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The CE annual reception and pavilion buzzed with activity



Wednesday, April 26, 2023 - 13:54 by ce-press

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.”
The CE annual reception and pavilion buzzed with activity
Representatives from Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki at the CE reception (c) Susan Parker





Related port


Helsinki

Helsinki

Helsinki is one of the leading passenger ports in the Baltic. Helsinki received close to 303 cruise calls and nearly 600,000 cruise passengers last year. Helsinki is just an overnight cruise from St. Petersburg and Stockholm. Here ships can replenish their water supplies, stock up on high-quality food and offer passengers a uniquely charming stopping point in the Baltic. Helsinki’s South Harbour is conveniently located for cruise passengers and is considered one of the most beautiful passenger harbours in the world. Ships tie up in the heart of the city. Visitors have been favourably impressed by Helsinki’s cleanliness, friendliness, tidiness, beautiful buildings, sea and harbour.

Tallinn

Tallinn

Estonia is situated in Northern Europe, on the coast of the Baltic Sea, neighbouring Finland, Sweden, Latvia and Russia. Estonia is known above all for its beautiful capital of Tallinn. It’s no use hiding the fact: Tallinn is Northern Europe’s oldest capital city. Tallinn’s marvellous Old Town is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The unique value of Tallinn’s Old Town lies first and foremost in the wellpreserved completeness of the medieval milieu and structure, something that has been lost in most other northern capitals. The web of winding cobblestone streets and properties, which date from the 11th to 15th centuries, are preserved nearly in its entirety. All the most important state and church buildings from the Middle Ages have been preserved in their basic original form, as well as many citizens’ and merchants’ residences, along with barns and warehouses from the medieval period.

Stockholm

Stockholm

Stockholm, one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges. Here you will find everything you can wish for in a big city - culture, entertainment shopping and great restaurants. The beautiful buildings, the greenery, the fresh air and the proximity to the water are distinctive traits of this city. The Royal National City Park, (the first National City Park in the world), is a green space that breathes for the city, and a constant presence in the crush of the city. With its 750 year history and rich cultural life, Stockholm offers a wide selection of world-class museums and attractions. Among the city´s 100 museums is the Vasa Museum displaying the world´s only preserved 17th century warship. Most of the city's attractions can be reached on foot, and there’s a good chance of experiencing a lot of things in a short time. Experience big-city life, the history of civilization and natural scenery, all in the course of the same day.

Riga

Riga

More than eight hundred years have shaped the city’s unique appearance and rich traditions. Due to its attractive location, where East and West meets, Riga has always been a significant centre of trade, finance and culture, offering hundreds of ways of enticing visitors – its rich history, architecture, world-class opera, art galleries, museums, parks and gardens etc. Along with Art Nouveau architecture and 19th century wooden architecture, the Riga Old Town has been included on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Impressive leisure and cultural offer of Riga makes it one of the most popular waterfront cities, highly appreciated by cruise tourists, while the infrastructure providing excellent services is appreciated by cruise line operators.

Belfast

Belfast

Established in 1847, Belfast Harbour is Northern Ireland’s largest port handling 70% of the region’s seaborne trade. This includes 80% of Northern Ireland’s oil and petroleum imports and 1.4 million ferry passengers each year. Belfast Harbour is the largest ferry port in Northern Ireland handling 500,000 freight vehicles per year on the Stena Line services to Cairnryan, Liverpool and Heysham. Belfast Harbour is the largest cruise port in Northern Ireland with over 140,000 visitors each year. The Harbour Estate covers an area of 2,000 acres, representing 20% of the Belfast city area. Belfast Harbour has realised substantial growth in the number of cruise ships calling each year with 82 ship calls in 2016. The port can handle up to 3 cruise ships per day with the largest ship handled to date being the 330m Royal Princess. The Harbour has the longest deepwater quay in Ireland at 1 kilometre in length with a draft of 10.2 metres.

Cork

Cork

The sheltered deepwater of the Port of Cork is the natural entry point to many of Ireland's principal visitor attractions.Today Cork plays host many of the world's luxurious cruise liners which bring on average 80,000 passengers to the region per annum. Cobh, which is Ireland's only dedicated cruise berth is capable of handling some of the largest liners afloat today. Over the last twenty years the Port of Cork has invested up to €10 million in the cruise facilties at Cobh and today welcomes up to 50 or more liners each year. A cruise call to the Port of Cork provides passengers and crew with the ulitmate cruise experience - a facinating combination of pursuits from history to archaelogy, flora and fauna, golf, hillwalking, horse riding, beatuiful gardens, castles, period houses, shopping or simply relaxing with friendly and hospitable people. Once experienced a return visit is inevitable.

Galway

Galway

Port of Galway (53 16’N 009 03’W) Galway is a Tender Port. It is most central Port on the West Coast of Ireland – it is in the sheltered eastern corner of Galway Bay. Situated on the River Corrib, 53 16’N 009 03’W. British Admiralty charts 1904, 1984, 3339. Galway has been a passenger Liner Port since before 1845 and more recently in 1922 when the regular visiting ships were of Holland America Line and Cunard. Today, Holland America Line are still calling along with Companie du Ponant, P&O Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Silver Seas, Saga, Hapag Lloyd, Princess Cruises, Ambassador Cruises, Fred Olsen, Azamara, TUI Cruises and Regent Seven Seas.

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