is so small, the ships all stand out magnificently and so residents are keen to come out and welcome the guests.” Joint managing director Janneke Nieuwhof adds: “Everything in the town is so close for people to go on guided walking tours of the old town but, more popular with expedition lines, is the ability to tour the town on the canals using the ships’ own zodiacs. In addition, there are so many sites close by, ranging from the world’s oldest planetarium to Leeuwarden - European Capital of Culture 2018 - and the 32km Afsluitdijk, keeping the people of the Dutch lowlands dry. UK-based port and destination consultant David Selby, who is helping the port, adds: “I only work with destinations that I believe have potential and where I know the cruiselines can make it work and guests will have a great time. Covid got in the way of progress, but our efforts are really starting to pay off. It’s not just one call per season, but several, which makes a significant difference.” Next year is already starting to look like it will outstrip 2023, so its onwards and upwards for Harlingen.

17/05/2023

RECORD CRUISE SHIP VISIT CHRISTENS NEW BERTH AT PORTLAND PORT

Portland Port has today welcomed a record 5,000 passengers in the first cruise call at its newly developed deep-water berth. The MSC Virtuosa has brought the greatest number of guests of any single vessel visiting the port so far. She is the first cruise ship to use the port’s new berth, which is part of a £26m redevelopment project to boost capacity and drive growth. Passengers have taken complimentary buses into Weymouth and the local area during the 12-hour stop over by the MSC Virtuosa. Ian McQuade, Portland Port’s commercial general manager, said: “The arrival of the MSC Virtuosa marks a major milestone for the port. “She has brought the greatest number of passengers of any single cruise ship by some margin, considerably more than our previous record of 3,500. “Guests from the ship have used our fleet of over 12 complimentary buses to explore the local area and its attractions. “They are among a record 130,000 guests who will be visiting Portland on cruise ships this year.” He added: “It is exciting to see our new berth in operation for the first time as part of the largest ever investment in the port and its infrastructure. “Increasing our capacity and facilities is key to the development of the port, its continued growth and our ability to build upon our contribution to the local economy, which stands at about £10m from cruise calls alone.” Redevelopment of deep-water quays at the port will enhance its cruise and cargo handling operations as well as its service provision to vessels including those from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. It will enable the port to meet rising demand and keep ahead of the trend for increasing sizes of cruise ships, including liners of up to 350m in length. As well as 5,000 passengers, the MSC Virtuosa has 1,500 crew aboard. She calls into the island on a four-day ‘Portland and Cherbourg Getaway’ from Southampton. The MSC Virtuosa measures 331m in length, 43m across her beam and is 65m in height. Her tonnage is 181.541 and she has a maximum speed of 22.2 knots. She last visited Portland in 2021 when she was the first cruise ship to call after the onset of the Covid pandemic although with fewer passengers. She is due to return later this year. The Weymouth Concert Brass were due to play and Nothe Fort cannons fire at the vessel’s departure today. The MSC Virtuosa is the fourth cruise call of the year at Portland, and is the first of 18 calls between now and the end of May. She follows calls by the Holland America Lines’ MS Zuiderdam and Hurtigruten’s MS Otto Sverdrup, which both made their inaugural visits to the port when they stopped on consecutive days earlier in April, the latter of which returns to Portland again on Sunday.

15/05/2023

HPA and TUI Cruises sign long-term cooperation agreement for shore power

Hamburg Port Authority press release: The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) and TUI Cruises have signed a long-term cooperation agreement to supply the ships of the TUI Cruise Group with shore power. The agreement includes all ships of the TUI Cruises brand, such as "Mein Schiff 4" and "Mein Schiff 6" as well as the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises brand such as the "Hanseatic Spirit", the "Nature" and the "Europa 2". Hamburg's Economics Senator Dr. Melanie Leonhard: “The shore power supply in the port of Hamburg is a role model throughout Europe. It helps us significantly on our way to reducing climate impact if the ships get their electricity from renewable energies on land while they are here. This is a perspective for the entire shipping industry - I am delighted that TUI Cruises is leading the way with us on this path!" “Thanks to the conclusion of the contract, a significant proportion of cruise ship calls in the Port of Hamburg can now be supplied with shore power. In this way, together with TUI Cruises, we are making a strong contribution to keeping the air clean and avoiding CO2 emissions in the Port of Hamburg,” says Jens Meier, CEO of HPA. The first attempt with shore power supply took place today, May 15th, at the Altona cruise terminal with the "Mein Schiff 4". "Thanks to the green shore power supply here in Hamburg, we have come a good deal closer to achieving our climate protection goals, i.e. significantly reducing our absolute CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 2019," says Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. About the Hamburg Port Authority: The Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) has been operating a future-oriented port management from a single source since 2005 and is active wherever efficiency, safety and profitability are concerned in the Port of Hamburg. The HPA meets the growing demands of the port with intelligent and innovative solutions. The HPA is responsible for the efficient, resource-saving and sustainable planning and implementation of infrastructure measures in the port and is the contact for all questions regarding the water and land-side infrastructure, the safety and ease of shipping traffic, the port railway facilities, real estate management and the economic conditions in the harbour. The HPA provides the necessary areas for this and assumes all sovereign tasks and port services. It markets special, port-specific expertise and also represents Hamburg's port interests at national and international level. www.hamburg-port-authority.de Contact: Hamburg Port Authority AöR | Press Office | Phone: +49 40 42847-2300 | E-mail: pressestelle@hpa.hamburg.de

12/05/2023

Foyle Port Doubles Cruise Calls in 2023

Foyle Port has announced it has welcomed its first cruise ship of 2023 on the 12th of May. The Port, which is the gateway to the North West of Ireland, welcomed Seabourn Ovation as she visited Lough Foyle. This marks the start of the 2023 cruise season when the port will welcome more than double the cruise ships compared to last year. The luxurious 210m Ovation has capacity of 600 guests and 450 crew members. Guests onboard the Ovation explored the North West as part of a 14-day round trip from Dover, England. Foyle Port’s Chief Executive, Brian McGrath said, “We are thrilled to begin our 2023 cruise season with the welcome arrival of the Seabourn Ovation. We are delighted to have doubled our cruise calls this year with 15 ships and a total of 10,600 passengers from now until October. It’s fantastic to see the demand in leisure vessels returning following what has been a very challenging time for the industry and we look forward to welcoming international visitors to our beautiful North West shores.” The port will receive maiden calls from eight ships this year, including the newly refurbished Renaissance making her inaugural voyage under French cruise company, Compagnie Française de Croisières. Luxury cruise line Explora Journeys is set to launch a brand-new cruise ship, Explora I, on 17th July 2023 and will visit Foyle Port in its second ever week of cruising. Other prestigious cruise lines scheduled to call at the port include Azamara Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Silversea Cruises. The port is located in Derry-Londonderry which is Ireland’s only completely intact historic Walled City, home to award-winning museums and some of the greatest outdoor festivals in the world. Foyle Port also provides a starting point for some of Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s most magnificent areas of outstanding natural beauty including County Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way and County Antrim’s Causeway Coastal Route. Visit Derry’s Chief Executive, Odhran Dunne said, “With the number of cruise calls doubling this year, it is encouraging to see the cruise market return strongly as the global tourism industry continues to rebound. The Walled City continues to draw visitors from across the world thanks to the quality of our tourism offering, which is going from strength to strength. There is no doubt, cruise ships represent an important part of the visitor market to the city and region, bringing thousands of additional visitors to enjoy a range of bespoke tours across the North West or enjoy the city at their leisure. Visit Derry looks forward to working in partnership with Foyle Port to provide a warm welcome and visitor information shoreside to all the cruise passengers and crew arriving this season.” Niamh McCarthy, Managing Director of Excursions Ireland added, “We are always so honoured and excited to be a part of the operations in this wonderful port in one of the most spectacular regions on our beautiful island. As the local tour operator, we have come a long way since the 1990’s when the first of the ships called in this region. Through the wonderful work of the port authority and tourist information centre this area has become a firm favourite for visiting overseas cruise lines. We look forward to showing these guests all the gems that the North West of Ireland has on offer through the various shore excursions we provide to the cruise lines. We are delighted to kick start with the stunning Seabourn Ovation when she arrives on the 12th May and look forward to another successful season.”

27/04/2023

The cruise season starts at the Porto Cruise Terminal

2023 cruise season has started at the Port of Leixões (Porto Cruise Terminal) and in the first days of April, three ships visited the port for the first time. On April 13, the Lindblad’s National Geographic Resolution made the inaugural call at Leixões during her 5 days voyage from Lisbon to Bordeaux with around 120 passengers on board. This itinerary also included visits to Vilagarcia de Arousa, Coruña, Bilbau, Saint-Jean-de-Luz and San Sebastian de la Gomera. The 2021-built cruise ship is the second Lindblad-National Geographic cruise line's vessel of the "Ulstein X-Bow" series, designed to explore polar and temperate regions. Among other amenities, the ship has a dedicated expedition staff, including undersea specialist, NatGeo photographer, NatGeo certified photo instructor and a video chronicler so that its passengers enjoy incredible experiences whether on board or ashore. On April 20, our Porto Cruise Terminal welcomed the AIDAperla cruise ship and almost 3.300 passengers, of which 1.300 were children or young people up to 18 years old. This is a family-friendly cruise and the on-board activities are aimed particularly at families with children. AIDAperla arrived at the Porto Cruise Terminal as part of her 26-day journey themed as "Easter" from La Romana, in the Dominican Republic to Hamburg, in Germany. This itinerary also includes several ports in the Caribbean, the Canary Islands, Funchal, Vigo and Le Havre. AIDAperla was launched in 2017 with 300m in length for Aida Cruises and is the second of two in the Hyperion-Class series, together with the sister-ship AIDAprima. On the same day, our port welcomed the Hurtigruten’s expedition ship FRIDTJOF NANSEN. The ship was on a 12-day trip from Lisbon to Hamburg with around 400 passengers on board. The MS Fridtjof Nansen is the second cruise ship in the world with hybrid propulsion and designed for polar expedition voyages. This cruise vessel class was purposefully designed for Norwegian coastal and Polar expedition cruises (Arctic and Antarctica itineraries). Among other amazing amenities, the MS Fridtjof Nansen features the Nansen Science Centre, which is a large "scientific lounge" (research lab) packed with high-tech gadgets, including microscopes and touch screens, and latest digital technology equipment for passengers. Almost 140 cruise ship calls are announced to visit the port in 2023, including 16 new ships, which will bring to Porto and to the North of Portugal Region nearly 180.000 passengers.

26/04/2023

CE creates OPS database to enhance itinerary planning

Cruise Europe (CE) launched its active onshore power supply (OPS) database on the eve of Seatrade Cruise Global 2023 in Fort Lauderdale on March 27. Simone Maraschi, chair of the CE sustainability group, said: “This is a very comprehensive document containing technical information on ports in CE that have OPS already, or are planning on it. I hope all the cruiselines will use this very useful information for the planning of itineraries.” During the keynote address the following day, Pierfrancesco Vago, chairman Cruise Lines International Association, highlighted the fact that 40% of the global fleet capacity are equipped to use OPS but commented that “the ports are behind”. He will no doubt welcome this CE initiative. The ports, in turn, will be happy to hear that he, and many others, recognise that: “We need to talk together.” The database, compiled in conjunction with Cruise Baltic and Cruise Britain, lists 23 ports, alongside which are details, such as how the OPS is supplied, from what energy source, at which quays, the maximum power, voltage and frequency, connection times, the type of financing, applicable fees, discounts and incentives. Linden Coppell, vp sustainability & ESG MSC Cruises, said: “Every one of our newbuilds since 2017 has been fitted with shore power plug-in connectivity to reduce carbon emissions in port and we monitor closely those destinations that have pledged to be ready in future with the capability to provide onshore power. We welcome Cruise Europe’s initiative in creating a database in its geographical area to provide detailed information about onshore power which will benefit the cruise industry and the destinations that it serves.”   Whilst Maria Tauschke, head of shore operations, destinations at TUI Cruises, commented: “Cruising is a global business. The level of information and available equipment in the individual ports is often wide-ranging. A database that will consolidate those informations professionally and provides it to the industry within a single platform is a highly appreciated initiative. It is supporting and adding confidence to the itinerary and emission planning process. “This is a great initiative which shows not only the commitment of the individual ports investing into shore power, but also shows how effective regional networks of ports are collaboratively interacting towards a more sustainable tomorrow. ”   As well as being of benefit to the cruiselines, OPS can also contribute to localised environmental improvements to CE and CB member ports and surrounding areas by reducing harmful emissions from NOx, SOx and particulates associated with poor air quality and noise and vibration. Those ports with OPS already installed are: Alesund, Bergen, Hamburg (the first in 2016, 2023 and 2025), Kiel, Kristiansand, Rostock and Southampton. Akureyri is working on two connections whilst Aarhus is due to go live imminently. Stockholm is working on connections to be put into service this year and in 2024, while Rotterdam has committed to the second quarter 2024. Tromso which has OPS installed but only for smaller vessels up to 1MVA in voltage, is planning on installations in 2024 and 2027. Meanwhile Flam is aiming for 2024/25 but this is dependent on the regulations concerning the World Heritage fjords. In 2025 Copenhagen and Portsmouth will be ready. Trondheim estimates installation will take place between 2025 and 2030. The following day Monic van der Heyden, commercial director Cruise Port Amsterdam (ACP), added the quays of Amsterdam to the list. At the annual ACP breakfast hosting cruiselines and media, she said: “Starting in 2025, all cruiseships will be able to run on shore power at our quays,” adding: “Let us each commit to collaboration over competition and establish relationships that are rooted in sustainability.” CE chairman Michael McCarthy explained upcoming regulations: “By 2030, under the EU Fit for 55 package, all ports in the EU and visiting ships need to use OPS or an alternative means to power a ship whilst at berth instead of using their diesel generators.” Whilst it is generally accepted that not all ports can or need to support such installations, future cruiseline planning will undoubtedly be more focused on creating itineraries based around those ports with OPS installations. *Please contact CE managing director Jens Skrede on jens@cruiseeurope.com to receive more detailed OPS information by email.

26/04/2023

The CE annual reception and pavilion buzzed with activity

Cruise Europe’s Monday evening reception has become a well-attended annual fixture at Seatrade Cruise Global. Taking place in Waxy O’Connor’s Irish pub, it was sponsored by the Nordic Capitals: Port of Tallinn, Port of Helsinki and Ports of Stockholm. Next year Cruise Europe (CE) may be looking for a larger venue as member ports and cruiselines turned up in high numbers. With Finland being named the happiest country in the world for the sixth year running by the UN’s World Happiness Report, attendees of all nationalities were certainly keen to join in with the Finnish spirit whilst networking and enjoying an Irish singer out on the terrace. For the next three days, the CE pavilion hosted numerous visitors from the cruiselines and other interested parties. Represented were: the Columbus Cruise Center; Cruise Ireland; Estonia; Finland; Holland; North Atlantic Agency; Port of Aalesund; Port of Antwerp Bruges; Ports of Nordfjord; Riga and partners; Sweden and the French Atlantic Ports. Gary Hall, secretary Cruise Ireland, commented: “The Cruise Ireland team were absolutely delighted to be back to full capacity on our own stand within the CE pavilion this year. The location of the stand was such that we were positioned strategically in quite a main thoroughfare to take advantage of visitors to the multiple ports and destinations within the CE family.     “We had many productive meetings with cruiselines, fellow ports and stakeholders throughout the week, both on our stand and using the CE shared meeting room, which we found very beneficial. As a group, we believe that this will lead to increased cruise business on the island of Ireland.    “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that collaboration is crucial. We heard it remarked from multiple customers that it was a breath of fresh air seeing the Irish ports and suppliers in one place.” Whilst Jelena Burdastova, business support specialist cruise segment at the Freeport of Riga, told CE that port representatives had had about 20 meetings with cruiseline executives: “There were conversations with current partners in order to evaluate their experience in Riga and discuss possibilities to make our cooperation even more successful. We have also addressed several cruiselines whose ships have not visited the port of Riga yet. “As a success of this year, we should mention the negotiations with a couple of cruiselines, which carry out exclusive cruises around the world, and which are planning to include Riga in their world cruise itineraries in 2025 and 2026.” In addition Riga’s development plans were shared: “Currently, the new terminal project for cruise passengers is underway – soon we will be able to accommodate cruise vessels in the city centre in a more sustainable and convenient way and make the port infrastructure more accessible to cruise passengers, as well as locals.”

13/04/2023

Busiest season yet opens at Lerwick

Meet-and-Greet team returns with Shetland welcome The first of almost 150 cruise ships expected to visit Lerwick this season arrived in the Shetland port today (Thursday 13 April 2023), with passengers being greeted on the quayside by an all-new meet-and-greet team. The 229 metre, 47,842 gross tonne Viking Venus, with capacity for around 930 passengers, berthed at Mair’s Pier for a full day visit. Melanie Henderson, Lerwick Port Authority Cruise & Marketing Manager, said: “Having a meet-and-greet team back on duty to welcome passengers, and the sheer number of bookings, show how far we have come since the Covid pandemic. The team has a huge input on passenger satisfaction and encouraging repeat business from cruise lines. “It means that the islands’ tourism network can look forward to its busiest cruise season yet, coinciding with another visit by the fleet of The Tall Ships Races, making for a great season. With strong bookings right through to 2026, the sector will continue to make a significant contribution to Shetland’s economy.” Viking Venus is on a 14-day voyage from London Tilbury to Bergen, Norway, the next port of call and will return on Monday 17 April for the reverse voyage and several more times this year. Viking Ocean Cruises’ is the port’s foremost cruise customer this season, with a total of 19 bookings, including visits from Viking Jupiter, Viking Mars and a maiden call of Viking Neptune on 21 May. A record 147 cruise ships are scheduled, with 21 maiden calls and repeat visits a feature, and there are lots of interesting ships to look forward to. It will mean the number of anticipated passengers expected is over 100,000, and the volume of shipping at around 6.2 million gross tonnes, reaching new highs. Six cruise ships will call during the visit by 38 sailing vessels in the Tall Ships Races (26-29 July), with three ships on one of the days, adding to the spectacle and atmosphere for visitors. The Port Authority cruise visit list can be viewed at https://www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk/sectors/cruise/2023

27/03/2023

Cruise Europe launches OPS survey

Today Cruise Europe, in conjunction with Cruise Baltic and Cruise Britain, has launched its active onshore power (OPS) database, detailing those ports in the Cruise Europe geographical area which are either onshore power ready, or will be within five years.

The database lists 23 ports, alongside which are details such as how the OPS is supplied, connection times, applicable fees, discounts and incentives.

Simone Maraschi, chair of Cruise Europe Sustainability Group, says: “While the industry's commitment to zero emission continues at a steady pace, the development of OPS systems will clearly play a key role in this process. More and more ports are offering OPS connections and more and more OPS systems are being designed in European ports.

“With this in mind, the collaboration between ports and cruiselines is crucial. Cruise Europe has therefore decided to create a database containing all (major) technical information on active OPS systems and those in the planning stage.”

The database will be constantly updated so that cruiselines have key information on both existing and the current development of OPS facilities. This will be a relevant tool in planning potential itineraries.

CE chairman Michael McCarthy comments: “By 2030, under the EU Fit for 55 package, all ports in the EU and visiting ships need to use OPS or an alternative means to power a ship whilst at berth instead of using their diesel generators. Availability of electricity from clean energy or low carbon sources ensures an overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

As well as being of benefit to the cruiselines, OPS can also contribute to localised environmental improvements to CE and CB member ports and surrounding areas by reducing harmful emissions from NOx, SOx and particulates associated with poor air quality and noise and vibration.

Cruise Europe and member partners can be found on stand 1623 and 1723 at Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort Lauderdale 27-30 March 2023

For further information, please contact:

Jens Skrede, managing director Cruise Europe,
on jens@cruiseeurope.com

or

Simone Maraschi, Chair Cruise Europe Sustainability Group,
on Simone.Maraschi@cgh.hamburg.de

14/03/2023

Collaboration and sustainability headline CEC Lisbon 2023

I wasn’t the only one to remark on the extra level of energy that seemed to be emanating from Cruise Europe members, cruiseline executives and the press as they gathered in Lisbon for the Cruise Europe Conference 2023. Covid-19 may have had a devastating effect on the industry but the desire for collaboration and the focus on sustainability, in all its forms, has been raised several notches. In his opening words, Antonio Caracol, member of the Board Port of Lisbon Authority, which hosted the event, said: “Today sustainability is a key point. We must find the balance between environmental, social and economic development based on a transparent and clearly continuous process that reduces the negative externalities but adds value to people, local communities and to the country, helping to build the present and the future.” Indeed, sustainability is the dominant question at the captain’s chat on board TUI ships according to Marcus Puttich, senior head of port management & operations, and Marie Blitza, director port operations Carnival Maritime, who noted that “it is becoming more and more important for younger guests of AIDA Cruises”. Sustainability was a theme that ran throughout a day which began on an uplifting note when Chris Allen, vp deployment and itinerary planning Royal Caribbean Group, commented that, after three years of difficulty and 2022 not panning out as well as was originally hoped due to geopolitical and post pandemic issues, there is better news: “Today we are back. In a recent earnings call, business has returned to normal. We have had record booking weeks. European bookings are at historic levels this year.” Despite this welcome news, it must be noted that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had a negative effect on a number of Baltic ports, particularly in the east. However cruiseline executive were keen to highlight that there is now an opportunity to remarket the region without St Petersburg as the big hitter. Susanna Capaccio, manager destination experiences Silversea Cruises, said: “There are great places to see without St Petersburg”. Whilst Gina Dunnett, director land product development Azamara, advised: “We need help with marketing material and images. We need to deliver a story, to get people excited about the Baltic. We need help with the selling part.” Allen agreed but said it would take time for consumers to understand just what is on offer: “We need to work collectively to get the message out.” And perhaps also just as we were all a little nervous of travelling as the pandemic receded, those fearful of crossing the pond will over time see that the Baltic is still a safe place to travel. The desire to work together, whether from the lines or the destinations, kept on bubbling to the surface in all areas including sustainability. Allen commented: “We need to champion communities and the environment, partnering locally with not only the supply chain, but tours also. And on health, safety and security, moreso than ever post-Covid. We all need to work together. There is no one size fits all on sustainability.”

14/03/2023

OPS and fuels

Infrastructure too came under the spotlight, with onshore power (OPS) being a hot topic but one which is not a must-have for all ports as Puttich noted: “OPS is only one part of a lot of things to look at.” And Blitza explained that: “OPS is not the only choice of why we go to a port”. Over at Viking Cruises, executive director Nicolai Skogland, said that the fleet is OPS-ready and will plug in wherever it is possible, “even though it’s a higher cost, especially in northern European ports.” In this case, he encouraged ports to provide incentives such as the EPI. With the advent of LNG and the constant research for alternative fuels, there are different ways of a ship being in port whilst reducing the carbon footprint. Looking to the future Linden Coppell, vp sustainability & ESG MSC Cruises, explained: “Using a fuel cell [which generates energy whereas a battery stores energy] potentially can replace a combustion engine. “On [LNG-powered] MSC World Europa there is a very small fuel cell unit just to demonstrate what it can do, so that when we are coming to a place without OPS, we can still be zero emissions. We will still need a combustion engine for propulsion but not for the hotel load.” She added that fuel cells can operate on hydrogen and hence are “part of the road map to zero”. When it comes to alternative fuels, whether methanol, liquid hydrogen, biofuel etc, Coppell was keen to point out: “We don’t want to end up with a net zero ship but having shipped stuff from all over the world [ie causing problems elsewhere].” James Langley, operations director, Saga Cruises, voiced the importance of the stakeholders getting involved in dialogue now for future energy needs. And Coppell stated that as the whole energy transition will happen, it is important to “put infrastructure in place and not to worry about where the energy comes from, because it will be green”. Reassuringly she added: “We will still go to ports without and use our own energy.” Sascha Gill, vp sustainability and environment at CLIA, which has committed to being net carbon zero by 2050, demonstrated the enormity of the work being undertaken in terms of alternative fuels when he said: “A single future fuel that will be used in 2050 has not been found yet”. And one of CE chairman Michael McCarthy’s takeaways from the day’s discussions was that: “To get to 2050, it is more a suite of solutions, rather than one.” When it comes to offloading waste in ports, Blitza was keen to point out that there is a lot of room for development and would like to see new vendors with new ideas/technology re recycling, reusing etc: “We would be interested in more dialogue with vendors in the region.”

14/03/2023

A gangway cannot only be one way

The need for ports and destinations to work together as one and liaise with the cruiselines has never been more key. On berth allocation, Dunnett said: “I think itineraries should not be produced in a vacuum by a cruiseline. You don’t need to tell us who is in port but, for example, the size of the ship.” She also made a plea for more transparency and less promises of things which cannot be delivered: “At the end of the day the guests’ experience has to be number one and, as port citizens, you have to have a good experience too. You need to let us know how many passengers you can manage.” Justin Poulsen, vp itinerary planning & destination development Silversea Cruises, added: “We want to make sure that the business we do in a community is good for it. We know we create economic benefits but also that a lot goes out [side], so we want to make sure it stays in community.” And Dunnett advised that answering back the naysayers could be helpful: “People need to understand where all the money goes which comes from the cruiseships. Communicate to your communities what money has been spent where, for example, on school buildings.”

14/03/2023

And finally …

Hans Lagerweij, svp yachts Four Seasons Hotels and Seasons, told the delegates about what will be expected when the first of the company’s three 95-passenger yachts is delivered in December 2025. “I think this will attract a new audience to the industry with very specific needs in ports and destinations, such as nearby VIP airports and individualised tours. At Four Seasons, service is the central element.” Together with Ritz-Carlton, Aman and Orient, there are 10 ships scheduled in this new ‘yacht’ category which may well lead to opportunities for destinations able to cater to high end passengers. With 60 to 70 percent of CE member ports unable to take the big ships, here is another opportunity for the smaller destinations which can provide an ultra-luxury experience.

14/03/2023

Lisbon shows off its hosting credentials

Every year those lucky enough to attend the CEC find themselves in another port sampling the delights of what is on offer to potential passengers visiting. This year it was Portugal’s capital, Lisbon. This comes in the form of tours - the history of Fado, Lisbon by boat and the magnificent aqueduct - and restaurants - Cervejaria Trindade and La Distillerie - but also the operational in terms of organisation both by the host port and the tour operators. For many of us there is a chance to see the port facilities. In this case the gala dinner was held in the Lisbon Cruise Terminal which had been transformed for the final evening of socialising, networking and just having fun on the dance floor! Ana Lourenço, cruise and mega yacht department Port of Lisbon, and her team could not have looked after us better along with the excellent staff of Hotel Olissippo Oriente where the conference was held. Tania de Sales and her team from Wilhelmsen Port Services Portugal showed off not only what Lisbon had to offer in terms of tours and coach services but their organisation abilities. And next year it is Stockholm’s turn to host CEC at a date yet to be decided.

20/02/2023

Karlskrona calls are up more than 400 percent

In 2022 Karlskrona welcomed 37 calls - an increase of more than 400 percent on its previous five to 10 calls annually - and is on track for 25 this year with repeat bookings coming in for 2024 and 2025. Malin Hagberg-Andersson, guide and cruise coordinator Cruise Destination Karlskrona, says: “In the early part of the year, we had about 40 requests. A lot of these calls were from new companies, such as Viking, AIDA, Silversea and Hebridean. “The cruise lines were forced to change routes [because of the terrible Russian invasion of Ukraine and hence St Petersburg being taken off itineraries]. For us it has been an opportunity to show that we are worth not just one visit every 10 years but every year.” Karlskrona also benefited from Sweden being one of the only countries that remained open for cruises during the Covid-19 pandemic. “We had quite a few calls during the pandemic also. I think that was also like a starter for us. The word went around that we could handle both the bubble tours and the restrictions wanted from the ships.” This also had the benefit of preparing Karlskrona for the increase in call and passenger numbers. “It was easier for us because we didn’t have to let people go in the same way. We did all this marketing during the pandemic for stay at home vacations. The hotels had a very good year both in 2020 and 2021 so we were more prepared for the cruise passengers.” One problem that already existed was a lack of guides but the pandemic meant planned training could not take place until April 2022. “Since we got this massive call increase [and also for land based tours], we had to speed educate 30 people in two months. We then continued with the training in autumn 2022.” Karlskrona is built of 33 different islands with the central island being only 1km across and hence it is only five to 10 minutes walk to any one of the 30 attractions including the Naval Museum which is a sister to the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. The region is also known as the Garden of Sweden which means a wide variety of shore excursions spanning the historical and cultural to the natural. One of the keys to success, Hagberg-Andersson says is that the whole community is involved with and keen on having cruiseship calls. The fact that the city is the main base for the Swedish Navy and has a year-round daily ferry service to Poland means that the maritime world is embedded in the city’s nature. As well as a local cruise network, the port has a good relationship with the press which regularly gets in touch for local stories. On cruise call days, not only are Hagberg-Andersson and her colleague Therese Silver-Sorensen, guide & cruise assistant, on the quayside all day to greet their guests and receive feedback, but also a welcoming party in 18th century costume and regular locals who come to talk to the passengers. “They love it when the ships are coming. It is really positive for all the people of Karlskrona.” The feedback is also invaluable in making sure the ships keep returning: “The reasons guests give for enjoying Karlskrona is that it is so clean and that there is so much to offer within a short distance.” It seems that many passengers choose to return, especially the Germans who can return by ferry. Prior to the pandemic, about 50% of the passengers were American, 40% British and 10% Germans but now that split is 25%, 25% and 50% respectively. The fact that Karlskrona is mainly a tender port shows the strength of the destination. The largest ship to call last year was MSC Poesia.

20/02/2023

Honfleur plans shorepower as numbers grow

Honfleur may be a small town of 6,000 inhabitants but it receives 5.2 million visitors a year, which includes those from both cruise and river ships. Since 2013, when the cruise terminal was inaugurated at Quai en Seine #3, calls have increased on a regular basis, reaching 60 and 42,000 passengers in 2019. Despite pandemic recovery still taking place, there are 31 calls booked this year including from Windstar Cruises which is visiting for the first time. Next year 40 are already scheduled. Ships up to 260m in length with a 9m draught can come alongside the main quay #3 and those up to 180m and 9m draught on the secondary quay #1. The plan is to equip the terminal quay with shore power capability. “Given our activity and the size of the ships we receive, the solution chosen is a mobile unit,” explains Jerome Radanovic, cruise promotion Honfleur Terre d’Estuaire.   This €7 million investment is primarily for cruiseships but could extend to commercial ships also. The project is being carried out by Haropa Port which is providing the majority of the financing but assisted by the French government, the town and tourist office of Honfleur.   Silver Dawn, Ocean Odyssey and SH Diana will make first time calls to Honfleur this summer.

20/02/2023

Seydisfjordur looks forward to even more calls

Seydisfjordur is expecting 114 calls this year, compared to 74 in 2022. Of these 21 were first time calls from ships such as Viking Saturn, Seabourn Ovation, AIDAsol, Jewel of the Seas, Celebrity Silhouette and Sylvia Earle. This is the highest number of calls the Icelandic port has had to date, says Adalheidur Borgporsdottir, marketing director Ports of Mulathing, who attributes a part of the increase to the situation in Europe generally and also to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In 2020, a new municipality was formed, Mulathing, which encompasses 5,000 people and the small port towns of Seydisfjordur, Djupivogur and Borgarfjordur. Two weeks ago a website was launched - www.portsofmulathing.is - to showcase to the cruise industry what the region has to offer in terms of facilities and tourism. There are two main berths in Seydisfjordur: Strandarbakki pier which has a length of 170m and a depth of 10m; and Bjolfsbakki pier 150m/7m respectively. This summer a smaller pier, Angro, will be ready where ships of up to 120m will be able come alongside (150m long and 7m depth). The port is also planning to enlarge the main berth from 170m to 380m within the next five years. For ships on anchorage there is a tender pier close to the two berths above. This summer international flights to Frankfurt are being established at the Egilsstadir airport just 20 minutes’ drive from Seydisfjordur.

20/02/2023

A Coruna breaking records year on year

Last year was a record in cruise traffic for the Port of A Coruna with a total of 222,723 passengers arriving on board 136 calls, up from the previous record of 184,069 passengers and 121 calls in 2017. In 2022 there were 20 double call days and three triple call days. Other highlights included inaugural calls from Disney Magic, Valiant Lady, Iona and Carnival Celebration on her maiden voyage. Autumn saw the most intense activity of 2022, with spring a close second. There were 24 calls in October - a record monthly figure - and 21 in September. April and May saw 19 and 18 calls respectively. “These figures highlight the important role the port plays in deseasonalising the city’s tourism industry,” explains Samantha Garcia-Carro de la Colina, head of commercial Port of A Coruna. The president of the port authority, Martin Fernandez Prado, stressed the major economic impact this large number of visitors had on the city, estimated to be €20 million-plus. Cruiseship traffic is seen as a major driver for promoting the city and the principal point of entry for international tourism. Fernandez Prado considers these figures to be “the excellent results of the intense commercial activity aimed at attracting business, with the invaluable help of tour operators and agents, whilst at the same time consolidating the loyalty of existing clients thanks to our excellent standards of service and ongoing improvements to our facilities”. This year more than 140 calls are scheduled, which include 24 multiple call days, including five triples. P&O Cruises’ Arvia will make an inaugural call with 14 more scheduled this year. Also visiting A Coruna for the first time will be Viking Saturn and Oceania Cruises’ Vista. When it comes to attractions, A Coruna will be the first port of call for the Tall Ships Race this year which is paying tribute to the Magellan-Elcano expedition, the first voyage around the world completed more than 500 years ago.

20/02/2023

Cruiseship calls up 50% and sustainable initiatives being implemented in Edinburgh and Dundee

Cruiseship calls in 2023 for Forth Ports’ Capital Cruising business on Scotland’s east coast are set to jump by 50%, with around 150 (2022:100), carrying an estimated 225,000 passengers, expected to visit Edinburgh and Dundee and the surrounding area this year. Rob Mason, head of cruise for Capital Cruising in Scotland, comments: “The Cruise Europe Conference in Edinburgh last year was hugely successful in boosting our profile and supporting our growth at a crucial time when the industry restarted in earnest last year.” The 2023 season begins on April 11 with the arrival of Viking Venus into the deep anchorage near Newhaven with passengers visiting the attractions of Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. The ships will sail directly into the Port of Leith, Rosyth and Dundee’s cruise berth as well as to anchorages in the River Forth for Newhaven and South Queensferry. The 2023 Dundee season will see a bumper year for the city with 14 cruise calls booked, starting on May 13 with the arrival of Ambition. In 2022, the port welcomed four cruise ships. The 2022 season welcomed over 100 cruise calls and 26 inaugural ship visits to Scotland. The Tallink Victoria 1 Cruise Ferry which is currently being provided by the Scottish government as safe accommodation for displaced people from Ukraine, is the first cruise vessel to receive a shorepower connection within the Imperial Dock in the Port of Leith. By switching to shore power, the vessel is now able to switch off all of its fossil fuel powered generators, and with Forth Ports’ electricity being provided through non fossil fuel generation, this is a significant step forward on the journey to net zero for the port. Commenting, Rob Mason, head of cruise Forth Ports, says: “It is brilliant to see the cruise industry return so strongly and continue to grow this year and we are extremely pleased that we have provided the Victoria 1 Cruise Ferry with shore power.” In line with the cruise industry’s commitment to sustainable tourism practices, EZ Bike Tours are now located next to the port providing environmentally-friendly electric bike tours of the city.

20/02/2023

New member: North Cape

North Cape has rejoined Cruise Europe after an absence of a few years. The Norwegian port is looking forward to 184 calls this year, compared to 134 in 2022. The port has three quays available for cruiseships ranging in length from 70m to 155m and depths from 5.7m to 12m. At present there is one tender pier for ships at anchor. All are just a short walk from the city centre. The maximum size for a ship alongside is 360m and on anchorage there is no limit. A new tender pier, 1.2nm from the anchorage, is going to be installed and ready in May 2023. The cost of this project will be roughly NKr 1.5 million (€0.14 million), all of which will be covered by the port. “This pier is being built to make the arrival/departure for the cruise guests more comfortable and safer. There has been a big demand of this kind of infrastructure where the tender pier is closer to the tour busses and hence improves the logistics,” says Oyvind Larsson, port captain, Ports of North Cape. Tourist information and two souvenir shops are located in the port. Public toilets are only 150-300m walk beyond the perimeter. Free WiFi is available within the port. This year Swan Hellenic will be visiting for the first time (with SH Diana). North Cape has a wide variety of shore excursions on offer, from guided bus trips to king crab safaris, including hiking tours, bird safaris, museum and art galleries. In addition, passengers can go in search of The Northern Lights by car, snowmobile, ATV or on foot. There are activities to suit all the passengers visiting. For example, the newest shore excursion is a guided tour of the fish factory visitor centre. All ages and capabilities are welcome to witness live the everyday work of a fishing business.

09/02/2023

Lerwick's cruise season makes a strong comeback

A combination of repeat visits and maiden calls at Lerwick Harbour will contribute to what is expected to the busiest cruise season yet at the Shetland port in 2023. There are currently 145 ships booked to call, representing around 6.5M gross tonnes of shipping – a record in terms of numbers and tonnages – with the first, National Geographic Explorer, due on Thursday 2 March. Melanie Henderson, Lerwick Port Authority Cruise Manager, said: “Not only are we continuing to make a strong comeback above pre-Covid-19 levels, but the number of repeat visits and the first-time arrivals reflect the popularity of Lerwick and Shetland as a destination which helps support the island’s important tourism network.” With vessel itineraries subject to change as the season develops, it is estimated over 100,000 passengers will arrive at Lerwick before the final vessel, AIDAluna, arrives on Wednesday 11 October. This season’s cruise list shows the port is fast becoming a destination-of-choice for repeat visits by cruise lines, including AIDA Cruises (16 calls), Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (9 calls), Ponant Cruises (12 calls) and Viking Ocean Cruises (19 calls) amongst the highest this year. This year will see 21 maiden calls, with inaugural seasons for new build ships SH Diana and Scenic Eclipse II. Swan Hellenic, Scenic and MSC's Explora Journeys are amongst the new cruise brands visiting this season. Ambition, which is being introduced this season, is the second vessel for British-based Ambassador Cruise Line. The largest ship will be Norwegian Cruise Lines, Norwegian Getaway at 145,655 gross tonnes, due on Saturday 23 September. A bonus for visitors in late July will be the spectacle of sailing vessels participating in the international Tall Ships Races and the lively atmosphere in the town centre. Six cruise ships will call during the event (26-29 July), with three in a single day. The Port Authority's cruise list can be viewed at https://www.lerwick-harbour.co.uk/sectors/cruise/2023

02/02/2023

Porto Cruise Terminal set a record for cruise ship calls

A record number of cruise ships visited the Porto Cruise Terminal in 2022 as the industry recovered rapidly in the wake of Covid-19. The two cruise terminals welcomed 112 cruise ship calls (11 more than in the last full pre-pandemic seasons in 2018 and 2019), which brought 108.626 passengers to Porto and the North of Portugal Region. Despite having had more cruise calls, the Porto Cruise Terminal did not set a new record in the number of cruise passengers, primarily due to health protocols on board. In the first months of 2022, cruise ships sailed with a significantly lower occupancy than the norm. Nevertheless, the number of passengers was 22.5% higher compared to 2019 and only surpassed by the numbers of 2018 (-7%), which was so far the best year ever. Total GT numbers recorded in 2022 exceeds 6 million, 56% higher than in 2019 and 33% more compared to 2018, numbers never reached before as the port is welcoming more and more larger cruise ships. Of the 112 cruise ships that visited Porto Cruise Terminal throughout last year, 22 were new to the port including the debut of Disney Cruise Line operations. In addition, there were 6 turnaround operations. Porto Cruise Terminal is on track to break these records again in 2023 as currently, about 140 cruise ship calls are announced to visit the port, which will bring to Porto and North of Portugal nearly 180.000 passengers.

26/01/2023

TALLINN – EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2023 KICKS OFF TO SHARE ITS EXPERTISE ON SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION

The title of European Green Capital was handed over to Tallinn at the opening ceremony on January 21st by Virginijus Sinkevičius, the EU Commissioner for the Environment, and Éric Piolle, the mayor of Grenoble, European Green Capital 2022. Tallinn impressed the international jury with their systemic approach to green governance and interlinked strategic goals, which reflect the ambitions of the European Green Deal. As one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tallinn is characterized by a diverse and mosaic nature of its landscapes and communities, which also serve as habitats for rare species. During the Green Capital Year, Tallinn’s main themes are biodiversity, sustainable governance, and climate and green innovation. “The title of green capital gives us an ideal opportunity to formulate goals, create a network and choose better means to make Tallinn a greener and more sustainable city. The green capital year provides a good opportunity to involve people and organizations to growing Tallinn’s green and innovative development. We want to build a strong foundation so that the benefits and impact of the title year stay with us and do not fade when the year is over,” Mr. Mihhail Kõlvart, Mayor of Tallinn said. The Tallinn European Green Capital program offers environmental activities for all Tallinn residents and guests, including more than 60 events. In addition to a full programme of events throughout, Tallinn will also contribute to changes in the urban space. The project Green Tracks (Rohejälg) involves activities that aims to improve the quality of green areas, bring more greenery to the city and improve the spatial quality in areas with high use, support the development of green networks within the city and experiment with new spatial solutions by reorganising the urban space and creating prototypes. „Spatial experimentation is an important part of the project in order to discern citizens’ readiness to accept new solutions and receive feedback in order to learn and develop from these experiences together. Among other things, the Town Hall Square will temporarily be turned into a pop-up park and the students at the Estonian Academy of Arts will be experimenting with climate-sensitive spatial solutions and creating prototypes for improved spatial objects like street furniture and traffic signs,” Hannes Aava, Head of the Green Tracks Programme said. Experience Tallinn’s sustainable way of life You are welcome to visit and explore biodiverse, innovative and sustainable Tallinn during the European Green Capital year. Special Tallinn – European Green Capital 2023 media tours will be provided for foreign journalists. For more information and registration contact kaidi.aher@tallinnlv.ee. European Green Capital 2023: Key events 20.01 Sustainable cities conference “Fantastic Creatures: Making European Cities Safe, Inclusive, Resiliant and Sustainable” 21.01 European Green Capital 2023 Opening Ceremony March: Green Dishes in Tallinn Restaurant Week 12.04 MELT innovation Forum 9.05 Biodiverse European Day 27.–28.05 Future Forum on the cities of the future 1–18.09 Tallinn’s Urban space festival 2.–4.06 Tallinn’s Old Town Days and the special green old town program 30 June–2 July Environmentally friendly Youth Song and Dance Festival 31 August–17 September World Clean Up Day regional campaign to clean the Baltic Sea October: European Green Capital Award Ceremony 14–17 November Greentech week: Cleantech Forum Europe, Greentech Expo, Green Tiger Conference, and the Smart City Convention November: Black Nights Film Festival’s Tallinn European Green capital 2023 program December: European Green Capital 2023 Closing Ceremony Additional info: greentallinn.eu/en/events

20/01/2023

CRUISE SHIPPING IN HAMBURG: THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2022 SEASON - NEW EPISODE OF THE "HAMBURG CRUISE NEWS"

Christmas and 2023 are just around the corner - an excellent time to look back on the Hamburg cruise season 2022 with its many highlights, events and emotional moments. Have fun watching our new episode of the "Hamburg Cruise News"! WATCH THE VIDEO at our HAMBURG CRUISE NEWS YouTube Channel. We are looking forward to an equally moving cruise season 2023 in Hamburg with many more highlights: 284 calls, nine maiden calls, the 834th Hamburg Port Anniversary (5-7 May 2023) and the Hamburg Cruise Days (8-10 September 2023).