Gijon is expecting 15,124 passengers to call this year compared to 9,896 in 2012, an increase of just under 53%. 

Call numbers remain stable at nine, which signifies the arrival of larger ships. For example Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) Adventure of the Seas is calling for the first time on three calls.

Crew numbers are rising from 3,930 last year to an estimated 5,593 this year.

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.  

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 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.

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.

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.  

In 2009 Kristiansand received 15 calls which has risen to 53 this year and 74 next. This year Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas will call for the first time and next year the company will bring three different vessels to the Norwegian port. 

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. 

Dover welcomed inaugural visits from Royal Caribbean International’s Brilliance of the Seas and Azamara Club Cruises’ Azamara Journey on May 11 and 12 respectively. 

Brilliance of the Seas, accommodating 2,500 passengers with all cabins allocated, arrived in Dover on its penultimate disembarkationcall at Amsterdam the following day. All tours for this cruise took place in Kent and Sussex.  

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.