In some northern European ports the season has started, so there are many things to tell and inform about.
Have a look at the latest featured cruise ports stories and press releases. Remember to send us your news and views. Once again to susanparkersp [at] gmail [dot] com or rgrizzle [at] avidcruiser [dot] com
Latest Featured Stories from our Destinations
Le Havre Leaves Good Impressions
Valerie Dubuc is convinced that Le Havre has what it takes to become a major turnaround port: easy access, an efficient and modern cruise terminal (with new facilities opening in March 2010), and plenty to see and do in the region.
There is a chance that you may never have heard of Klaipeda. That's because Lithuania's oldest city was closed to tourists until Soviet occupation ended in 1990.
Denmark's second-largest city, Aarhus appeals to so-called "culture vultures." That's because for tourists, Aarhus has a number of museums, big and small, that are worthy of a full day's visit — or longer.
Oslo is one of those rare European cities where nature and metropolis mesh and connect in ways that cruise passengers can enjoy without a great deal of effort.
News
On February, 11th the Aidablu called at le Havre on her maiden voyage, launching the new cruise season.
The brand-new ship, Aida Blu, of German cruise line, Aida Cruises will be the first ship to call at Antwerp during the new cruise season.
Royal Caribbean Internationals’ Jewel of the Seas will be calling at Gothenburg, Sweden, nine times this year.
This year all cruiseships will be handled at the Breivika Terminal in Tromso, Norway, while a new quay (rather than terminal as previously reported) at Prostneset in the city centre is being built and the bottom dredged, says Odd-Inge Waago of Tromso Port.
For the last 250 years, seamen have described Liverpool as the best run ashore of any seaport in the world.
A Show Like No Other
A MAJOR new boat show is to be held in the city of Liverpool in 2011.
Hamburg. The 9 February marked the official start of the 2010 cruise season with the christening of the “AIDAblu”. According to media reports, tens of thousands of locals and numerous onlookers who had come to Hamburg especially for the event followed the ceremony at Hamburg’s Fischmarkt.
Germany’s most popular destination among international cruise operators and passengers
After a tough 2008 when strikes hit cruise traffic at La Rochelle in France, the port is recovering the market.
Hammerfest Port Authority is partnering with the owner of one of its berths to invest E3m in an upgrade with completion expected in 2011, says port captain Gei Amundsen.
Cruise calls to Ísafjörður, Iceland, have been steadily increasing over the last 13 years. Cruise calls have gone up from 7 (1997) to 27 (2009) and the number of passengers has multiplied.
Skagen in northern Denmark is due to receive nine calls this year compared to five in 2009.
Disney Cruise Line, Iberocruceros and Cruise & Maritime Voyages are calling the west Atlantic port of Cherbourg in France for the first time this year.
The port of North Cape is building a new quay to be ready for the 2011 cruise season.
Milford Haven will welcome P&O Cruises to a Welsh port for the first time in the cruise company’s history.
In 2010 Stavanger is expecting 115 calls which is an impressive increase on the 50 calls recorded in 2005. Passenger numbers too have hit record levels at 190,000 compared to 40,066 five years ago.
The Port of A Coruna will complete a 500m2 terminal (see simulated photograph) at the Transatlantic Quay just 50m from the city centre in 2011 according to Marta Rodriguez Pantin, commercial manager.
