Scrabster is expecting nine calls and an estimated 2,888 passengers this year compared to 10 and 2,234 respectively in 2012. Total gross tonnage has risen from 79,403 to 116,262 in the same period indicating the arrival of larger vessels.
Submitted by CE-Press on 17 December 2012 - 6:16pm
Today Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral called Oslo on a Christmas cruise with P&O Cruises’ Oriana docking the week before (see photo).
Margrethe Austad, marketing manager cruise Port of Oslo, commented that the latter found the cruise easy to sell. While snow cannot be guaranteed, last year the port together with Oslo Cruise Network arranged for Santa Claus to be at the pier along with musicians.
This year there were 166 calls in total, 10 having been rerouted elsewhere due to the pilots’ strike earlier in the year.
The port of Lisbon states that December 2012 will be the “best ever”. The largest number of calls and cruise passengers to date will arrive during this winter month at 24 and 40,000 respectively.
Cork aims for 80 calls a year as 2013 goes beyond 60
Submitted by CE-Press on 13 November 2012 - 5:21pm
The Port of Cork welcomed P&O Cruises’ Adonia on November 6 marking the end of the 2012 season. This brought the total number of calls this year to 57, a record for the port so far. Home to Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth, the city welcomed almost 100,000 passengers and crew.
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.
As a result of the growing increase in traffic, in 2012 the Bilbao Port Authority will commence the building of a new cruise terminal with a third berthing line. The works are scheduled for completion mid way through 2014 at an estimated cost of E17.6 million.
The new terminal will have a 27,400m² land surface area, be 76m wide and 355 mlong with a 12m draught. The project includes building a second passenger maritime station and an underground car park.
Vigo had a record year in 2011 when the sea became the main gateway for tourism in the city. There were 118 calls bringing more than 250,000 passengers and 100,000 crew to the city.
This year the Spanish port is expecting 262,000 passengers which is a 5.5% increase on 2011.
Riga is looking forward to a prosperous cruise season with calls expected to reach 92, up 33% on the 69 of 2011.
This number may increase further according to Laura Apoga, marketing specialist cruise and passenger division Freeport of Riga Authority, if Delpin comes to the region.
Aurland Harbor Authority (AHA) is expanding the cruise terminal in Flam to improve crew facilities at the pier. From May 2012, the terminal building will house an indoor crew lounge with a free and improved Wi-Fi zone as well as toilet facilities.
The Norwegian port is expecting 151 calls and 205,000 passengers this year. Nine ships will be calling for the first time: MSC Magnifica, Pullmantur’s Empress, Costa Fortuna, Celebrity Eclipse, Caribbean Princess, P&O Cruises’ Adonia, Clipper Odyssey, Caledonian Sky and Compagnie du Ponant’s Le Boreal.
