Vigo has made a new DVD detailing infrastructure, facilities and destinations which it took to Miami when visiting cruise companies in November. It was well received by executives according to Dolores Rois Orza, commercial manager Port of Vigo.
The Spanish port has suffered a downturn in call numbers over the past three years, falling from 118 in 2011 to 87 this year. This is partly due to Royal Caribbean International’s Independence of the Seas now spending six months in the Caribbean resulting in 20 less calls.
MSC Cruises’ MSC Lirica was the first to call at Aarhus’ new quay on April 1 which had a total of 19 calls last year. The 2012 season closed on September 8 with a call from Saga’s Saga Ruby.
In the past cruiseships called at the old container port but now there is a 400m-long quay with a depth of 10m just 10 minutes walk from the city centre.
This year Celebrity Constellation made seven overnight calls to Bilbao on its ‘wine route’. In all 50 calls were made to the Getxo Terminal which is just 15 minutes from Bilbao.
For the second year MSC Cruises’ MSC Opera, Iberocruceros’ Grand Mistral and Pullmantur’s Empress have all chosen to embark/disembark passengers.
Calls to Harwich this year numbered 36 (11 of which were transit) with at least 50 already booked for 2013, a rise of 40%. Next year will be the first time Fred Olsen Cruise Lines turns around. Black Watch will call four times during May and June.Thomson Cruises' Thomson Spirit made its last call to the port this season on September 26. The brand returned to the port on the east coast of England this year for the first time since 2009, making seven calls with six booked for 2013.
Passengers on Oceania Cruises' Marina enjoy overnight call in Dublin
Submitted by CE-Press on 17 September 2012 - 1:25pm
An overnight call in Dublin on September 9 gave passengers on Oceania Cruises’ Marina plenty of time to enjoy not only the city but also its environs. It also provided an opportunity to enjoy a Saturday night out and experience Irish hospitality at its best.
Tours orchestrated by Intercruises Shoreside and Port Services included art & antiques in Dublin; a guided walk in the city; a visit to Powerscourt Gardens; a tour of the Guiness Storehouse and a river cruise and city sights.
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).
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has chosen Antwerp to host its ‘Europa's Best’ culinary event for the third time.
The port is expecting 29 calls this year with ships spending a total of 44 days in port due to overnights from ships such as Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa and Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Journey with Explorer from Semester at Sea staying for six days.
MSC Cruises and Cruise & Maritime Voyages are calling the Belgian port for the first time this year with MSC Lirica and Marco Polo (pictured) respectively.
On June 2 the Norwegian pilots’ strike ended following agreement being reached on wage increases. The strike resulted in seven extra calls and 20,000 passengers for Gothenburg, all having been diverted from Oslo.
Five calls were transit bringing 12,000 passengers. Costa Cruises came for the first time and Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas turned around for the first time although having visited on a transit call previously.
On May 4 MSC Cruises’ MSC Opera sailed into the IJmond port in IJmuiden to a tremendous welcome. Her passengers were the first to embark at the 1,916m2 Felison Cruise Terminal which, less than a year ago, was only an idea but is now catering to partial turnarounds.
