A milestone in the development of Greenock Ocean Terminal’s cruise operations was reached this month with the successful operation of its first international fly/cruise from the terminal.
Passengers were flown by charter flight from Finland to Glasgow International Airport with 450 embarking Kristina Cruises’ Kristina Katarina following the short transfer to Greenock Ocean Terminal (GOT).
Saga’s newest ship, Saga Sapphire, made an inaugural call to Guernsey on August 28 although inclement weather prevented the traditional plaque exchange that comes with a first visit taking place.
Earlier this month Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth docked near Castle Cornet, the island’s ancient royal fortress. In October Queen Mary 2 will call returning on November 17 for the last call of the season.
One year after the inauguration of the new pier in Leixoes, the number of passengers is more than double the 13,000 recorded in 2011.
About 29,000 cruise passengers visited Oporto during the first half of 2012. The 118% growth in passenger numbers is the result of both an increase in the number of calls but also the dimension of vessels calling.
Norway saw two of Cunard's liners together in the country for the first time this week as both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria sailed through the fjords.
Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth are pictured here at Flam, near Sognefjord, where they called for a day. The Cunard Line sisters saluted each other several times with the echoes of their whistles reverberating through the mountains for long periods after the initial blasts.
Elsinore’s harbour area is undergoing renovation at a total cost of DKr1bn (E134.5m) with the work scheduled to be finished in 2013.
As part of the development a new quay, Kings Quay,with a length of 143m and depth of 7m was opened in 2011 and can accommodate ships up to 150m in length. A second quay, Ophelia Quay, is now available with a length of 170m and depth of 5.5m. Both are within minutes of the city centre.
Calls to Trondheim this year show a 40% increase on 2011 numbering 59 which is a record for the Norwegian port.
“This is the highest number of calls in Trondheim since the early eighties when the cruise vessels were of a different dimension than today’s heavyweights,” says Kirsti Ostensjo, marketing manager cruise Trondheim Havn.
Passenger numbers look likely to break records also. Sailing at maximum capacity, the 59 calls will bring almost 80,000 passengers. The current passenger record was 58,076 in 2010.
Submitted by CE-Press on 22 February 2012 - 10:13am
Costa Cruises has cancelled two of the 31 calls booked to Oslo this year due to Costa Magica being repositioned to the Mediterranean to fulfill Costa Concordia’s schedule.
The switch has resulted in Bergen losing eight calls, Geiranger seven, Stavanger five and North Cape two calls.
Nevertheless, Oslo is expecting 177 calls from 53 cruiseships carrying 318,000 passengers this season. Of the total number of calls, 13 are in the low season and for these Oslo Port Authority gives discount.
Seven ships calling Liverpool for the first time this year
Submitted by CE-Press on 11 January 2012 - 12:30pm
Seven ships are visiting the River Mersey, UK, for the first time in 2012.
Three of these belong to Saga, Saga Pearl, Saga Sapphire and Quest for Adventure. The remaining four are Princess Cruises’ Caribbean Princess, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAcara, P&O Cruises’ Adonia and Phoenix Reisen’s Albatros.
Le Havre has Christmas cruises and an extended season in its sights
Submitted by CE-Press on 23 November 2011 - 12:56pm
Le Havre has six calls booked this Christmas compared to one last year and the port is keen to not only attract more of these calls but extend the cruise season.
Valerie Dubuc, cruise director Cruise Le Havre, says: “One of our goals is to extend our cruise season throughout the year. I think there is a great potential for Christmas cruises.
The port is preparing an entertainment programme at the Cruise Terminal which includes mulled wine and hot chocolate. This December P&O Cruises’ Arcadia will call four times, Oriana once and Cunard Line’s Queen Mary 2 once.
