W O R L D CRUISE D E S T I N AT I O N S

Spring 2008

VISIONARIES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Hylton talks to fishermen ARISON: Impact of global deployment MITROPOULOS: IMO’s message to European Commission NAYLOR: Cold ironing - solution or red herring? COSTA AT 60: A remarkable transformation EUROPE: Economic impact accelerates by a quarter DICKINSON: 35 years of fun AWARDS: Barcelona hits six Untitled-1 1 9/2/074/3/08 10:59:0810:07:43 Foreword

WORLD CRUISE DESTINATT IONS FOREWORD Spring 2008

VISIONARIES OF THE CARIBBEAN: Hylton talks to fishermen ARISON: Impact of global deployment he good news is that the industry is at last widening the scope of MITROPOULOS: IMO’s message to European Commission NAYLOR: Cold ironing - solution or red herring? its analysis. As a consequence we are beginning to have a better COSTA AT 60: A remarkable transformation EUROPE: Economic impact accelerates by a quarter DICKINSON: 35 years of fun understanding of the numbers that hide behind the images of cruise AWARDS: Barcelona hits six Tships sailing the oceans and delivering tourists to their favoured destinations.

The second economic impact report for Europe was recently released in Brussels which together with the fi rst editions for Canada and Mexico add another layer of understanding to the global picture, which previously relied solely on the US and Caribbean studies.

Impressive though the statistics are for Europe and elsewhere, the impact of growth on the environment is the issue that seems to have lodged itself fi rmly in the mind. There aren’t any industry sectors immune from the legislative Cover image: Gaudio’s La Casa Mila, Barcelona and regulatory momentum that currently exists. And the theme David The publishers of Dream World Cruise Dingle, CEO Carnival UK and Chairman, European Cruise Council, carried Destinations, Ashcroft & Associates Ltd, would into the second cruise industry conference held in Brussels on 26 February, like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude which we organised, was: Europe – the new centre of gravity of the cruise to the many organisations that have helped in industry. One part of the theme refers to the increasing infl uence of Europe the production of the magazine by supplying articles, reports, facts and fi gures, information, as a regulatory centre. pictures or provided help in other ways. We have made every effort to ensure the In this edition it has not been possible to carry a full report on the event but I accuracy of the information but changes have been able to publish a shortened version of the economic impact report occur incessantly. Readers are advised to and the message, read out on fi lm, of Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary- check that any material facts are still current with the responsible authorities. General, International Maritime Organisation, in which he stresses the need For information about future issues of Dream for global solutions to the challenges of the shipping industry. Cold ironing World Cruise Destinations please email: was another topic discussed at the conference but in this edition it is Philip email: [email protected] Naylor, General Manger, Fleet Operations at Carnival UK who has answered or tel:+44 20 8994 4123 my question on cold ironing: Emissions solution or red herring? Dream World Cruise Destinations is available annually for £35 (inc. postage). The contents There are a number of Visionaries in the Caribbean and this is the subject of this publication are protected by copyright. of a new regular feature. Noel Hylton, president of the Port Authority of All rights reserved. ISSN 1351-640X. Jamaica, is the fi rst to describe how he delivers major projects on time and under budget, in an article I have titled ‘Talking to Fishermen’. Published by Ashcroft & Associates Ltd PO Box 57940, London W4 5RD, United Kingdom On the occasion of Costa Crociere’s diamond anniversary I visited their PUBLISHER & EDITOR Chris Ashcroft Genoa headquarters to report on the company’s fascinating journey. CONTRIBUTORS Tony Peisley Micky Arison warns the Caribbean of the implications of a developing global Maria Harding industry and Bob Dickinson looks back at his career at Carnival Cruise Lines Gilly Ashcroft now that he has retired. DESIGN & PRODUCTION RayHeathDesign.com OFFICE MANAGER Lucy Leach Enjoy the read, PRINTED BY Wyndham Grange Dream World Cruise Destinations is published by Ashcroft & Associates Ltd, and distributed in the USA by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Rd, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Manchester, PA and additional mailing offi ces. Postmaster send address changes to Dream World Cruise Chris Ashcroft, Destinations, c/o PO Box 437, Emigsville, Publisher & Editor PA 17318-0437.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 1

Foreword.indd 1 4/3/08 07:43:42 Untitled-8Untitled-1 1 5/3/074/3/08 23:31:4109:51:19 Contents

31 61 85 Quintessential ingredients Costa: Celebrating 60 years Awards: Barcelona triumphant

1 Foreword 51 The expanding world of Seabourn FCCA CONFERENCE, COZUMEL MAKING A SPLASH By Pamela C. Conover, President & 98 Cozumel: The land of the swallows 4 Cruise, port and destination news Chief Executive Offi cer, Seabourn Cruise By Gilly Ashcroft VISIONARIES OF THE CARIBBEAN Line 101 Arison warns of globalisation 16 Talking to fi shermen 53 After an eight year absence Thomson By Micky Arison, chairman and chief Noel Hylton, President, Port Authority is returning to the Caribbean executive offi cer Carnival Corporation & of Jamaica By David Selby, Managing Director, plc and chairman FCCA Thomson Cruises EUROPEAN CRUISE INDUSTRY 102 Micky Arison, Michele Paige and CONFERENCE, BRUSSELS 57 Looking back on 35 years of fun Rick Sasso meet the exhibitors 18 Contribution of Cruise Tourism to By Bob Dickinson, Retired President, 104 Bartlett voices great ambitions for the economies of Europe Carnival Cruise Lines Jamaica An abbreviated summary by Peter COSTA AT 60 106 St. Thomas set to join the 2 million Wild, Managing director, G. P. Wild 61 Costa celebrates 60 Years Club states Edward Thomas, (International) Limited and Andrew 62 The remarkable transformation of a President & CEO, The West Indian Moody, president, Business Research and Economic Advisors family company into a global cruise Company brand carrying over one million 107 Puerto Rico 20 Address by Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, passengers a year Terestella Gonzalez Denton, Director, Secretary-General, International As Costa marks its diamond anniversary Maritime Organization to the European Puerto Rico Tourism Company Chris Ashcroft visits their Genoa Cruise Industry, Brussels, 26 February 108 Richard Skerritt explains to Chris headquarters to catch up with six 2008 Ashcroft the background to the executives, with 200 years service between development of cruise tourism to St. PORT ISSUE them, to fi nd their enthusiasm and Kitts and how the latest project will 24 Cold ironing: Emissions solution or passion undiminished red herring impact on the visitor experience 65 As Costa celebrates its 60 years in Carnival UK’s General Manager Fleet 109 An oasis of calm passenger shipping, Pier Luigi Foschi Operations, Philip Naylor casts some By Gilly Ashcroft much needed light on the increasingly looks back on his ten years at the opaque issue of shore power for ships helm CARIBBEAN DESTINATIONS 66 Mario Martini, Senior Vice President 96 Guadeloupe ITINERARY DEVELOPMENT Sales and Marketing, Europe and Rest 110 Grenada: The ‘Spice Isle’ of the 31 Quintessential ingredients of the World Caribbean By Simon Douwes and Timothy Littley, 68 Antonio De Rosa, Vice President 112 St. Vincent and the Grenadines: The Holland America Line Cruise Operations Caribbean’s most diverse destination PORTS 70 Walter German, Product Director REGIONAL REPORTS By Tony Peisley 36 Opportunity for new ports? 73 Mario Minuto, Director Hotel 114 The Baltic: The world’s fastest By Tony Peisley Operations growing cruise destination 75 Paolo Parodi, Technical Operations TRAVEL AGENTS 115 Norway Director 40 Cruise training for travel agents 116 North America 77 Victor Fordred, Vice President Fleet By Maria Harding 120 Mediterranean Deployment and Itineraries 122 Continental Europe and the North EXECUTIVE COMMENTARY 80 Gianni Onorato, President 45 Luxury goes exploring As Costa Crociere continues to introduce Atlantic By Mark Conroy, President, Regent its style of cruising to global markets 123 UK and Ireland Seven Seas Cruises Gianni Onorato is far from complacent NEW SHIP REVIEW 47 Holland America Line continues to 124 Queen Victoria DREAM WORLD CRUISE DESTINATIONS evolve in 2008 By Tony Peisley By Stein Kruse, President and Chief 2007 AWARDS Executive Offi cer, Holland America Line 85 2007 Awards Introduction LAST WORD 86 Winners and Commendations 49 The renaissance of the Golden Age of 128 New brands: Germany and France ocean liner travel continues... CARIBBEAN PORTS Susan Hooper discusses with Chris By Carol Marlow, President and 94 Regional Reports Caribbean Ports Ashcroft the development of new brands Managing Director, Cunard Line By Tony Peisley for RCCL in Europe

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 3

Contents.indd 1 4/3/08 08:07:08 Making a splash

Making a

Cruise, port and destination news

SAS launch Cruise Coordination Group

erje Thoresen, Director, Incoming that “Copenhagen and Stockholm and products. TSales & Promotion at Scandinavian are important turnaround ports for One good example is dedicated Airlines, confi rmed the company’s Northern European cruises and the cruise terminals with airline check- continued commitment to the cruise most important gateways for SAS. in facilities. This will secure smooth market with the launch of The SAS That’s why it’s natural for us to be and effi cient passenger and baggage Cruise Coordination Group with an active member in the Copenhagen handling, something that defi nitely has representatives from all relevant and Stockholm Cruise Networks as high priority in SAS. We are pleased departments within the company. “We well as being a commercial partner to see an increase in the number of are doing this in order to improve our in The Cruise Baltic Project. It is of calls as well as the deployment of handling of cruise passengers and to highest importance to growth that larger ships. This means more cruise increase effi ciency towards the cruise the ports and destinations continue to passengers and consequently more operators” said Thoresen adding develop and improve infrastructures business for us.” Cruise Europe North brings together Norway, Iceland and Faroes

new cruise network named Cruise product in a similar way to that set up by water, bright days and white nights. The AEurope North has been established Cruise Baltic. The coastal waters of the seas of the region has a rich tradition with to market the destinations of The Farao North Atlantic is considered an oasis of an ancient history dating back to Viking Islands, Iceland and Norway and to calm where it is possible to get away from times. Their slogan is: Cruise Europe strive to coordinate services and develop it all in an environment of fresh air clean North - The Natural Alternative. Amsterdam expects a huge hike in calls this year

assenger Terminal Amsterdam and has frequent connections to projections passenger numbers will be Pis forecasting 52% growth in Schiphol Airport and over fi fty major around 210,000. ship calls to the city in 2008 with international train destinations. turnaround calls increasing by 70% Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is 20 to 58. Cruiselines home-porting in minutes by car or train. The airport Amsterdam are Royal Caribbean has direct links to some 250 cities International, Celebrity Cruises, Costa across the world, making it one of Crociere, Holland America Line and Europe’s key airports. And in 2006, MSC Cruises. the interconnected 4-star Moevenpick Amsterdam Central train station is hotel opened the doors offering a 10 minute walk from the terminal 408 deluxe rooms. Based on these

4 Dream World Cruise Destinations Spring 2008

Splash.indd 1 4/3/08 08:08:40 Making a splash

New training RCCL’s 11th school for Costa annual G.I.V.E. Day Skjolden for in Indonesia ver 1,000 volunteers associated Owith Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. free! osta Cruises has inaugurated a spent a day painting and landscaping Chotel training school in Jakarta, a South Florida community as part here will be no harbour dues to pay Indonesia. The facility is run in of the company’s 11th annual “Get Tfor visits to the Port of Skjolden, collaboration with Meranti Magsaysay Involved Volunteer Everywhere” Day. Sognefjord, Norway during 2008 and Institute. The school will prepare This initiative brings together Royal 2009. At least there will not be any Costa personnel for the restaurant, Caribbean employees, their families, harbour dues, just a small passenger housekeeping, galley and bar areas. friends, vendors and business partners landing fee. Skjolden’s cruise terminal Approximately 1,300 new hires a to assist non-profi t organisations to and pier will be completed and ready year are expected to attend, most improve the quality of life in their for use in time for the 2010 season. from local hotel training schools. As local communities. The target this a result, the number of Indonesian time: the 18-building, 116-unit Town personnel working on Costa ships is Park Plaza South community in Regent Seven likely to rise to 2,500 this year. Miami. Seas Cruises Foschi named introduces tour as a member of headphones Club 33 egent Seven Seas Cruises is Rintroducing a headphone system ier Luigi Foschi, Chairman allowing guests participating in shore Pand CEO Costa Crociere, excursions and land tours to hear their has been listed in “Club 33”, the guides clearly and effectively even list of the 33 most infl uencial when they are separated from them executives in global travel which can happen at busy tourism published by American Travel sites. The system will be used where Weekly magazine. Members of noise levels can drown out lecturers this exclsusive club are assessed and guides or at places, like religious by how much infl uence their landmarks, where loud conversation actions have on travel habits. is forbidden. Guests wear individual lightweight headsets and this enables guides to provide facts, information European Cruise Acadeny formed by and opinion unimpeded. AIDA Cruises

IDA Cruises has announced the Aformation of the European Cruise Academy (ECA) to be based in Rostock, Germany to provide training for a new generation of employees and executives for the cruise industry. The focus of the ECA will be on the nautical-technical area on board a cruise ship. Initially, the academy offers up to a Masters degree course with the fi rst course scheduled to begin on 1st September 2008, in line with the beginning of the new academic year. The Bachelor of Arts degrees will cover the nautical, technical and elecro-technical disciplines. The courses are being prepared in Caught on camera cooperation with the University of 007 welcomes Queen Victoria to Copenhagen Technology, Business and Design in Wismar, At the key and plaque ceremony for Queen Victoria’s inaugural call at the port of Copenhagen Germany and as lectures will be taught in were from left to right: Port Captain Soren Andersen, Roger Moore, Per Schmidt, General Manager English, its appeal should be global. Copenhagen Malmo port, Capt. Paul Wright, Cunard Line and UK Ambassador Sir David Frost.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 5

Splash.indd 2 4/3/08 08:08:58 Making a splash

Q Cape Town stirs Cape Town is to be spruced up as Bilbao’s city centre regeneration part of a project to re-establish the project wins European Enterprise city as one of the great passenger liner destinations of the world by Awards 2007 Grand Jury prize promoting itself and the Southern African region as a base for n a pioneering approach to city centre European cities. destination cruises. Iregeneration, Bilbao has helped set The prizes were presented by Günter up 129 small companies creating 270 Verheugen, Vice-President of the Q First Appearance of AIDAbella jobs in leisure, arts, culture, fashion European Commission and responsible and technology. The project Spanish for Enterprise and Industry, who said: The early morning of 24 February municipal development company Lan “The highly innovative nature of this saw AIDAbella make her fi rst Ekintza-Bilbao won the 2007 European year’s award winners shows the crucial appearance as she was moved to Enterprise Awards Grand Jury’s Prize role that local and regional public the fi tting out quay of the Meyer at the offi cial ceremony in Porto at the authorities across Europe can play shipyard for the fi nishing touches end of last year. The high level jury in promoting entrepreneurship and to be completed prior to the representing business representatives helping to create a favourable business christening, by model Eva Padberg, and academics selected the project environment”.environment . in Rostock-Warnemuende on 23 not only for its impressive results April. but also because it offers an excellent and sustainable model for urban Q Three P&O ships to regeneration, a challenge facing many visit Australia P&O Cruises’ Arcadia is set to sail to Australia for the fi rst time in With the worldwide 2009 along with her sister ships Oriana and Aurora. The three release of its new 2009 ships are due to visit the Australian ports of Perth, Albany, Adelaide, brochure Costa Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Whitsundays as part of a Crociere reveals its programme that takes them to 71 new itineraries destinations early next year. Q Miami terminals Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL) has now moved into its new cruise terminals at the Port of Miami. Built at a cost of US $80m Terminals D and E are now being used by all Carnival ships sailing out of the Port of Miami. Each terminal has the capacity to handle 4,000 passengers and features osta Cruises will be increasing its in Istanbul and Lisbon. Costa also 105,000 sq.ft of air-conditioned Ccapacity in 2009 by 12% compared has new ports of call at Capri, the space, with additional areas for to this year, through the introduction, Isle of Elba and St. Tropez, as well baggage loading/unloading and in April and May, of Costa Luminosa as additional cruise routes in Japan, check-in. In the meanwhile (guest capacity of 2828) and Costa Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Termnals B and C are being Pacifi ca (guest capacity of 3780) Malaysia. refurbished for NCL and in expanding the fl eet to 14 ships. In the Far East Costa Classica joins addition an agreement has been In all the company will offer more Costa Allegra to boost capacity in reached for a new Terminal to be than 100 different itineraries with that region while Costa Victoria sails built for their F3 class ships. around 250 destinations being visited. alongside Costa Classica to increase Costa Cruises will be the fi rst operator capacity by 50% in their Dubai Q P&O Cruises enhances to offer a transatlantic cruise from programme. In addition, Costa Europa shoreside options Italy to Argentina and up the Amazon will be deployed to Mauritius to double New shore excursions have been River as far as Manaus. Another fi rst capacity in the Indian Ocean. added by P&O Cruises to include for the company will be a series of New Costa will also be boosting its an evening concert and after England and Canada cruises calling at presence both in Northern Europe, hours visit to the Hermitage in Quebec, Boston, Newport and New where for the fi rst time some fi ve St. Petersburg, a salmon safari York. There are also innovations in ships will be operating, and in South in Stavanger, as well as specially the Mediterranean, with two new America, where three ships will be designed family tours. itineraries featuring two day stopovers based.

6 Dream World Cruise Destinations Spring 2008

Splash.indd 3 4/3/08 08:09:01 Splash.indd 4 4/3/08 08:09:23 Making a splash

Port of Malaga inaugurates new berth and terminal

Caught on camera Lu Haihan, Chairman, Shanghai International Port Group Palma, Mallorca joins the 1 resident the building to ensure that Pof the the space can manage the million club Regional Government of requirements of passengers Andalucia, Mr. Manuel Chaves, and embarking and disembarking he ports managed by the port the Minister of Public Works of the from even the largest cruise ships. TAuthority of the Balearic Islands Central Government, Ms. Magdalena The fi rst phase of this new terminal reached one million passengers in Álvarez attended the inauguration has a total area of 8,970 sqm with 2005, but last year the Port of Palma of the new south berth and Eastern lobbies, luggage and handling alone reached that fi gure. In line Passenger Terminal which has departments, operator offi ces, controls, with this achievement and the ever completed its fi rst phase at the Port of as well as toilets and a changing room. increasing number of turnaround Málaga. Cruceros Málaga S.A. has been formed calls the port authority has enhanced The South berth has 12 metres of to operate the new facility, this is berthing faciliteis and capacity over draught and an investment of 11.2 an agreement between the port and the years. Now the port authority million euros. The 15.7 million euros Creuers del Port de Barcelona. Over has announced the construction of a terminal project has a simple structure 290,000 passengers visited Malaga last new pier to provide further berthing to facilitate effi cient operations inside year, nearly 30% up on 2006. options for two large cruise ships. Zarmati to fi ll the shoes of Torrent at Europa Costa, North America continues its aurice Zarmati, currently vice golfi ng success Mpresident of sales for Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL), has been named president even Golf & Cruise itineraries and chief executive offi cer of Costa Shave been included in Europa’s Cruise Lines, North America to replace 2008 season with the opportunity to Lynn Torrent who recently moved in play golf at the most beautiful greens the other direction to take up the post of in the world. PGA golf professionals Senior Vice President Sales and Guest are on hand to provide advice and Services at CCL. Zarmati has been with expert tuition. The Europa has its own Carnival Cruise Lines since 1972, leading indoor and outdoor park on the sports one of the most successful sales teams in deck as well as a golf simulator with North America. He will report to Gianni 21 of the best courses in the world Onorato, president of Costa Crociere, available. There are two itineraries when he takes up his position at the end where German and English spoken of March. His responsibilities include all on board include nine days sailing sales and marketing activity for Costa’s the Baltic Sea to golf courses in North and Central American regions and Stockholm, Helsinki and Copenhagen this covers sales development, marketing, and Riga. The second itinerary begins revenue management, fi nance, human sails from Port Louis to Cape Town resources and passenger services. including a call at Reunion.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 7

Splash.indd 4 4/3/08 08:09:23 Hop off at Harwich The heart of Constable Country

Harwich is a charming seafaring town with some fine architecture and museums, while other local attractions include the beautiful landscapes of Constable Country, Roman Colchester, the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, the ancient wool town of Lavenham and the historic university city of Cambridge.

Just 70 miles from London, Harwich International Port is the perfect cruise location for either a full turnaround or a port of call. Providing over one million passengers per year with excellent service, the port has its own railway station and offers easy access to main road routes and airports.

For free information on suggested itineraries, shore excursions, accommodation and other places to explore in the region visit the Haven Gateway Cruise website:

www.havencruise.com

Harwich International Port

Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:52:02 Making a splash

Norway forecasts a 14% increase in passenger numbers this year

ruise Norway report passenger numbers up by 6.7% in Port 2006 2007 C2007 compared with 2006 from a marginally reduced Bergen 218 185 198 919 number of calls. Bergen retains its top position with 231 Geiranger 139 693 136 364 calls followed by Geiranger with 144, Oslo with 138, and Flåm 115 342 120 756 Flåm and North Cape with 128 and 100 calls respectively. Oslo 206 233 191 724 Eidfjord 43 034 46 115 All other cruise destinations had less than 100 calls. It is North Cape 74 897 66 455 worth noting that the ships visiting Oslo carry on average Tromsø 55 821 60 460 540 more passengers than those visiting Bergen. Since the Leknes/Svolvær 34 590 35 356 pattern shows the number of calls gradually reducing but the Olden/Nordfjord 53 060 40 900 number of passengers increasing this is likely to impact on Ålesund 41 821 57 420 rankings in 2008. Trondheim 31 326 39 887 In 2007 the number of passengers increased from Stavanger 62 128 69 192 1,179,714 to 1,260,437 with the top 15 destinations Kristiansand 38 000 52 000 (detailed) accounting for 93% of the market. Cruise Åndalsnes 20 554 25 000 Norway’s forecast for 2008, measured by the number of Molde 11 750 22 042 cruise calls, is 1,438. Total 1 146 434 1 171 135 RCCL in Asia

he maiden season of Rhapsody of Tthe Seas in Asia together with the return to Asia of Legend of the Seas towards the end of the year is another sign of the global nature of cruising today. Legend of the Seas will offer 25 sailings along with four extended repositioning cruises. Singapore; Bangkok (Laem Chabang),Thailand; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Ho Chi Minh City (Vung Tau), Vietnam; Nha Trang, Vietnam; Hue/Danang (Chan May Port), Vietnam; Sanya, Caught on camera China; Hong Kong, China; Xiamen, Albert Poggio, MBE and Captain Brand of Port of Gibraltar China; and Shanghai, China are on the roster of ports being used on this Princess Cruises plans its most deployment. extensive European deployment

n 2009 Ruby Princess and Tahitian Europe, the British Isles and the IPrincess make their fi rst appearances Mediterranean. Grand Princess will cruise in Europe during a season that features to the Mediterranean from the UK as six ships, nine new itineraries and 11 well as to the Greek Isles and Egypt, and new ports. Royal Princess will embark on journeys Ruby Princess, which enters service to the Holy Land, Mediterranean and late this year, will offer Mediterranean Black Sea. and Greek Isles cruises in 2009, while The 11 new ports include Sochi, the 670-passenger Tahitian Princess Russia, home to the 2014 Olympics; will provide new routes including a Murmansk, Russia; Luleå, Sweden; series of 18-day mid-summer ‘Top of Mariehamn, Finland; Klaipeda, the World’ itineraries between New Lithuania; Barrow, for visits to York and London that feature Iceland England’s Lake District; Seydisfjordur and Greenland. In addition to the and Grundarfjordur, Iceland; Ruby Princess and Tahitian Princess, Kristiansand, Norway; Ceuta, an Emerald Princess will take over the line’s autonomous Spanish city in Morocco; Scandinavia and Russia deployment, and St. Pierre et Miquelon off the and Crown Princess will sail to Northern coast of Newfoundland in Canada.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 9

Splash.indd Sec1:5 4/3/08 08:09:31 ShoreShoShhoorree ExcusionsExcExExcusiionsns Kalundborg: one port, many destinations The centre of Denmark On the west coast of Zealand at the Great Belt, close by the entrance to the Baltic from the North Sea, you’ll find Kalundborg.

A PEAK INTO THE TRUE DENMARK their guests Copenhagen and at the same smoothly. Port of Kalundborg can Kalundborg offers a charming small- time save 230 nautical miles and 12 hours accommodate turnarounds from cruise town experience with a number of local of steaming time and great sales of tour vessels with up to 1500 passengers. Hotels attractions and areas of natural beauty and shore excursions. in Copenhagen can be used for pre- and all within a short drive from the port. In post stays and tours can be arranged in essence Kalundborg offers a peak into the OVER 65% TAKE UP OF TOURS TO Copenhagen, Roskilde or Kalundborg.  true Denmark; the hospitable, friendly and COPENHAGEN, ROSKILDE AND ODENSE warm atmosphere will charm your cruise Sales of shore excursions to these cities guests - after they have visited hectic and generates over 65% take up amongst busy capitals – by providing a complete passengers. Situated in the centre of Denmark contrast that will bring the whole cruise – approximately 1 ½ hours drive from into perspective. Here they will have the Copenhagen, and Odense with the Funen opportunity to enjoy beautiful gardens, local Village, H.C. Andersen’s house and all its museums, working artists, handicraft and beautiful castles - Kalundborg offers a wide the fl ea market in the morning followed palette of opportunities for the cruise guests. by shopping in Kalundborg’s numerous The Viking museum and the Royal Cathedral specialist shops - with everything from of Roskilde is just a one hour drive from hot design items to quality chocolate - and Kalundborg. More than 30 well-educated fi nish off the afternoon with a nice cup guides assist with these tours and see to it that of coffee and a Danish in the local cafés. your passengers receive an enjoyable time There is also plenty to do for those seeking ashore from the moment they get on the outdoor activities such as enjoying an coach until return to the ship. 1 km from village centre 18-hole round of golf, bike riding, sailing, 110 km from Copenhagen kayaking or horse back riding. Special 68 MILES – 1½ HOURS DRIVE FROM 115 nautical miles from Copenhagen events can be arranged – from renaissance COPENHAGEN AIRPORT 330 meters cruise pier meals to sing-a-long afternoons, folk Port of Kalundborg is ideally located 10 meters water depth dancing – and much more. for turn-arounds. As an alternative to Complimentary shuttle service Copenhagen - Kalundborg offers a pier Free internet access in the tourist information SAVE MONEY, SAVE 230 NAUTICAL MILES area of 8000 m2, 1200m2 temporary Tourist information tent on the pier AND 12 HOURS OF STEAMING TIME facilities and the possibility of up to Entertainment on the pier Coming from the Baltic going to 2000m2 warehouse for luggage handling. More information on www.cruisekalundborg.dk the North Sea or vice versa, a call to Moreover there is space for 20 coaches and www.portofkalundborg.dk Kalundborg enables cruise lines to offer at a time to make the operation run

10 SpringSpring 2008 DreamDream WWorldorld Cruise DestinationsDestinations

Kalundborg-J.indd 1 4/3/08 08:13:08 Making a splash

Leading cruise lines, shipyards and Fred. Olsen rolls classifi cation societies create Forum out partnership to advance passenger ship safety with MCP initiatives red. Olsens’ Braemar was used to Ftest the GSM and SMS services he fi rst meeting of the newly initiatives and develop a coordinated offered by Maritime Communications Tformed Cruise Ship Safety Forum response to external bodies such Partner AC (MCP) from October (CSSF) has occurred in London under as the International Maritime 2006. Following a highly successful the coordination of Cruise Lines Organization (IMO). test the services offered by the network International Association (CLIA). The are now available on the other three Forum is a consortium of cruise ship As part of its initial work, CSSF will ships in the fl eet – Boudicca, Black operators, ship yards, classifi cation be focusing on an initiative of the Watch and Black Prince – and is now societies and CLIA to advance cruise IMO known as “safe return to port” available on Balmoral, the fi fth Fred. ship safety in a coordinated and focused regarding the design and operation of Olsen ship which joined the fl eet manner. a passenger ship to allow it to safely this past January. This service allows “Instead of each entity working on return to port in the event of a major passengers and crew to make calls the same issues separately, we believe accident or incident. from the ship on their own mobile the strength lies in working together The Forum’s activities will be guided telephones, working seamlessly and anticipating the operational and by a steering committee comprised of through MCP’s network, and keeping technical issues that make these ships senior executives from the three major in touch with friends and family at both beautiful and safe.” said Terry cruise lines: Carnival Corporation home at a reasonable rate. The next Dale, CLIA’s president and CEO. The & plc, Royal Caribbean Cruises stage will be to offer the ability to send Forum’s purpose is threefold: Ltd. and Norwegian Cruise Line; picture messages and browse the web 1. To develop strategic direction for shipyards: Aker Yards, Meyer Werft and from mobile phones using the MCP advancing cruise ship safety issues in Fincantieri; and classifi cation societies: network. their broadest sense; DNV, Lloyd’s Register and RINA; and 2. To proactively address issues as they CLIA. relate to the future of the industry, The chairman of the Forum is Tom Celebrity set as they pertain to the design and Allan, the former director of the Safety construction of new passenger ships and Standards Division of the United to launch and modifi cation of existing cruise Kingdom’s Maritime and Coastguard ships; and Agency, Department for Transport. glassblowing on 3. To provide a forum to consider CSSF is expected to meet at least three regulatory and other safety times each year. board Solstice

elebrity has formed an alliance Cwith the Corning Museum of Glass to bring the art of glassblowing to sea when the Museum will put on live demonstrations and a narrated performance of glassblowing on board Celebrity’s new Solstice when it enters service next December. The “Hot Glass Show” as it is named will be located on the ship’s upper deck within a custom-designed, outdoor glassmaking studio. Three resident “gaffers”, highly skilled glassblowing artists, will put on live glassmaking shows, lectures and workshops. Following several weeks of inaugural activities, Celebrity Solstice will make its maiden voyage 14 December on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Fort Lauderdale calling at San Juan, Puerto Rico; Basseterre, St. Kitts; and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten Caught on camera with an alternating itinerary to San The Port of Ajaccio, South Corsica is on schedule to complete its new cruise pier by the end of 2008. Juan, Puerto Rico; Phillipsburg, St. The pier, which will be 280 meters in length, 20 metres wide and with a minimum draft of 10 metres, is Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin dedicated to the cruise market. Islands and Labadee, Haiti.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 11

Splash.indd Sec2:6 4/3/08 08:09:38 Making a splash

Q NCL appoints two new senior executives Tenerife extends its terminal NCL has announced the appointment of two senior executives he new check in/check out facilities at the Port of Tenerife for the Aidadiva to its management team. Kevin Tand Thomson Destiny home port operations have been lengthened to create 600 Sheehan has joined as Executive sqm of space inside and 800 sqm outside. Vice President and Chief Financial Offi cer, and Gregory Hunt has fi lled the newly created position of Executive Vice President Strategic and Commercial Development. Both executives will report to NCL President and Chief Executive Offi cer Colin Veitch.

Q Carnival stays loyal to New Orleans Carnival Cruise Lines has exercised its option to extend its berthing agreement with the Port of New Orleans for another two years. The extension will keep the world’s largest cruise line sailing year round from the Crescent City Genesis class ships to make huge through to November 2010. economic impact at port Everglades Q Terry Thornton promoted at Carnival he fi rst of the Genesis class volume (embarking and disembarking) Terry Thornton has been promoted ships (220,000grt) is scheduled at Port Everglades during the fi rst to senior vice president marketing T to begin sailing year-round from 10-year term of the contract. An planning for Carnival Cruise Lines, Port Everglades in late 2009, with economic impact study conducted responsible for overseeing revenue the second sister ship beginning by Martin and Associates, as part of management and strategic marketing operations one year later. the Port Everglades Master/Vision departments. In addition, Thornton Plan, projects that homeporting the oversees fl eetwide ship deployment Each Project Genesis ship is and itinerary planning. He reports projected to generate approximately Genesis ships at Port Everglades will to Ruben Rodriguez, executive 584,000 in passenger traffi c annually create more than 3,844 jobs, generate vice president marketing and guest at Port Everglades. It is estimated $172 million in personal income and experience. that the three Royal Caribbean $15.9 million state and local taxes. In Cruises Ltd brands of Azamara addition, the analysis anticipates that Q Costa Crociere, Louis Cruises, Celebrity Cruises and Royal more than 858 new construction jobs and MSC plan joint bid Caribbean International will generate will be created during Terminal 18 approximately 17 million in passenger expansion. ouis Ltd, the largest cruise line Land hotel operator in Cyprus and Greece has joined forces with Carnival Corporation & Plc and Lerwick set for MSC Cruises to plan a joint bid to lease a terminal and cruise-ship pier an exciting year in the French port of Marseille. orwegian Jewel will arrive at Lerwick It is understood that Louis, Costa Non September 19 for what will Crociere and other companies are be the fi nal call of the port’s 2008 also bidding to develop the port programme. She will be one of six and marina of Larnaca, Cyprus. cruise ships on maiden visits to Lerwick Q Stansted’s airlift this year – among the others are Costa development aids Harwich Victoria and Fred. Olsen’s Boudicca. In all 43 ships and more than 20,000 American Airlines is to double the cruise passengers are scheduled to visit number of its daily fl ights from New York to Stansted. The airport is in Caught on camera the Shetland Islands’ port between talks with the cruise lines operating St. Maarten’s Port Affairs Commissioner, Hon. early-May and mid-September. And out of Harwich International Port Theodore Heyliger and Carnival Corporation & Plc in 2009 there will be calls from Costa to draw to their attention this Chairman and CEO Micky Arison signal the start of Magica and Crown Princess which will development which will reduce the construction of a new pier to provide berthing contribute to a year in which the for two Genesis class ships at Philipsburg. The new transfer time to Harwich by up to port could achieve its highest annual pier, to be completed at the end of November 2009, two hours as Stansted airport is just tonnage of cruise ships and the 1,000th will be adjacent to the existing cruise pier. one hour from Harwich. cruise call.

12 Dream World Cruise Destinations Spring 2008

Splash.indd Sec2:7 4/3/08 08:09:41 Splash.indd Sec2:8 4/3/08 08:09:47 Making a splash

NOx fund to replace the NOx tax in Norway

he main elements of an The operating body to fulfi l the available to reduce emissions. TEnvironmental Agreement commitments under the Agreement The plan is that the duty to the between the Norwegian Ministry of will be the Business Sector’s NOx NOx fund will be at the level of Environment and fourteen business fund. The fund will be fi nanced by NOK 4/kg NOx in 2008 for ships. organisations on the reduction of a duty of payment by the companies The intention is to keep this duty NOx was reached in January. Its that enters into the Agreement by as stable as possible. Under the key objective is to obtain reduction signing a Statement of Association in Agreement all companies that sign in emissions of NOx in Norway as order to obtain an exemption from the Statement of Association before 1 quickly and effi ciently as possible, in the NOx tax (at present at NOK July 2008 will be able to get a refund order to contribute to the fulfi lment 15.39/kg NOx). The yearly cost of NOx taxes paid from 1 January of Norway’s commitments under the for companies of the NOx tax was 2008. However, the Agreement Gothenburg Protocol related to annual NOK 1,600 million in 2007, which as such will not enter into force emissions of NOx. The Agreement has was the fi rst year of such a tax. In before it has been approved for not a time frame up to the end of 2011. practice there was no support scheme breaching EU State Aid rules. How do you reduce fuel consumption?

he most recent edition of Lloyd’s statutory requirements coming into TRegister’s Passenger Ship Focus effect from 2010, which govern the magazine covers a range of topics amount of damage a passenger ship including: the installation of diesel must be able to withstand while still generator plants alongside existing gas being able to return safely to port; turbines on two of Celebrity Cruises’ the delivery of the polar exploration Millennium Class passenger ships to cruise ship Fram from Fincantieri’s help reduce fuel consumption; new Monfalcone shipyard. AIDAluna to be christened in Palma de Mallorca

IDAluna will leave Hamburg on 22 Sea. In October 2009 she repositions AMarch 2009 on a 14-day maiden to sail four 14-day cruises between voyage to Palma de Mallorca where Bangkok and Singapore. Two further the offi cial naming will take place. 14-day trans-Asian voyages will take Caught on camera She then heads back to Hamburg to passengers to the Red Sea and the west Philip Heylen, schepen (executive councillor) for spend its fi rst summer in the Baltic coast of India. culture and tourism, Antwerp Peter Deilmann Cruises has Silversea announced a ban on smoking appoints Auteri

he company’s luxury fl agship 2008 season in March. Guests will ilversea Cruises has appointed Rocco TMS Deutschland is now smoke be permitted to smoke only on the SAuteri as Senior Vice President Fleet free. This decision follows an outside decks of any ship. Operations, based in Monte Carlo. earlier announcement that smoking This is an extension of a smoking He will be responsible for all hotel, would not be allowed on any of the ban limited to the cabins and marine and technical operations. Auteri company’s nine European River corridors of all ships invoked in was most recently Costa’s Director of ships, starting at the beginning of the 2005. Operations in Asia. Silversea names their new expedition ship

SH Prince Albert II, Silversea’s fi rst to the Arctic Circle, Svalbard, America through the Panama Canal to Hrecently named expedition ship, will Iceland and Greenland for the summer, Los Angeles before heading south to carry just 132 guests in 66 ocean-view the ship will then reposition to South Ushuaia. Along this special repositioning accommodations when she sets sail on America and Antarctica for autumn and route there are opportunities to explore 12 June from London on an inaugural winter voyages. From mid-August to the Sea of Cortez (with an extension to season of voyages of 10 to 21 days November, HSH Prince Albert II will Copper Canyon), Falklands and South focusing on polar adventures. Sailing journey from the east coast of North Georgia Island.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 13

Splash.indd Sec2:8 4/3/08 08:09:47 A major maritime year for

amburg’s reputation as a great city than 2,000 fi lms, one-and-a-half million and cruise ships will sail along the Elbe. has been built on its centuries- photographs, 120,000 books, fi ve Shipping buffs will also want to be in Hambold pre-eminence as a major port thousand paintings and drawings, and the city between July 30 and August 3 u H (Europe’s second largest) and trade 40,000 ship design plans. when some of the world’s most famous centre. There will also be fascinating tableaux cruise ships will be on show as part of The city’s near 2 million residents never of nautical uniforms and equipment from Hamburg Cruise Days 2008. forget the debt they owe to the River Elbe down the centuries. Cunard Line’s latest transatlantic liner – its link to the ocean and its travellers – Hamburg’s place in the maritime Queen Mary 2 makes the fi rst of two but, even by its standards, 2008 is a major fi rmament will be highlighted there summer calls in Hamburg on July 30. She maritime year for Hamburg. and also earlier (in May) at the Harbour will dock at the cruise terminal but there At the end of June, a new International Anniversary celebrations – an annual will also be an opportunity for visitors to Maritime Museum (Kaispeicher B) event which is the world’s largest harbour take boat trips out to see the cruise ships opens in the atmospheric Speicherstadt festival. that dock in the harbour. warehouse district near the waterfront. More than a million visitors are But Germany’s second largest city has Some 3,000 years of maritime history expected at this year’s event, marking the not become one of the most popular cities will be on display through an evocative harbour’s 819th birthday, when a fl eet of for visitors just because of its maritime collection of 26,000 model ships, more yachts, tall ships, historical steamboats heritage and famous harbour.

14 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Hamburg-J.indd 1 4/3/08 08:15:18 Hamburg-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:15:22 HAMBURG... AN EXCITING CRUISE DESTINATION AND YOUR GATEWAY TO BERLIN! WERBEAGENTUR SEIBT, HAMBURG WERBEAGENTUR SEIBT,

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STADE LÜBECK HAMBURG SCHWERIN

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Hamburg is the most beautiful the Autobahn. In just 90 minutes Metropolis in Northern Germany. you arrive in the lively city of Berlin We welcome our international with breathtaking contemporary guests with an impressive skyline, architecture and with the unique HAMBURG CRUISE CENTER e.V. many historic sites, great archi- flair of the old quarters. Steinstraße 7 · D-20095 Hamburg tecture, superb shopping in excel- Also half day tours to the medieval Tel. +49(0)40-30051-393 lent gallerias, museums, theatres, cities of Lübeck, Lüneburg, Buxte- Fax +49(0)40-30051-396 musicals and many well known hude and Stade are an attractive www.hamburgcruisecenter.de hotels. addition to a Hamburg visit. Hamburg is linked to our new Hamburg is the ideal cruise desti- capital Berlin by fast trains and by nation!

From April 12, car fans will be One of Hamburg’s longest-established able to see Hamburg’s very own and most famous attractions – the “Chrome Jewels” – a collection of pulsating nightlife of the Reeperbahn It has also classic racing and sports Porsches and – owes its creation to the millions who developed a well- a “live” workshop where old wrecks are have visited Hamburg by ship over the deserved reputation lovingly restored. centuries, either as crew or passengers, uas onerg of Europe’s This is expected to prove just as hugely In fact, this constant infusion of major entertainment popular as the BallinStadt Museum, different tastes and cultures has created centres, because it never sits on its laurels which opened – close to HafenCity – in the cosmopolitan atmosphere, range of and is always adding new features to 2007. This reconstructs the experience restaurants and entertainment that makes interest and enthral visitors (two million of the fi ve million emigrants who Hamburg such a vibrant, appealing place of whom already come every year just to passed through Hamburg en route for to visit. see the latest Broadway musicals staged at New York and provides a fascinating It is to continue this virtuous circle Hamburg theatres). opportunity for visiting Americans with where it is the visitors themselves who Within the new, developing HafenCity German antecedents to trace their family make Hamburg such a visitor-friendly complex of ships, bars, restaurants, parks background. destination that the city invests in its and gardens linking the waterfront to There is also a new edutainment centre cruise tourism facilities. A new mega- the city centre, an old factory in the among the neo-gothic warehouses near ship berth is due in 2009 and a new Kultur Compagnie building has been the harbour, which includes the Hamburg terminal complex (incorporating a four/ transformed into the Prototyp car Dungeon, a miniature railway and the fi ve star hotel) opens at HafenCity in museum. “dialogue in the dark” exhibition. 2011. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 15

Hamburg-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:15:22 Visionaries of the Caribbean Talking to fi shermen Noel Hylton, President, Port Authority of Jamaica

Everybody agrees that the he Port Authority has a well-earned Agency/NEPA) and provide it with all the Caribbean needs new cruise reputation in Jamaica for supervising details on the project and ask it to tell us ports and tourism infrastructure Tand managing projects so that they exactly what it would be looking for in developments so that cruise fi nish on time and within budget. We our environmental report. lines can refresh itineraries and work on a 10-year plan (developed with They set the standard so that, when we stimulate both the first-time and Pricewaterhousecoopers) so at any time employ a consultant, we already have the repeat business they require to we know what projects we are supposed terms of reference approved by NEPA. fill the increasingly large ships to complete within the next 10 years. At the same time as the tenders being deployed there. But, as in Every three years, we review that plan are going out, we are going to the many destinations, this is easier and amend it according to any new Government with our project cost said than done because of the circumstances. estimate and reasons for it going ahead various bureaucratic, financial and Two years ago Maersk Lines said it so we can secure Government guarantees logistical hurdles that have to be would come to Kingston if we advanced on it. The next time that we go back to overcome. the next phase of the port’s transhipment Government is to fulfi ll its procurement development. As we already had that phase procedures. In the first of a series of features planned and approved by our board, we When the tenders come in - and on the proactive personalities could immediately set up a committee we have had them evaluated - we use who know how to drive a major (which I chaired) and meet with consultants, our experience with the fi nancing project through to completion, the architects and environmental people. From arrangements of the various institutions President of the Port Authority of this, we set out the programme with a and banks. If we are going to target Jamaica Noel Hylton shares some schedule of when the required approvals the EIB (European Investment Bank), important insights on how best to would be in place. we know that our tenders should be see a port project through from With the all-important environmental worldwide and that they have to be dream to reality when he talked to issues, we go to the relevant authority evaluated for prequalifi cation, so we do Chris Ashcroft. (National Environmental and Planning these things in advance.

16 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Visionairies-J.indd 1 4/3/08 08:23:31 Visionaries of the Caribbean

One of our strengths is to fi nd take that fi rst project off the reputable consultants with a worldwide plan, we just put it at the reputation. For example, for the bottom to say that this is Falmouth cruise port project, one of our not now within the 10-year consultants is Mott MacDonald in the frame, but we are bearing it UK. This company is known all over in mind. the world for its marine work so when Thinking this far ahead their name is on a document the banks has many benefi ts such as in don’t question it. And when a consultant’s the case when we decided name is on the fi nancial projections they to develop a logistics don’t question that and so we use those centre in Kingston for strategies. the repacking, restocking, The Government also has more holding and distribution of confi dence in a project when they see these goods for companies and consultants involved and so we attack it manufacturers. from both ends. By the time the tenders We had already advised come in, they are evaluated, pre-qualifi ed, the Government and gained we then go out for the real tender on the primary approval from conception of the project. All the other them. It happens to be the Government approvals will be in and the case that we have to build a last approvals are to get these tenders fl yover from the port over through the Government contracts award some roads into the new committee and then the Cabinet for centre. We are planning to fi nal sign-off. But by that time we would put in the fl yover foundations have already advised the cabinet and fully now because we know that informed them about the project. through our discussions, the As soon as the contract is awarded Government is expanding the we appoint a Project Manager from our road in that area. Engineering Department who is put on The Government has that project from the beginning until also built a highway from completion. During the construction Portmore into Kingston. period, we have meetings every two weeks In our 10-year plan, we with our consultants at the executive level concluded that the original road, which tender, all the approvals had come in from to bring us up to date. ran very close to the port, was totally the heritage people, NEPA, Roads and I have found over the years that, once inadequate for the area. So we developed Works and the Water Commission for you develop a reputation for transparency, the land behind that old road and took it sewage and water systems. openness and the fulfi llment of a project, further out because we owned some of the It is a really exciting project and, when then you start to get your projects land behind the road. we had a public meeting to discuss the approved much more easily and quickly. We then offered the Government the environmental issues, I am told that the In fact, when the Government had an land at the end in exchange for it building 300-plus citizens who attended was a inland transport centre project (fi nanced the new highway, so now instead of record number for such an event. But, by the Belgian Government), it asked us having our property divided by a road, we because we had already spoken to so many to supervise it so that it would come in on have continuous access to our property people about the project, they were not time and under budget – which it did. and the new road. hearing of it for the fi rst time. We are now planning to build a cruise We are thinking 10 years ahead all the A classic example of the benefi t of ship pier in Port Royal (Kingston) and time and we are always prepared to show being open and keeping people informed one in Port Antonio. Port Royal will and discuss with any of our Caribbean is that, when we told the local fi shermen probably be in two years’ time and the neighbours the way we do that we needed their place for one in Port Antonio one or two years’ things. We are a beautiful walkway but had later than that but we have already The Falmouth project is an thinking found them two new places, advised the Government and applied for excellent example. We have 10 years they were happy to accept one the necessary land. now moved far ahead of Royal ahead all the of those and agreed to work It is all part of our long-term planning Caribbean. When we discussed with us towards a full solution. policy. We are probably one of the few the project and agreed the time and we This meant that, when the agencies in Jamaica to operate on that timing and other details with it, are always environmental people asked basis, with a full 10-year plan. This we the fi rst thing we did was secure prepared to what is going to happen to the send to our own Ministry but also to the Government approval even show and fi shermen, we could give them a Ministry of Finance, even though we do though it had never been in our discuss with letter from the President of the not seek funding from them. We just like 10-year plan. Fishermen Association saying to let it know what is happening so it We advised all the agencies any of our that it agreed with what the never comes as a surprise. from which we needed to Caribbean Port Authority is doing. When we review the plan, we may feel get approval and – as is our neighbours It is this kind of approach that one project may not happen before approach - asked them all what the way we do which makes us confi dent that we the end of the ten years but that another they wanted from us so that, by will have Falmouth ready in time might come on stream. But we do not the time we were going out for things for the Genesis ships in 2009. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 17

Visionairies-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:23:35 European Cruise Industry Conference, Brussels

Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the economies of Europe

An abbreviated summary by Peter Wild, Managing director, G. P. Wild (International) Limited and Andrew Moody, president, Business Research and Economic Advisors.

18 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Economic-J.indd 1 4/3/08 08:24:27 European Cruise Industry Conference, Brussels

his independent study was commissioned by the European • €100 per passenger at embarkation (excluding airfares). Cruise Council and its partners Euroyards, MedCruise • €53 per passenger at each port visit. Tand Cruise Europe. The objective of the study was to • €1.0 billion in wages and salaries plus benefi ts paid to the update the comprehensive analysis of the global cruise industry’s European employees of the cruise lines with 32,300 employed operations in Europe, undertaken in 2006 and provide a clear as sea staff and 5,500 in headquarters and administrative understanding of the continuing contribution of cruise tourism offi ces. to the European economy. The study covers 2006 and embraces the EU-25 plus In all, €10.6 billion in direct expenditures generated over Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. Its major fi ndings are: 107,000 direct jobs and €3.6 billion in employee remuneration • 44 cruise lines domiciled in Europe with 118 cruise ships and across Europe. almost 102,000 lower berths. Shipbuilding accounted for 53% of the cruise industry’s direct • 47 vessels with 51,300 lower berths deployed in Europe by expenditure, 34% of direct jobs and 39% of direct employee non-European lines. compensation, whereas 37% of direct jobs and about one-fourth • Over 3.4 million European residents booked cruises, 23% of of all compensation went to European employees of cruise lines. all cruise passengers worldwide. Transportation and Utilities including tour operators and travel • More than 3.6 million passengers embarked on their cruises agents accounted for 19% of direct expenditures, 11% of direct from a European port, of which number over 80% were jobs and 16% of remuneration. European nationals. The top six countries accounted for approximately 86% of • Most cruise tourists visited ports in the Mediterranean, the the impacts throughout Europe, over 80% of total jobs and over Baltic and other European regions, generating 15.2 million 85% of remuneration. Five of these as shown in the table were passenger visits at European port cities. the leading countries for passenger generation and the sixth, Finland, is the major supplier of new ships, along with Italy and As a result of the European cruise operations and investment Germany. in new cruise ships, key economic impacts (direct, indirect and The falling global share of the North American market, induced) throughout Europe in 2006 include: despite its continuing growth, refl ects expansion in Europe • €10.6 billion (€8.3 billion ) in direct spending by cruise lines which has the seen the numbers of Europeans cruising trebling and their passengers, to 3.4 million over ten years. Over a similar period Europe as a • €23.9 billion (€19.1 billion) in total output, source market for land-based tourism grew less than 50%. • 225,586 jobs (187,252), and The cruise industry’s economic impact is expected to continue • €7.5 billion (€6.0 billion) in employee remuneration. to grow over the next few years as demand for increasingly larger ships accelerates with an annual output of well over 25,000 new These impacts represented a growth of around 25% in lower berths during 2008-10. At the same time the numbers comparison to 2005. of ships undertaking European itineraries is also expected to This means that each €1 million in cruise industry increase, together with demand from the European source expenditures generated: market, which has the potential to reach 5.1 million by 2015.  • €2.2 million in business output, and • Just over 21 jobs paying an average wage of €33,500. Total Direct Economic Impacts of the Cruise Industry by Country, 2006 Direct Growth Total Total Country Expenditures € from Compensation Jobs The €10.6 billion in direct expenditures include: Million 2005 € Million • €4.1 billion on new cruise ships plus maintenance and Italy € 3,199 28% 74,287 € 2,295 refurbishment (at end 2006, European yards were under UK € 1,818 8% 39,423 € 1,588 contract to build 36 cruise ships – an investment of €14.9 Germany € 1,719 60% 29,925 € 1,152 billion to 2011. France € 849 58% 11,072 € 496 • €3.5 billion in goods and services. Spain € 780 14% 15,496 € 480 Finland € 734 18% 11,668 € 439 • €316 million on ship provisions. Top Six € 9,099 28% 181,811 € 6,450 • €495 million in commissions to European travel agents. € Rest of the EU +3 € 1,483 21% 43,775 € 1,104 • 600 million on fi nancial and business. Total €10,582 27% 225,586 € 7,554 • €2.0 billion in cruise passenger spending.

Direct Cruise Industry Expenditures in Europe, 2006 €10.6 Billion Europe’s growing number of cruise passengers

19% l Passengers Purchases E2.0 l UK 1,204,000 35% 39% l Value of Shipbuilding E4.1 l Germany 705,000 21% 9% l Cruise Employees l Italy 517,000 15% Compensation E1.0 l Spain 391,000 11% 33% l Cruise Line Purchases E3.5 l France 242,000 7% l Other 349,000 10%

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 19

Economic-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:24:34 European Cruise Industry Conference, Brussels

Address by Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization to the European Cruise Industry

ean Cruise Industry Conference, Brussels, 26 February 2008

ConferenceAddress by Efthimios E. Mitropoulos on 26th February 2008

Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization

adies and gentlemen, shiprepair, seafaring, tourism or any of Prompted by the ever increasing size of For some years, the cruise industry their related industries, it has the ability such ships, the Organization launched a Lhas been growing, changing its to provide a signifi cant stimulus. comprehensive review of their safety in profi le and pushing out its boundaries. In Europe, there has been considerable 2000, a process which was completed in No longer the sole preserve of the expansion in passenger numbers, in 2006 with the adoption of a package of wealthy, cruising has now become a destinations visited and, perhaps most amendments to the Safety of Life at Sea holiday choice for a far wider cross- noticeably, in ships on order. It is no Convention. More recently, we have been section of the population. Prices have exaggeration to say that nearly all of the looking at the question of external fi re fallen, the market has expanded, the size world’s cruise vessel orderbook is with safety on passengerships and, of course, at of the ships has increased dramatically European yards, which have established environmental issues that have signifi cance and destinations previously thought a position of genuine global leadership in for all vessels, not least, cruise ships. unattainable have been explored and this particular niche. I should like to take this opportunity developed. As the global regulatory body for the to re-iterate my fi rm belief that IMO’s The cruise industry has international shipping industry, IMO has work has demonstrated, beyond doubt, been, and will continue placed issues affecting that international standards – developed, to be, an aggressive cruise and other agreed, implemented and enforced driver of economic passenger vessels universally – are the only effective way growth for several high on its to regulate such a diverse and truly sectors. Whether in agenda in international industry as shipping. shipbuilding, recent years. With respect to the environment, our aim is to deliver optimal results, globally applied. Regional or unilateral measures, I am convinced, would not only be of limited benefi t to the environment but might also damage an industry on which the whole world relies. In taking this approach, on matters related to the emission of air pollutants or greenhouse gases by ships, we are fully in tune with the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali last year, during

20 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

IMO-J.indd 1 4/3/08 08:26:15 IMO-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:26:22 European Cruise Industry Conference, Brussels

which I outlined both the vital service regard and that our Marine Environment positive links in recent years, which is that international shipping renders to Protection Committee will be presented understandable given the many items of the world’s prosperity and to sustainable with practicable, pragmatic, workable mutual interest on our respective agendas. development, as well as the measures and affordable options on which it can I believe in strong co-operation between that IMO has already taken, and will base the political decisions that have to be the two, and I have established fruitful be taking, to reduce even further the made. In being pro-active in this respect, dialogues with both the Commissioners shipping industry’s contribution to by bringing our ongoing efforts to a for Transport and for Environment. I atmospheric pollution – however minor successful conclusion within the agreed recognize and acknowledge the desire of – and, thus, contribute to global efforts timeframe or, wherever possible, even the States of Europe to attain the highest to address the very serious challenges of sooner, not only will we be sending a possible shipping standards and would global warming and climate change. strong message about IMO’s commitment point to the various maritime safety More specifi cally, IMO is nearing to a cleaner environment, we will also be packages developed by the European the completion of a major review of stating, unequivocally, that, in so doing, Commission, which take into account regulations governing air pollution we are driven by our own green agenda IMO rules and recommendations; as well from ships, in order to reduce harmful out of our own concern and sensitivity for as the establishment of the European atmospheric emissions. A comprehensive the environment. Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), as study commissioned by IMO to assist As infl uential and powerful countries cases in point. Indeed, at EMSA’s opening in the planned revision of MARPOL within the shipping world, the ceremony, in September 2006, I stated Annex VI was successfully completed in European nations can, of course, play a that Europe’s contribution to IMO’s work December. signifi cant role in ensuring the successful was globally recognized and appreciated The study reviewed the impact on the introduction and implementation of these and I looked forward to its continuing environment, on human health and on and, indeed, all IMO standards. Their high quality input to the global regulatory the shipping and petroleum industries, of work within the international context regime has a mandate to deliver. applying any of the fuel options proposed of IMO is of great value, and I wish to Ladies and gentlemen, to conclude; to reduce SOx and particulate matter assure them, once again, that the most the shipping industry is vital for generated by shipping, as well as the effective results will be achieved when global prosperity and for sustainable consequential impact such fuel options they add their weight and their resources development. The cruise industry, could have on other emissions, including to the development and enforcement which might, at fi rst appearance, CO2 emissions from ships and refi neries. of universal, internationally agreed have more to do with relaxation and It was presented to IMO’s Sub- standards. A patchwork of different leisure than with the world of work, Committee on Bulk Liquids and regulations and non-uniform can be a signifi cant driver of Gases, earlier this month, and will application would not achieve IMO’s economic growth. At IMO, subsequently be presented, together the desired results and would work has we seek to retain a careful with recommendations from that Sub- be harmful to shipping in all demonstrated, balance between the needs of Committee, to our Marine Environment its sectors, including the cruise beyond sustainable world trade and Protection Committee at its forthcoming industry. As repeatedly stated doubt, that the improvement of standards March/April session. It is anticipated that and universally acknowledged, of safety, security and consequential amendments to Annex VI only global regulations should international environmental stewardship. will be formally adopted at the subsequent be pursued in all aspects of standards The cruise industry, by and session of the Committee, in October shipping, including on matters are the only large, shows an admirable desire 2008 – and amendments to MARPOL related to safety and pollution effective way to ensure that the balance is normally enter into force 16 months after prevention and control, and the maintained and that it is why their adoption. establishment, through IMO, of to regulate I am pleased to be able to take Throughout this whole process we any special regional measures, such a diverse part in this conference today. have been keenly aware of the apparently such as Sulphur Emission and truly My only regret is that, owing confl icting requirements for, on the one Control Areas, for example, international to other commitments, I have hand, thoroughness in our research and should be pursued on the industry as not been able to participate in in our conclusions, which takes time, and, basis of well-documented and person; nevertheless, I wish on the other hand, the understandable compelling needs. shipping you every success with what clamour to avoid delay and to act In this regard, IMO and promises to be a stimulating and expeditiously. I believe we have been the European Commission thought-provoking agenda. able to strike the right balance in this have developed strong and Thank you. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 21

IMO-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:26:22 Select Black he legendary Black Sea, situated and Cunard’s newest addition Queen extend their holidays with optional land between Southeastern Europe and Victoria, are scheduled to visit these two programmes, such as adventure tours, TAsia Minor, has been an intersection ports. These deployments suggest that customized cultural and historic tours and of infl uences from East and West the Black Sea as a destination meets the participation activities. Exclusive overland throughout history. Today the names of requirements of various tastes including programmes include fl ight tours to the Yalta, Sevastopol, Odessa, Constanta, the most sophisticated and discerning. capital of Ukraine, Kiev from the port Varna, Nessebur, Istanbul, Sinop, Batumi Just a few years ago Ukrainian-Britsh of Odessa. The goal of Select Black Sea and Sochi are becoming more familiar shore excursion operator Select Black Company is to service the requirements to the cruise lines as the Black sea region Sea Ltd. introduced to the market its of cruise lines and leisure yacht passengers becomes more popular. innovative cross-cultural product that who visit the ports of the Black Sea region This year the expected growth rate is allows cruise passengers to explore the by offering them an extensive array of forecast to be 8-10% and the region has unique aspects of local culture combined quality shore excursion options, diverse in new destination options to offer as well as with the multinational heritage of the duration, cost and content. a major port infrastructure development people that once inhabited the Black Sea Odessa, one of the most popular Black which together with exciting marketing region. Sea destinations, features a gracious mix initiatives will contribute to the Black Sea To further maximize your sightseeing of elegant continental and Art Nouveau region becoming even more popular as a experience Select Black Sea Ltd. is able architecture with buildings of the late cruise destination. Existing infrastructure to arrange special before and after hours 19th and early 20th century reminiscent allows Yalta and Odessa to service the visits to museums and castles and guide of Right Bank Paris. The city was founded operations of four large ships with draft you to extraordinary events, such as by the Frenchman governor Armand exceeding 8 meters. Regular callers are classical concerts, elegant receptions, and Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duke Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line, home-hosted lunches. For example the de Richelieu, who transformed the city Oceania Cruises, MSC Cruises, SilverSea, architecture of the Baroque-style Opera into Porto Franco. Its cosmopolitan and Hebridean International Cruises. House of the city of Odessa is not only nature is drawn from an extremely diverse Last year Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ considered the second best in the world population of Russians, Ukrainians, Seven Seas Navigator and Celebrity but it can also house 1500 people for Romanians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Armenians, Cruises’ m/v Galaxy sailed to Odessa an exquisite ballet performance. Now, Italians, Frenchmen, Germans and Jews. and Yalta. And this year Azamara Quest the guests of Select Black Sea Ltd. can Now Select Black Sea guests can explore

22 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Black-Sea.indd Sec1:1 4/3/08 08:28:52 Black-Sea.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:29:04 xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Opera House in Odessa

Crystal Serenity in Odessa NEW PASSENGER TERMINAL IN THE OLYMPIC CITY OF SOCHI Sochi is a major resort on the Russian Riviera, visitors to which are likely to benefi t from a rapid growth of the recreational infrastructure, namely a new offshore cruise terminal and a convention centre, being built in advance of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The new terminal will allow docking for three mega cruise ships with capacities of up to 3000 passengers. tour specialists throughout the Black Sea

Sea Dubler Palace the multinational heritage of Odessa by Khan’s Palace which has been designated selecting one of our culture tours – Jewish, as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Italian or Greek, which is especially Yalta is a dramatically handsome resort interesting as Odessa is often called the on the southern part of Crimea, which Motherland of Greek Freedom due to the seems to be an exquisite combination of secret activity of the Feliki Eteria patriotic Carmel California, the French Riviera and society. Greece. Often called “Nice of the Black Sevastopol is one of most famous Sea”, Yalta is known as the setting for the naval citadels in Europe. It is especially historic Yalta Conference of 1945, attended interesting for the tourists from Great by Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill which Britain as a chance to experience took place in the scenic Livadia White world’s history fi rsthand by visiting Palace, the former summer residence of the tragically notorious Crimean War the Romanov Imperial family. In Yalta battlefi elds, which were immortalized Select Black Sea Ltd. is able to organize an Livadia Palace in Tennyson’s poem, “The Charge of extensive range of various shore excursions, the Light Brigade”. In the vicinity of including the places far off the beaten path, Sevastopol there is the outpost of Greek such as the Palace of Dulber, which since and Hellenic culture for millennia, the the year of 2005 houses the unique photo ancient settlement of Chersonesus, which exposition devoted to the history of the is also the cradle of Russian Orthodox Russian Imperial family and organized on Christianity. Every summer the ancient the initiative of Select Black Sea Ltd. Yalta theatre of Chersonesus is the venue is also known as the home to the Ukraine’s of theatrical performances which are oldest winery Massandra, which legendary arranged in the authentic environment fi ne and rare wine collection is recorded of the ancient city. Sevastopol also serves into the Guinness Book of Records. During as a gateway to one of only three palaces the wine tasting tours guests are offered the representing the civilizational circle of opportunity to sample vintage luxurious the Middle East in Europe, Bakhchisaray wines that match their own age. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 23

Black-Sea.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:29:04 Port Issue COLD IRONING

alklk tto most t cruise i company connectionti tto lilink k ships hi tto shore h power eachh bberth th would ld hhave tto bbe suffi ffi cient i t executives about the pace-gathering (an IMO working group is currently to supply a “village” of 4,000 people Tmove towards the use of shore trying to establish one) and ships cannot - about eight megawatts – and that power as a positive contribution to just move along a quay and plug in. the ports would have to pay for that reducing environmentally harmful “So, from a cruise shipowner’s point equipment and then provide the power emissions from ships and their lack of of view, there is not only the capital at a cost competitive with the cost of enthusiasm is palpable. costs involved in fi tting the required ships generating their own power.. The reason for this is as clear as the equipment on board but also – typically But the cost and even the availability issue is cloudy – far from being a win- – the longterm cost of taking a revenue- of shoreside power is going to vary win solution for the maritime sector earning cabin out of each side of the widely from place to place. and shoreside communities and lobby ship. Given four berths in those cabins, Naylor said: “In Alaska, where they groups, it has – as Carnival UK’s Philip that is a potential loss £400/$800 generate more than they need, shore Naylor explained – every possibility of per day over 362 days a year service power is going to be cheaper than the becoming a lose-lose deal. multiplied by the 30- year life of the ship generating it but, in the UK for He said: “This has been seized upon ships. This adds up to a not insignifi cant example, a lot of the incremental power by a number of coastal and port state £4.3m/$8.6m per ship.” supplied comes from fossil fuel sources. authorities as a way of solving a problem That is why they are reluctant to “Basic requirements are fuelled by a that they think exists. They understand contribute to the port’s cost of putting combination of gas and nuclear (some the concept of plugging something into the shoreside connection equipment imported from the Continent) and, to a source of electric power but there on the berth. This will vary but, to a lesser extent, hydro power. But, when does not seem to be much awareness enable all ships calling at the ports of demand increases on a very cold winter’s or recognition of the environmental Los Angeles and Long Beach to switch day, sustainable power sources like wind credentials of that power source - to shore power at every available berth, turbines are not suffi cient to deal with whether it is generated sustainably or it has been estimated by consultants, at it – rather it falls fi rst to fossil-fi red and from a source that entails signifi cant a recent conference on cold ironing in then to the even less environmentally- emissions and harm to the environment. London, that the cost is in the region of friendly oil-fi red power stations to fi ll “The European Commission(EC) $1.7bn. Much of that expense is because the gap” has encouraged ports in Europe to ports often do not currently run much This begs two important questions. investigate the viability of shore power power up to the berths. Naylor said: “Do we really want to and produced statistics on its potential Naylor said: “The power supply to the add these incremental chunks of power benefi ts in terms of air quality and berths at Southampton’s Western Docks demands just to provide shore power to the number of lives that will be saved. is about 80 years old and the cranes still ships especially as, even to maintain the Unfortunately, it continues to overlook run on DC currents so it will not just be status quo, the UK needs to build a lot a number of important aspects of a matter of simply putting a transformer of extra power-generating capacity in this issue which put the viability and on the quay and plugging it in, it will be the UK to replace those older stations environmental effectiveness of shore a huge infrastructure project to actually being closed down. power into serious question. get the power there.” “Also, does it really make sense for “For a start, there is no standardised He pointed out the the power at ships to switch to power being provided

24 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Cold-Ironing-J.indd 1 4/3/08 08:29:59 Cold-Ironing-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:30:09 Port Issue

Emissions Solution or Red Herring Carnival UK’s General Manager Fleet Operations Philip Naylor casts some much needed light on the increasingly opaque issue of shore power for ships (AKA ** cold ironing)

bybtibll non-sustainable coal and oil sources – thought to have a negative impact on more time prior to departure to run especially when those power stations are aquatic/marine life. the engines up to a level where the right next to the ports? In these cases, I Naylor said: “I believe that scientists, shore power can be taken away. During believe the answer is `no’. having realized that is not so much of those periods, the engines are actually “In countries where they have huge an issue as they once thought, they are running on low loads. This means the supplies of sustainable hydro electricity now simply saying that nitrous oxide is visible emissions will actually increase like Norway and France or places like a nasty gas to have in the air and no one because the engines are not running so California where there is nuclear energy disputes that fact. effi ciently. to be sourced well away from major “The EC has encouraged all ports “It is a little like waiting at the traffi c conurbations, it may be a good thing, to conduct air studies in their ports lights when, by revving up and letting but particularly in the old established and Southampton found that any out the clutch, you are bringing on more industrial centres in the developed concentrations tended to be where power than you need so that you do not economies in Europe, it is probably you have lots of vehicular activity by stall the engine. It is exactly the same not.” the ships ie with ferries and container with a ship when you need to bring This is all an example, he said, of the ships.” the ship’s generator up to match that dangers involved in coming up with Another element of the “to cold iron shoreside power demand. a single solution for a single problem or not to cold iron” argument revolves “It all has to be balanced up quite when that problem is part of a much around ships having to power up after carefully, otherwise the system just runs broader issue. This approach can often switching off the shoreside source. into overload. This is certainly one of simply make the situation worse. Because ferries spend much short times the contributory causes of a ship having He said: “As a company, we prefer in port, Naylor believes that shore a power failure whether it’s a total ‘black to take a holistic view which, in this power is a non-starter for them. As out’ or a partial loss: a ’ brown out’,” case, means considering whether there cruise ships tend to stay 10-12 hours, As Naylor concludes, the jury is is a net environmental benefi t to cold the situation for them is – once again – a clearly still out on cold-ironing. He ironing? And the fact is that it does not little more complex. said: “As well as all the operational really matter if you generate fuel from He said: “The visible emissions that and practical issues, it remains the an oil or coal fi red power station or a are seen now from ships are a product of case that it may or may not be the ship’s engine room, the carbon footprint using heavy fuel oil and occur when the most economically viable solution is going to be about the same. main engines are started up from cold. and it may or may not even be the “There are also the issues of sulphur But, by 2010, cruise ships are going to most environmentally sustainable dioxide emissions causing acidifi cation need to be using distilate fuel (very light solution.”  of forests in regions like Scandinavia and grade gas oil) when alongside and the ** Th e term “cold ironing” derives from an old of local eutrophication caused by NOx emissions created when starting up from US navy expression, coined many years ago emissions damage to air quality.“ cold using that will be very much less. when iron war ships fi rst introduced steam NOx is a factor of the chemistry of “But, when it is a question of power. When they were in port, they would shut combustion of a hydro carbon fuel switching to and from shore power, it is the boilers down. Th is meant they could not and this gas contributes to nitrate going to take time to shut the engines immediately put to sea in an emergency and so concentration in waterways which was down and then it is going take even they were described as ‘cold iron’.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 25

Cold-Ironing-J.indd 2 4/3/08 08:30:09 Rotterdam and beyond…the best of Holland

26 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Rotterdam.indd 1 4/3/08 08:31:08 Rotterdam.indd 2 4/3/08 08:31:15 s one of the largest ports in the ROTTERDAM HIGHLIGHTS fully mechanical organ in Europe. World, Rotterdam continues to Spido provides round trips in and around “Shopping in Rotterdam” is the ideal Asurprise everyone with its new Rotterdam. At the base of the Erasmus way for visitors to discover Rotterdam’s architecture, festivals, sporting events, Bridge, Spido welcomes you to come and exceptional “secrets”. There are eight daring art and culture, trendsetting enjoy a surprising tour along Rotterdam’s special shopping routes for pedestrians, nightlife and increasing number of impressive skyline and harbours. varying in length and character. Each one unique stores. Rotterdam is an open Industrial Tourism offers tailor-made reveals a different aspect of the dynamic and hospitable city, easily accessible by tours through the port of Rotterdam by shopping city. water, rail, road and air. The River Maas, boat or bus. Museum Boijmans van Beuningen is to which Rotterdam owes its existence, The Cube Houses were designed by Piet famous for its magnifi cent collections is an attraction in itself. During an Blom. He saw his design as a tree and the of classical and contemporary art. With impressive boat trip, you can see the entire complex as a forest. The Kijkkubus works by many masters such as Brueghel, gigantic throughput facilities, which is the fully furnished museum home in Rembrandt, Monet, Dali, Picasso, Van are shifting further towards the sea all the Blaakse Bos. Gogh and De Kooning. The museum the time. Simultaneously, the inner The Euromast with an overall height of also houses arts and crafts dating back to city docklands arear being transformed 185 meter provides an unforgettable view the fourteenth century, as well as modern into attractive, livelyliv areas with busy of the dynamic city of Rotterdam, the design. pavement cafes, innovativei architecture, world port and the low land around it. The Maritime Museum covers the history unique bridgesbridges andan an excellent In the 21st century Historic Delfshaven of the port of Rotterdam. Outside, the choice of shops,shops, restaurantsr and bars. is more than just its history. It has nineteenth-century man o’war “De ShoppingShopping in thethe modern centre, with now been discovered by fun-shoppers. Buffel” is moored. itsits widewide choicechoice ofo stores is a real treat. Where the United East Indies In the Historic Museum Het On SundaysSundays too, a lot of department Company once built ships, Piet Heyn Schielandhuis the Rotterdam of the past stores on andand aroundaro Beursplein and the drank his beer and the Pilgrim Fathers comes back to life in rooms decorated LijnbaanLijnbaan are open.ope This area is encircled spent the night before embarking on in historical style, from the eighteenth byby the “golden“golden edges”ed of the centre: their voyage to America, you will now century to the present day. poshposh Van Oldenbarneveltstraat,Oldenb Karel fi nd antique shops, art dealers, small There is an enormous amount to see in Doormanstraat, KruiskadeK and the trendy shops selling bric-à-brac, glass, (bridal) Rotterdam when it comes to architecture Nieuwe Binnenweg,Binnenw Witte de Withstraat fashion, two interesting museums, an and urban development. Rotterdam andand Nieuwe Markt.Mar Rotterdam is a imposing church, two theatres and a attracts huge international interest as a modern citycity withwith guts, where old and new corn mill. city of architecture and not only because blend together.together. ItsI skyline is constantly The “Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk” built of the impressive skyline, which just changing.changing. HighriseHighr projects, such as between 1449 -1525 (late Gothic) is the continues to grow. Montevideo at theth Kop van Zuid and the oldest monument in central Rotterdam. The zoo has expanded to become one renovated LloydkwartierLloydk are evidence of The church features three memorial of Europe’s most beautiful zoological thethe dynamicdynamic characterchar of the city. And tombs for sea heroes and three Marcussen gardens. And last year the Royal Rotterdam yet,yet, the typicaltypical “Old“O Dutch” atmosphere organs, the main organ being the largest Zoo celebrated its 150th birthday. has remained intact in places such as Delfshaven and the Scheepvaartkwartier (Shipping District). Rotterdam has a very wide range of museums. From modern art to historical artefacts, from architecture to photography, from historical ships to exotic animals. Furthermore, there are lots of interesting galleries at various locations in the city. In Rotterdam, many different cultures have a tangible infl uence. The countless bars and restaurants, for example, together represent all of the world’s cuisines.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 27

Rotterdam.indd 2 4/3/08 08:31:15 ...beyond Rotterdam

RotterdamRotterdam

2 4 5 3 1 7 6

7

2 The Hague 3 Schiedam 4 Delft

5 Gouda 6 Dordrecht 7 Kinderdijk

28 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Rotterdam.indd 3 4/3/08 08:31:23 Rotterdam.indd 4 4/3/08 08:32:03 3 Schiedam

In the areas around the city, beaches, you can taste and nostalgia you can feel. polders and countless historic monuments 4 There is no other place where you can be found. Nowhere else in The will encounter so many globally appealing Netherlands is there such a varied range cultural-historical values as in Delft - of landscapes. The historic towns of Delft Delftware, Johannes Vermeer, the link (porcelain), Gouda (cheese), The Hague with the Dutch Royal Family and the (Peace Palace), Dordrecht (oldest city Dutch East India Company. Although of The Netherlands), Schiedam (Dutch more than 750 years old, Delft is more gin) and Kinderdijk (18 windmills that than history; a lively modern city with are on UNESCO’s World Heritage list) many innovations. can all quickly and easily be reached from 5 Traditionally, the town of Gouda has Rotterdam by public transport, coach, car functioned as a market town and a transit or boat. town for regional products and as centre 2 The Hague has been called many of facilities. The extensive area of peaty names: Green City by the Sea, Royal meadows of which Gouda forms the centre, Residence, Beautiful City behind the made cheese the very product with which Dunes, the Largest Village of Europe. It is the town became famous. There are still the third largest city in The Netherlands, cheese warehouses in the centre of the town. seat of The Netherlands government, 6 The historic inner city of Dordrecht, the home of the Royal Family and boasts the oldest city of The Netherlands, lies 11 km of coastline and extensive public concealed between mighty rivers. The old parklands. However, with more than 80 inner city can be best explored on foot. international organisations, including a The traditions of a mediaeval mercantile number of world-renowned courts and city are refl ected in nearly a thousand tribunals, The Hague has truly earned its monuments. Cruise Port Rotterdam B.V. reputation as the City of Peace, Justice 7 The Netherlands are famous for Wilhelminakade 699 and Security. its windmills. Today there are still more PO. Box 51005 3 Owing to the heydays of the Dutch than 1,000 standing and nowhere will you 3007 GA ROTTERDAM gin and shipping industries, the city centre fi nd as many as near Kinderdijk where Tel: +31-10-4860724 Fax: +31-10-4135022 of Schiedam has a wealth of stories. Built 18 sturdy windmills were built in around E-mail: offi [email protected] by prosperous distillers, the 225 national 1740 and these have been well preserved Website: www.cruiseportrotterdam.com monuments in Schiedam have a history to this day.  Mrs. Mai Elmar. director

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 29

Rotterdam.indd 4 4/3/08 08:32:03 ARUBA Only the Best

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Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:52:32 Douwes.indd 1 4/3/08 08:33:45 Itinerary development Quintessential

Ingredients By Simon Douwes and Timothy Littley Holland America Line

or some time now, our goodd itineraritineraryy pplanninglanning has alwaalwaysys been ttoo ddiffiiffi cult to offer comcompetitivepetitive itinerariesitineraries,, friend Chris Ashcroft the editor ensure that the operational and fi nancial especially shorter cruises, from home Fof Dream World Cruise Destinations underpinnings of an itinerary are ports far removed from the traditional has been asking us to write something sound. The itinerary planner therefore cruising areas such as the Caribbean or about Holland America Line’s unique needs to combine creativity with broad the Mexican Riviera. The lack of port itineraries, the port developments operational knowledge and a fi rm diversity near these alternate home ports inherent to those itineraries and, understanding of fi nancial reality. The results in relatively higher fuel costs, as ultimately, the business philosophy combination of these qualities, together well as reduced shore excursion revenue. which underpins Holland America Line’s with the aforementioned perspicacity, It is for this reason that Ports such as inimitable and very successful cruises. are the tools of the itinerary planner’s Baltimore or San Francisco will never Let’s fi rst clarify the matter of trade. obtain the same cruise traffi c numbers as itinerary planning. One must understand The entire cruise industry went ports like Miami or Fort Lauderdale. that itinerary planning is not solely a through a deployment contraction in the The approach we took at Holland mathematical equation of operational aftermath of 9/11. For Holland America America was to retain our traditional parameters, yield and cost. If one were to it meant that some ships, which were home ports and diversify our products approach itinerary planning in such an once deployed far from North America by sailing to different destinations austere manner, the result would ultimately in places like Europe, were moved contiguous to the traditional cruising fall short on many levels. In back to ”The Homeland”. This regions. One of the great advantages order to prosper and succeed, The contraction of deployments had Holland America Line had over its itinerary planning requires as an immediate consequence direct competition was that our array a healthy dose of creativity. lack of an overabundance of cruise of itineraries had traditionally included No destination has ever port diversity capacity in the volume market, many that were longer than seven been developed without near these therefore resulting in a predictable days. In combination with a fl eet creativity; it is, in many ways, alternate home downward pressure on yields. consisting primarily of medium-sized the quintessential ingredient. ports results Most cruise lines tried to vessels it makes it that much easier to Holland America Line has distinguish themselves from the go to destinations where the cruise been and still is endowed with in relatively competition by offering cruises infrastructure is less developed, as a wonderfully forward thinking higher fuel from different home ports. opposed to generic destinations such as management team. Creativity, costs Thus was born the concept of Cozumel or St. Thomas. brinkmanship and foresight “homeporting” as a deployment Initially, we developed two new are understood to be necessary strategy. Holland America programmes, both with innovative to achieve success. played only a minor role in the itineraries. One was the so-called One of the challenges in homeporting game. It is very ‘Westfarer’ cruise which included

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 31

Douwes.indd 1 4/3/08 08:33:45 [[[QEVXMRMUYISVK

Paul Gauguin Comfort Pristine Beaches Ti-Punch

The Sweet Life Creole Cuisine Saint-Pierre,Flowers the little Pompeii

Fun For information and free brochures on Martinique, please call (514) 288-1904 or visit: www.martinique.org

Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:53:01 Douwes.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:33:52 Itinerary development

Copper Canyon to develop the Copper Canyon tour for the cruise industry a lot of groundwork needed to be done, and in this regard we are eternally grateful for the work of Bernardo Balderama Garcia and Arturo Musi. Their dedication and perseverance were key to bringing our shared vision to life. Over the years and continuing to this day, the shore excursion programmes at the Sea of Cortez destinations have been steadily increased in capacity and quality. For 2008, Holland America Line has added Guaymas to the line-up of ports and will have more sailings than ever into the Sea of Cortez. As we reach the close of the fi rst decade of this new millennium the situation is very different to the fi rst few years after 9/11. Holland America Line’s focus has evolved and the post 9/11 contraction is long past. We have entered a time period Veracruz as the marquis destination and In contrast to the Westfarer of unprecedented expansion of the cruise the other programme was the ‘Sea of programme The Sea of Cortez cruises industry. Holland America Line’s ships Cortez’ cruise, anchored on Topolobampo were an instant success. For the fi rst time are once again deployed world wide. With and the Copper Canyon. ever, a larger cruise ship (the Ryndam with so many superb destinations now on the Despite the inclusion of Veracruz the 1258 lower beds) sailed the Sea of Cortez map the only limiting factor at this time Westfarer cruises did not fare as well with calls at Pichilinque for La Paz, would appear to be the size of our fl eet. as we had anticipated and after the fi rst Loreto, Santa Rosalia and Topolobampo. In 2008, Holland America Line will year we discontinued the programme. Up until that time the Sea of Cortez had visit 328 ports in 113 different countries Veracruz is an old, venerated and been serviced primarily by small niche and territories, up from 314 in 2007. wonderful city on the Gulf of Mexico. operators such as Cruise West. When In 2004 we visited 264 different ports. No city I have ever visited has a more starting an entire new programme, it These numbers show a rapidly expanding enthusiastic population and a more is very important that the marketing global presence and dozens of new supportive administration to welcome message is anchored on a well-known destinations every year, some of which cruise ships. However the main attraction. For The Sea of Cortex we have never hosted a cruise vessel before. drawback at the time was the lack of found this in the Copper Canyon, which New destinations and maiden port calls other destinations in the vicinity to can be accessed by an amazing daytrip have become very much a defi ning support Veracruz. One of the cardinal by train from Topolobampo. In order characteristic of our itineraries. With the rules of itinerary planning is that no destination can exist on its own, every Dominican Republic destinations needs to be supported by other neighbouring destinations in order to build an itinerary. Veracruz did not have a destination network to support its marquee status. One good thing that came forth from our Westfarer programme was that it sparked the interest of several cargo ports in the region. Five years later we now see that Gulf of Mexico destinations are rapidly being developed, Progreso is re-branding itself (Puerto Yucatan) and is becoming a very attractive destination. Other ports such as Tabasco and Tampico have invested heavily and are now readying themselves to receive large cruise ships. The Gulf of Mexico can easily be reached from home ports ranging from Pensacola to Corpus Christi and Houston. All are home ports that are close to the itinerary destinations and in most cases close to large domestic markets as well. In short, all the conditions are coming together on the Mexican East coast to build a fantastic Gulf of Mexico programme.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 33

Douwes.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:33:52 Untitled-6Untitled-1 1 5/3/074/3/08 19:26:2209:53:28 Douwes.indd Sec2:3 4/3/08 08:34:09 Itinerary development

SIMON DOUWES Director, Deployment & Itinerary Planning Holland America Line 300 Elliott Avenue West Seattle, WA 98119 Simon Douwes is the Director of Deployment and Itinerary Planning for Holland America Line, a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation & plc. Appointed to this position in 2002, he has the responsibility of researching, developing and implementing the deployments and itineraries for all vessels in the Holland America Line fl eet. Douwes began his career at Holland America Line as an offi cer shortly after graduating from the Nautical Academy of Amsterdam in 1978. He steadily rose through the ranks and was promoted to Captain in 1993. He served as Captain on many of the Holland America Line vessels between 1993 and 2002. Simon resides on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State with his wife Sharon and two children. When not at work, he enjoys fl y-fi shing and scuba diving.

TIMOTHY LITTLEY world at our fi ngertips we are fi nding islands, have a lot to offer in this regard. Manager, Deployment & Itinerary Planning that our target demographic has both the Whether or when Cuba comes into play Holland America Line motivation and means to discover it. This is a matter of much speculation. It is 300 Elliott Avenue West does not necessarily mean that all new safe to say however that such an event Seattle, WA 98119 destinations perform satisfactorily during will redefi ne the Caribbean market and a fi rst call. In fact this is, unfortunately, will result in a bonanza of exciting new Timothy Littley is the Manager of Deployment not often the case. The term “Overnight itineraries. The fl ip side to this is that not and Itinerary Planning for Holland America Success” is seldom used when speaking all of the current Caribbean destinations Line, a subsidiary of the Carnival Corporation of port development. People, patience, are likely to emerge from the upheaval as & plc. He has the responsibility of perseverance, politics combined with winners. researching, developing and implementing the vision and availability of capital are what When we look to the future, we deployments and itineraries for all vessels in make a destination a success. An example see an ever expanding cruise industry, the Holland America Line fl eet. of a destination that has gotten it right and with that comes the increasing Born in the Netherlands and of British is Puerto Chiapas. It is a relatively new need to create fresh new itineraries, nationality, Timothy graduated from the destination that has performed superbly similar to what Holland America Nautical Academy of Amsterdam in 1998 with for us from the very fi rst time we called Line has done the Sea of Cortez two Bachelor degrees in engineering (BSc). there in 2006. It has become a staple and the Gulf of Mexico. It is time destination on most of our Panama Canal to look beyond established concepts Prior to joining the Holland America Line cruises and it is somewhat remarkable and predispositions. Both the cruise he served as a navigational and engineering that not many of our competitors have operators and cruise destinations must offi cer with various commercial cargo followed in our footsteps. task themselves to the goal of creating operators. Timothy began his career at Holland It is important that the cruise industry the framework for continued growth in America Line as a navigational offi cer in 1999 continues to participate and invest in new the next decade and beyond. and served on many of Holland America cruise destinations as well. Examples of There are signs of dark economic Line’s vessels as he rose through the ranks. very successful destination creations are clouds on the horizon; this may mean He accepted his current position as Manager Holland America Line’s private island battening down the hatches. However, the of Deployment and Itinerary Planning in 2005 Half Moon Cay and more recently the nature and strength of the cruise business and subsequently moved to Washington State. Grand Turk development. The traditional will allow us to weather these kinds of Timothy resides in Everett, Washington with cruise regions remain the backbone of storms. With continued destination his wife Kelly and their golden retriever Piper. the industry and will attract ships of development, some creative itinerary When not at work, he enjoys catamaran increasing number and size. Fortunately planning and marketing wizardry, we can sailing, fi shing and travel. there are many untapped destinations out entice the baby boomers to herald what there that have the potential to deliver will hopefully be a new age of cruising a great experience. The Dominican with growth and prosperity for a very Republic, Puerto Rico and other such long time to come. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 35

Douwes.indd Sec2:3 4/3/08 08:34:09 Ports OpportunityBy Tony Peisley for new ports?

hen Saga decided that its Spirit a) this sort of democratic exercise is itinerary and make it work.” of Adventure was going to make unlikely to be repeated too often even He also warned that, although there Wher fi rst Baltic cruise, it not only by Saga or adopted at all by most cruise had been a recent increase in the number alerted past passengers to the fact in their companies, and of calls being made at new or rarely ‘Freespirited’ newsletter but suggested b) Spirit of Adventure passengers are, visited ports (his own brand offered 29 three different itineraries from which almost by defi nition, more destination- new calls in its 2007/8 programme), this they could choose the one that would be focused than the average cruiser. was likely to tail off. operated. That said, Saga has also had success “There will be passenger volume Saga Shipping managing director James with a couple of “mystery” cruises which increases because of the larger ships being Duguid said, “We offered the standard passengers booked knowing only that there deployed but not much more growth in northern capitals, another itinerary that would be at least eight ports and that four the number of calls,” he said. “If we have would have concentrated on Gdansk and of these would be new to the brand – the too many more ports trying to attract other southern Baltic ports, and a third actual destinations were kept secret. cruise business, they are likely to be which went right into the Gulf of Bothnia. With 80%-plus repeaters for the disappointed.” “By a big majority, they went for main brand, Duguid said: “We do feel He said that new or emerging ports Bothnia so that is what we scheduled.” under pressure to add new ports, but we should think very carefully before Which is good news for the are always careful not to have too many investing heavily in terminals, especially promotional group which has been trying on one cruise in case they should prove if the landside tourism infrastructure is to encourage more cruise traffi c into the unpopular.” limited or non-existent. Gulf and by extension – it would seem This view was echoed by Fred. Olsen “Unless there is homeporting involved, – for all smaller, less well-known ports Cruise Lines’ marketing director Nigel a terminal is rarely required,” he said. trying to establish themselves on the Lingard, again quoting the Baltic. He As one executive (Mark Ittel) from a cruise circuit. said “We do like to add the occasional leading terminal development company But it would be wrong for them to take new port but never more than one on an (Bermello, Ajamil & Partners) was moved too much comfort from this example of itinerary as it is very important always to say at a recent conference: “If you passenger power as: to have your banker ports which sell an don’t need it, don’t build it.”

36 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Opportunity.indd Sec1:1 4/3/08 08:35:54 Opportunity.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:36:02 xxxxxxxxxxxxxPorts

The Baltic is a prime example of an not deliver enough business to sustain the that those brands are increasingly using area where there are any number of number of ports coming into the sector. their smaller, older ships to pathfi nd new ports looking covetously at the economic Their target must be the smaller regions and new ports. benefi ts cruise tourism is bringing to ships and the luxury and soft adventure/ Although it does use large ships in established ports like Tallinn and St expedition sectors in particular. traditionally smaller-ship regions (eg. Petersburg and their surrounding areas. As an example of how this works the Antarctica and the Baltic), Princess They clearly see a chance for latest itineraries for P&O Cruises (POC) Cruises is the best example of this trend, themselves as the cruise industry not and Voyages of Discovery (VoD) make with the 700-passenger Tahitian Princess only expands but focuses much more an interesting comparison. The six ships and Royal Princess seeking out the smaller, on Europe as a source market and, by of POC feature just nine new ports little-visited ports in the South Pacifi c and extension, a destination, too. throughout 2008, while the one ship of Mediterranean respectively. But, although the larger, newer ships VoD will make 24 inaugural calls in the Another way the newer ports may are beginning to operate in areas like winter 2008/9 season alone. benefi t is because there is some evidence the Baltic (eg. Carnival Splendor in 2008) The fact that POC has been cruising that the increased congestion at the and the rest of Northern Europe, the for much longer than VoD is obviously larger or more popular ports (eg. Venice, Mediterranean and also Asia now, these a factor, as inevitably it will have already Livorno or Santorini) is starting to will always concentrate on the larger, visited far more ports, but it does show prompt some major brands to fi nd marquee ports. the different dynamic operating – as far as alternatives, but the fact remains that This will be partly for operational and itinerary-planning is concerned – between mega-ships are seldom going to include a logistical reasons – being able to dock and a mainstream premium brand and a soft- large number of small new ports. know there is enough ground transport/ adventure specialist. For cruise wannabe ports, a sense of tours for 2,000-plus passengers is critical. But there is undoubtedly some perspective is going to prove the key They may include the occasional new potential for a spin-off from the capacity attribute if they are to get the right level port – to impress their past passengers expansion among the major brands and of return on any investment – private and/ if nothing else – but, even with the the fact that this is based primarily on or public – made in the cause of attracting increasing number of these ships, this will mega-ships. Their introduction has meant cruise ships to their harbours. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 37

Opportunity.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:36:02 Klaipeda an amber jewel invests for further growth

38 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Klaipe da.indd Sec1:1 4/3/08 08:36:48 ust a few yeas ago the port and town of Klaipeda was unknown to Jcruise visitors. All of a sudden an ever increasing number of cruise ships are visiting this maritime city. Klaipeda has achieved a passenger growth rate of over 400% between 2003 and 2007, with 36,686 cruise passenger arrivals in 2007 – a 40% increase compared to 2006. As a consequence of this growth a new passenger terminal is being built to help sustain the city’s future cruise tourism business.

NEW PASSENGER TERMINAL ANNOUNCED The modern Cruise Vessel Terminal, built in 2003 in the historic heart of downtown Klaipeda, has served passenger shipping ARRIVE TO A TRADITIONAL LITHUANIAN KLAIPEDA TO HOST CRUISE EUROPE AGM well but as there has been a rapid and WARM WELCOME In May 2008 Cruise Europe will hold continuous growth in the number of The Port of Klaipeda welcomes visitors its Cruise Conference and its Annual cruise vessels visiting the city, the Port to the sound of the traditional songs General Meeting in Klaipeda. This will Authority has decided to invest in a new and dance together with a personalized again provide the platform for cruise Passenger Terminal. Construction of gift of either a tiny amber piece or a industry executives and representatives the new terminal has already begun and fl ower, a cup of herbal tea or a bottle of of Cruise Europe’s 100 port members the completed building is expected to be mineral water – these are the traditions to learn from each other and share inaugurated in a couple of years. This of the port. Drop anchor in Klaipeda – a developments and exchange best practice will provide passengers with an enhanced Lithuanian gem is waiting for you. in order to improve service standards and service and offer cruise lines an alternative enhance their marketability. All visitors place for berthing their ships. will be greeted to a traditional Lithuanian welcome and experience the beauty of KLAIPEDA – AN AMBER JEWEL the region.  A modern Cruise Vessel Terminal, which was inaugurated in 2003, was the catalyst for the development of the city: red-brick USEFUL LINKS warehouses were converted and cleaned, Port information: www.portofklaipeda.lt local food restaurants sprang up and now Tourist information: www.klaipedainfo.lt fountains, surrounded by fl ower-pots, are scattered throughout the city. The www.visitneringa.com and www.palangatic.lt narrow streets of the Old Town transmits an atmosphere of ancient times where once craftsmen, shoemakers, blacksmiths, GENERAL INFORMATION bakers used to live. It is little wonder that Tourist information: On pier the beauty of the Old Town, with its neo- Transport: Taxis and limousines available Gothic buildings and patchwork houses, Shopping: Akropolis mall & entertainment center has become a magnet for visitors seeking Local currency: Lithuanian Litas a different experience and a lasting Downtown: Within walking distance from impression. Cruise Terminal Klaipeda, stretching along the coast Airport: Palanga International Airport (25 km) of the Curonian Lagoon, is set amongst sand dunes and pine tree forests and vessels approaching the city can glimpse PORT INFORMATION the edge of the Curonian Spit, one Port: Klaipeda State Seaport Authority UNESCO’s world heritage sites – Address: J. Janonio g. 24, LT-92251, Klaipeda, Juodkrant , Preila, Nida. A short distance Lithuania down the coast is Palanga, a Lithuanian Phone: +370 46 499 799 resort renowned for its rich Amber E-mail: [email protected] Museum, Botanical Gardens, and long Fax: +370 46 499 777 pedestrian pier. Web: www.portofklaipeda.lt The distinctive Lithuanian landscape, Time zone: GMT +2 (European which is considered to be of outstanding Summer Time: GMT +3) natural beauty, is complement by delicious cuisine, warm-hearted people and an ISPS 24 h contact: +370 46 499 645 or VHF ch 9 appealing medieval ambiance impregnated Maximum ships dimensions: with a modern dynamism. Length: 315 m; Draft: 8.5 m; Beam: 45 m

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 39

Klaipe da.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:36:54 Travel Agents Cruise training for travel agents By Maria Harding

ducainment’ – the multi- if you have other tools available to help Southampton. media presentation of training capture their imagination – be they His three-strong team have also made ‘Ematerials in fl exible, fun and vodcasts of familiarisation trips and ship strides in revamping ACE training with accessible formats – is the name of the visits, podcasts of interviews with cruise more up-to-date presentations and a game for cruise lines striving to capture industry leaders or knowledge-reinforcing strong online presence enabling ‘anytime’ the hearts and minds of travel agents computer-based games and quizzes, it accessibility. in cruising’s second largest and fastest- makes sense to use them.” A driving force in this has been the growing cruise market, the UK. Travel agencies pay £139 annually per growing army of home workers running With around 84 per cent of 2007’s branch for membership of ACE, while their own micro travel agencies under the estimated 1.35 million UK cruise ‘satellite’ membership costs £59 for a auspices of umbrella organisations like bookings made via agents – increasing range of training and other benefi ts, Travel Counsellors and Future Travel. numbers of whom are turning to high- including ‘Watermark’ newsletters and “ACE travel agency membership grew yield cruise selling to balance declining other publications, invitations to Cruise 45 per cent in 2007 and of the 500 or so income from other travel sectors – the Expo training events and a growing range new members, half were home workers,” rewards of ensuring they are well of computer-based training facilities. Harmer says. trained and product-aware are obvious. For their part, agents seeking ‘ACE “Clearly people operating as a one- And cruise lines have been quick Cruise Expert’ accreditation must now man-band can’t keep shutting up shop to court them, traditionally using score 100 ‘training points’ in their fi rst to attend training sessions, so we’ve workshops, road shows, in-house training year of membership, then keep up the developed our online offering to allow days and other events to get their message good work by acquiring 50 more every them to design their own training across. year. schedule in the evenings, at weekends or Now cruise training is undergoing a sea Points are awarded for a range of whenever they have time to get online change, as innovative approaches already activities, including completion of online and learn.” pioneered in North America fuse with the modules, ship visits, familiarisation ACE has four online training courses development of the Internet, the I-pod, trips and the organising of local cruise – Understanding Cruise, Selling Cruise, text messaging and other technology to promotional events. Selling Luxury Cruise and Selling revolutionise teaching methods. Harmer, whose background is in Specialist and River Cruise – up and “Essentially, to make training effective lecturing and TV training, joined the running, as well as a ‘Sail the Seven Seas’ we have to make it fl exible, accessible and association formerly known as PSARA animated introduction to learning about fun,” says Andy Harmer, director of the (the Passenger Shipping Association cruise. Passenger Shipping Association’s travel Retail Agents) scheme last year and Eight new modules will go live in May, agent liaison and training offshoot ACE almost immediately oversaw a name- to coincide with the Southampton Cruise (the Association of Cruise Experts). change to the catchier ACE acronym Convention, and recent innovations “A lot of people are turned off by and the launch of an annual cruise include the launch of downloadable traditional classroom-style training, so convention, which in 2008 will be held in podcast interviews and vodcast reports on

40 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Training.indd Sec2:1 4/3/08 08:38:31 Training.indd Sec2:2 4/3/08 08:38:40 Travel Agents

industry developments, cruise events and to the point, Park says. “Interactive But despite massive investment in familiarisation trips. training is growing in importance for us online training and communications, “We want to ensure that whatever an as, although it can’t entirely replace on- Pilkington maintains that they will agent’s level of cruise expertise, they’ll the-road, face-to-face sales and training never be a substitute for face-to-face fi nd something geared to them,” Harmer efforts, it’s invaluable from a resource and contact, the effi cacy of which has been says. practicality point of view. demonstrated by the drive to computerise As well as generic training, the ACE “But it’s vital to keep the brand message bookings. site ww.cruiseexperts.org provides consistent and to get the presentation “The most important thing for us is branded training from ACE’s 34 cruise right; it needs to be inspirational that agents can quickly and easily make a line members. and entertaining, but also relevant and booking, and that’s where we have made Carnival Cruise Lines and Holland above all workable or agents won’t bother the greatest progress with technology,” America Line are the latest to offer spending their own time on it.” he says. training via the ACE site, and MSC Mark Pilkington, head of sales for “Five years ago nearly all our bookings Cruises will go live by the end of Complete Cruise Solution, which came in by telephone; but we introduced February 2008. represents the four Carnival UK brands, online bookings in 2003 and have been Some lines, like luxury brand Silversea agrees that straightforward training training agents to use our online booking Cruises, have used the ACE site to ‘test without distractions is the way to go. system, either by talking them through it drive’ online training before launching it “We actually toned down the ‘fun’ on the phone or training them in-store – on their own websites. element of our Waves of Wisdom training whatever it takes. Silversea, which launched a four- site in response to agent feedback,” he says. “Now most agents book online and it’s module programme with ACE in May “Initially there were games on there, particularly appealing for home workers 2007, has certifi cated more than 150 but agents said they didn’t want them so because it’s not tied to offi ce hours.” agents so far and has more working their we took them off, though we keep it lively Royal Caribbean International has way through the system. with vodcasts, podcasts and bright, ‘bite- revamped its award-winning ‘Cruising From March 2008 the training will be sized’ modules, plus prizes and incentives for Excellence’ e-learning programme, open to all travel agents via Silversea’s for successful completion.” with the introduction of a new password- own website, and the line’s UK managing CCS also adds one module every protected ‘Captain’s Zone’ aimed at director Trudy Redfern says a new month to help its 5,000 registered users agents with more experience of selling programme of prizes and incentives continue expanding their knowledge, by cruise products. is being put together for agents who looking at specifi c areas such as wedding In September 2007, RCI introduced complete the course and successfully and honeymoon cruises. Virtual Training, which enables live make a booking. Waves of Wisdom is accessible via conference calling so that agents can Meanwhile cruising’s major players, CCS’s password-protected extranet watch presentations and demonstrations including Royal Caribbean International, site www.completecruisesolution.com, and ask questions in real time. It also has Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival on which individual agencies or home a presence on the social networking site Corporation’s Carnival UK division workers can fi nd elements specifi cally FaceBook. – comprising P&O Cruises, Princess aimed at them. But training manager Michelle Russell Cruises, Ocean Village and Cunard Line “Personalisation is an important says that, like CCS, the company also – have been forging ahead with interactive element of communicating with agents continues to be heavily involved in face- training developments of their own, many online,” Pilkington says. to-face training around the UK. based on concepts already successful “It can soften the ‘corporate’ feel of “The interactive training offers great in the United States, where home a site by providing an area in which the anytime access for home workers but workers make up around half of CLIA’s agent can read blogs from the sales team we’re still doing lots of Cruising for 16,000-strong travel agency membership. and fi nd deals or messages specifi cally Excellence live events – 13 are planning Norwegian Cruise Line, which directed at them.” around the UK and Ireland this year relaunched its Cruise Academy online In line with current developments, a – and they’re vital, as it’s at these that training programme in August 2007, is home workers’ area is a new and fast- we pass on the automation training now introducing further enhancements growing element of the CCS site, but information that agents can use to follow including more vodcasts, more pictures such is the Carnival clout that employees up,” she says. and a more user-friendly design. of some ‘multiple’ travel agencies also “We’re also stepping up our mobile “The revamped site features eight have access to the main site, dedicated learning, which involves taking ‘internet bite-sized modules agents can work parts of which are cloned onto their in- cafés on wheels’ out to agents to build through at their own pace, plus incentives house systems. their confi dence in using technology.”  ranging from a two-night stay in a UK hotel to a two-week Mediterranean cruise,” says UK MD Stephen Park. Such incentives are necessary, not least to encourage agents who work for big multiple agency chains like Thomson and Thomas Cook – and are not allowed Internet access during working hours – to visit cruise training sites in their own time. For the same reason, online training needs to be sharply presented and kept

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 41

Training.indd Sec2:2 4/3/08 08:38:40 Destination Porto More than three UNESCO World Heritage sites

estination Porto – North of Wine Cellars, the Sé Cathedral with its terraces, built by various generations, is Portugal is the birthplace of the thousand years of history, St. Francisco’s an example of how man’s intervention DPortuguese nation. The city Church, St. Bento Railway Station and can be compatible with nature. centre has more than two thousand the Stock Exchange Palace are places and For all this the Porto and North of years of history and acts as a hub monuments of priority where visitors Portugal region is a multifarious tourist for the activities of its two million will experience classical and modern destination that evokes a sense of history, inhabitants who are spread over nine styles combined to perfection. yet has its eyes set on the future. towns in the metropolitan area. The Outside of the city boundaries, city’s architectural infl uences refl ect the within an hour’s drive can be found an Port of Leixões announces new cruise diverse cultural mix of those who have abundance of alternative sites to visit: terminal designed to be as luxurious as the settled in the city over centuries. • The Historical Centre of Guimarães, cruise ships that visit Porto’s historical centre is an also classifi ed as a World Heritage As part of the Strategic Development UNESCO World Heritage Site and has Site by UNESCO; Plan of the Port of Leixões, drawn up in been described as a “living museum” of • The interesting cities of Braga, Viana 2004, recognition was given to the need alleys and stone-paved roadways, bars do Castelo, Ponte de Lima, Amarante for greater commercial effi ciency of the and restaurants, open-air spaces and and Aveiro; Port and for improved urban integration. traditional cafés, where artisans meet, as • Countless Manor Houses, Historic Amongst specifi c initiatives they have for centuries in an atmosphere Hotels and Rural Guest Houses; highlighted was a plan for the of scents and feelings of the past. • The largest concentration of spas in refurbishment of the South Mole, to This coastal city is divided by the Portugal, namely Vidago Spa; include a new passenger terminal and Douro river, with its six bridges – one of • The Peneda Gerês National Park, the the concession of complementary zones them designed by Gustav Eiffel – which Côa Valley, one of the most important for this terminal. As a consequence a connects the inhabitants to its markets open-air archaeological parks in study has been competed to establish the and traditional shops, park and gardens, Europe; precise details of the work and this has churches and monuments. The city’s • Six Golf Courses and two Driving resulted in the project to include: festivals, golf courses help make Porto Ranges. • A new quay of 360m length and 18m a city with an unmistakable atmosphere width, enabling the mooring of cruise and style. The Douro Valley is classifi ed as the ships up to 300m long, with depths of Serralves and its Museum of oldest wine region of the world, where -10m Z.H. in the water plane. In the Contemporary Art, Porto’s School Port wine is produced, has also been future there will also be a reinforced of Architecture, the House of Music, given the title of a World Heritage mooring quay located adjacent of the the famous Ribeira quarter, the Port Site by UNESCO. With its manmade south mole, with depths of -8.5m Z.H.;

42 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Leixoes.indd 1 4/3/08 08:40:02 Leixoes.indd 2 4/3/08 08:40:08 • A Passenger terminal building, in is surrounded by the cities of Leça da North West peninsula to the main cities the central building of the complex Palmeira, in the north, and Matosinhos of Europe and the Americas to such with separate areas for arrivals and in the south. cities as: Lisbon, Madrid, Barcelona, departures, as well as work areas and The Port of Leixões remains the third Paris, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, offi ces. Fitted with several amenities largest Portugese port in terms of cruise New York, Rio de Janeiro. for ships, either on a transit call or traffi c and the fi fth in terms of passenger Furthermore its location in the completing turnarounds, it will include numbers. The city benefi ts from a Atlantic front makes it an ideal stop over a shopping centre fl oor and a restaurant tourist hinterland with high-interest for repositioning cruises between the fl oor with an outdoor stage/patio and due to its distinctive attractions. There Mediterranean and Northern Europe. spectator stand on the roof; is an excellent range of high quality and And the port is well placed to act as • A Nautical recreational port, for 200 large capacity hotels located close to an turnarounds for shorter cruises of 4 or 5 vessels, with a dry zone and essential international airport which connects the days.  support services for vessels as well as amenities and functions to support the The design for the new cruise terminal at the crew and seafarers, under the station Port of Leixões building; • Direct access to the city (public corridor on a low level and pedestrian corridor/bicycle lane at a an upper level); • Parking for coaches and cars along the mole and indoor covered parking for 142 vehicles.

The Port of Leixões Strategically positioned on the Iberian Peninsula, the Port of Leixões is the major port infrastructure on the North Portugese coast. It is situated 2.5 miles north of the Douro River mouth and within the proximity of Oporto, and

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 43

Leixoes.indd 2 4/3/08 08:40:08 BORNHOLM -DANISH ISLAND IN THE BALTIC SEA T HE CHARM AND ATMOSPHERE OF A VIBRANT ISLAND COMMUNITY

Unwind at - THE PORT OF RØNNE

150 E The Port of Rønne welcomes you with open arms! - We're here to serve you

550 N

RØNNE HAVN A/S PORT OF RØNNE LTD Munch Petersens Vej 2 P. O. Box 47 · DK-3700 Rønne Tel.: +45-56 95 06 78 Fax: +45-56 95 06 31 A.o.: +45-51 36 37 47 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.roennehavn.dk

Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:54:02 Conroy.indd 1 4/3/08 08:41:06 Executive Commentary

Luxurygoes exploring

n 2007, Regent Seven Seas Cruises our 2008 targets have been reached. We Polynesia, emphasized the core elements that have experienced a particularly good Australia, Ihave made our company successful response to our summer cruise and land Southeast Asia, since its inception in 1995. Regent offered programmes in Alaska and Europe. China, Japan, a diverse selection of luxurious journeys Our 2008 schedule also refl ects a Russia and to far-fl ung global destinations in 2007, growing desire among Regent guests Alaska. and not surprisingly experienced a very for longer, more richly nuanced One of the By Mark Conroy, successful year, with occupancies and journeys. Thus we have updated the fall many benefi ts of President, Regent yields that set company records and led to schedule for 490-guest, all-suite Seven Apollo’s purchase Seven Seas Cruises our best-ever profi ts. Seas Navigator with a new ‘Discovery of Regent is By continuing to focus on our Collection’ of voyages. This 82-night the prospect outstanding service levels, deluxe facilities series of sybaritic sailings will call at of ordering a and amenities, and stimulating and ports in Africa, the Arabian Gulf, the new ship. We last enlightening onboard and shore-side Caribbean, India, the Middle East and introduced a ship, programming, we believe Regent remains South America. The Discovery Collection Seven Seas Voyager, in 2003. A new-ship well positioned to extend its positive will replace the fall Caribbean series and order could take place later this year, with results through 2008 and beyond. one fall transatlantic crossing traditionally delivery expected in 2011. In addition to One clear indication of the success of offered by Regent. offering our past guests even more voyage Regent in 2007 was the recent acquisition We also announced late last year that options, a new ship will also increase our of our cruise line by Apollo Management Regent will offer two World Cruise company’s revenues and profi tability, and LP, a multibillion-dollar private equity itineraries in 2009, aboard the 700-guest, attract a new generation of guests. investment fi rm based in New all-suite, all-balcony Seven We expect a new Regent ship would be York. Clearly, Apollo views Our 2008 Seas Voyager and 700-guest, around the same size and guest capacity the successful operation as an all-suite, all-balcony Seven as our existing 700-passenger ships. The attractive investment. Apollo schedule Seas Mariner. This landmark vessel would also feature standard suites has created Prestige Cruise also refl ects a deployment makes Regent the of about 485 square feet, up from the Holdings, as a corporate growing desire fi rst luxury cruise operator current 375 square feet. We also looking umbrella group that includes among Regent ever to offer two global winter at creating single staterooms, and the new Regent and Oceania Cruises. guests for cruises in the same year. Seven ship is likely to have more dining venues However, both brands Seas Voyager will embark on and options and a much larger spa. will continue to operate longer, more a 116-night January journey Buoyed by a record-setting 2007 and independently. richly nuanced to the South Pacifi c, Orient, encouraged by similarly strong results Looking ahead in 2008, the journeys. Arabia, the Mediterranean thus far in 2008, Regent continues to be outlook remains bright for and Bermuda, while Seven Seas fi rmly positioned as a standard-bearer Regent. To date, our revenues Mariner will depart two weeks in the luxury cruise marketplace. We are 10% ahead of the same later for a 121-night sojourn continue to fulfi l our brand promise of period in 2007, and 85% of to South America, French ‘Luxury Goes Exploring’. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 45

Conroy.indd 1 4/3/08 08:41:06 Untitled-1 1 19/9/074/3/08 09:54:2812:49:05 Kruse.indd 1 4/3/08 08:41:44 Executive Commentary Holland America Line continues to By Stein Kruse President and Chief Executive Offi cer evolve in 2008 Holland America Line

olland American Line had an place. Also at year’s end, ms Prinsendam Panama Canal Sunfarer cruises in exceptional year in 2007, from completed refurbishments that include December. Not only will guests have the Hthe continued execution and new luxury bathrooms in all staterooms, opportunity to do a partial transit of the elevation of the Signature of Excellence the addition of the Explorations Café Panama Canal, but the ship also will call enhancements to the fl eet and the powered by the New York Times, at Half Moon Cay, our award-winning introduction of new dining programs, to expanded and refurbished shopping private island and a perennial guest offering some of the most popular cruises promenade, and new carpets and stone favorite. in the industry. As we navigate into 2008, fl ooring. we have a lot to look forward to. Through Signature of Excellence, Looking Forward to the ms Eurodam the Holland America Line fl eet has As our newest ship, ms Eurodam will Signature of Excellence Tops $425 Million logged more than 350 days in dry dock inaugurate the Signature Class of vessels Providing more options for our guests receiving enhancements ranging from for Holland America Line. At 2,104 has been a hallmark of our Signature of the simple – loading of new plush passengers, it will be fi lled with exciting Excellence program. Since announcing pillows – to the structural – adding 34 innovations. ms Eurodam’s additional its $225 million Signature of Excellence new staterooms to the aft superstructure deck allows the ship to have 63 more program in November 2003, Holland of the early Vista-class ships. Workers staterooms than the latest Vista-class ship; America Line has committed another will have put in more than 10 million 47 of which will be verandah staterooms $200 million to enhance its ships, expand hours on the ships. and 10 that will be a new style of activities and introduce more amenities to As You Wish Dining also signals recent stateroom with curved verandahs. its premium brand. changes being made in programming and One of the most anticipated additions is Notable elements of Signature of dining options. The new program will the introduction of Tamarind, a 144-seat Excellence include the Culinary Arts roll out completely in the fl eet by mid Pan-Asian restaurant with a 50-seat Center presented by Food & Wine 2008 and enables guests to choose from lounge surrounded by panoramic views magazine – a state-of-the-art onboard the best of both worlds: either traditional overlooking the ocean expanse and Lido show kitchen where guest chefs and pre-set seating at two dining times or a pool area. Other new features include an culinary experts provide cooking completely fl exible dining schedule. Explorer’s Lounge Bar, a new specialty demonstrations and classes – Explorations restaurant adjacent to the Lido offering Café powered by The New York Times Sailing the World traditional Italian cuisine called Canalleto, and teens-only, “adult-free” activity areas. Deployment continues to be a point elegant luxury jewelry boutiques, a Across the fl eet, standard stateroom of differentiation for Holland America new atrium bar area, an enhanced and amenities now include fl at-panel Line. We are featuring an impressive reconfi gured show lounge with theater- television sets, make-up mirrors, stainless- nine maiden ports of call in our style seating and a new photographic and steel ice bucket and tray, high-thread- European season alone in 2008: Luleä, imaging center. count cotton linens, large fl uffy cotton Hudiksvall and Karlskrona, Sweden; I invite readers to check out towels, deluxe bathrobes and plush Euro- Aalborg, Denmark; Newcastle upon our Eurodam News Blog at www. top Mariner’s Dream Beds Tyne and Barrow in Furness, England; eurodamnews.com to follow the planning It also includes major changes to the Santander, Spain; Portimao, Portugal; and construction of our latest ship. Vista-class ships which began in April and Split, Croatia. With most major By dedicating ourselves to programs 2007 when ms Westerdam added 34 lines offering just a few maiden calls each such as Signature of Excellence, evolving staterooms, a Pinnacle Bar, new shops, year, we continue to offer our guests new ship designs and unique new itineraries, and an Explorations Café in the Crow’s adventures on global itineraries by adding Holland America Line remains at the Nest. Similar additions will be completed between 20 and 30 new ports of call forefront of the premium cruise market on ms Zuiderdam in May 2008 and on ms globally every year. and brings innovative ideas and programs Oosterdam in May 2009. The fourth Vista In response to the demand for Panama to its guests and the entire industry. And ship, ms Noordam, was delivered with all Canal and Caribbean cruises, we have that is where we fi rmly intend to remain Signature of Excellence enhancements in redeployed ms Zuiderdam to 10-day for a long time to come. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 47

Kruse.indd 1 4/3/08 08:41:44 Untitled-1Untitled-2 1 28/2/064/3/08 09:54:5510:14:59 Executive Commentary The renaissance of the

Golden of ocean liner travel Age continues...

007 was another milestone year vessels pass through Dubai. She has been Orchestra, Lesley for Cunard. A new ship came into our longest serving Cunard vessel ever and Garrett, Carol 2service, we announced that a ship will be 41 years young when she leaves us! Thatcher and the would leave the fl eet in 2008, and an Shortly after announcing her departure, inimitable Sir order was confi rmed for her replacement. we released for sale four farewell voyages Jimmy Savile – On top of that we achieved our best ever including the fi nal voyage to Dubai, which there was not a dry guest satisfaction scores on Queen Mary sold out in 36 minutes! eye in the house! 2, our fl agship, and celebrated QE2’s 40th It was October, just four months later, We fi nished the By Carol Marlow, anniversary voyage with a ‘lap of honour’ when we announced that Cunard would voyage by passing President and Managing round the UK. be building a new ship, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 at Director, Cunard Line Preparations for Queen Victoria, our and that she would be joining the fl eet in sea off the south newest Classic Cunarder, continued with Autumn 2010. She will be a sister ship to coast, with both successful sea trials in August, a magnifi cent Queen Victoria, and be built by Fincantieri vessels sounding handover ceremony in November in the at their Monfalcone yard. However, she their whistles in presence of the Italian Prime Minister, Sig. will have some differences, as we evolve our greeting! Prodi, and it all culminated in a spectacular successful Cunard formula still further. On 13th January of this year, we naming ceremony on 10th December in In September, we set off from celebrated yet another historic Cunard Southampton, when in front of over 2,000 Southampton on QE2’s 40th anniversary event. All three Cunard Queens met for guests from around the world, HRH The ‘lap of honour’ round Britain. We had a the fi rst and last time ever. It happened Duchess of Cornwall – in the presence of great send-off with a lunch on board for in New York, the port which Cunard has her husband, HRH The Prince of Wales many friends of Cunard, with Baroness used continuously for the longest period of – named our ship, after touring the vessel Thatcher as our Guest of Honour. What time – in fact since 1847. All three Queens and meeting many of her offi cers and crew. followed was eight spectacular days of arrived together and processed in under Queen Victoria has been very well received, wonderful welcomes, guests on board for the Verrazano Bridge, one after the other especially her interior décor which is celebration lunches and fi rework farewells – and left again that evening to a fanfare very much along the lines of a traditional as we worked our way from one port to of fi reworks and music as they passed the Cunard liner, with grand double and triple another. A highlight of the voyage was Statue of Liberty – a photo that appeared in height elegant public areas. being in Greenock 40 years to the day the world’s press just hours later. We announced in June that QE2 would after Her Majesty the Queen named the And all the while Queen Mary 2 be leaving our fl eet in November 2008, to ship, with a display from the Red Arrows continues to delight her guests with become a luxury hotel and entertainment and crowds lining the shores to see QE2 excellent service, as she grows the centre in Dubai. We are delighted that the come home. In Liverpool all the ship’s transatlantic market, proving to all that ship will be preserved for future generations guests attended a celebration concert the renaissance of the Golden Age of to admire, and look forward to future in the Anglican Cathedral, with The Transatlantic Travel really is here to ‘Meetings of the Queens’, as our other Scots Guards, Liverpool Philharmonic stay! 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 49

Cunard.indd 1 4/3/08 08:42:57 Stockholm – For great cruises!

Now it’s easier than ever to arrive in Stockholm – the Capital of Scandinavia. We have built one of the most modern cruise terminals in the Baltic area with a taste of Scandinavian design. Everything you need is here. In a 3000 square-metre area we have housed an arrival lounge, customs, baggage handling facilities, tourist information center, shops, café, and Internet access.

Welcome to Stockholm

Visit us at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention 2008. Booth: 401

Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:55:36 Conover.indd 1 4/3/08 08:43:55 Executive Commentary The expanding world of Seabourn

eople often say that global are the places that most of our guests and visit ports communications and the ease of have never heard of, but that they will like Bordeaux, Ptravel are effectively making the never forget once they visit them. In Nantes and world smaller. I prefer to think of the conversations with well-travelled guests Rouen where world as expanding, because so much on board, I am struck by how much bigger ships more of the planet is accessible for leisure more vivid and exciting their tales can’t go. But exploration by travellers. are about those sorts of places than we recently By Pamela C. Conover As Seabourn’s fl eet expands, starting when they talk about the big cities that created some President & Chief with the debut of Seabourn Odyssey in June appear in bold type on maps. I think new itineraries Executive Offi cer, of 2009 and continuing with two other it’s because, when travellers arrive to take Seabourn Cruise Line new sisters in 2010 and 2011, we are also at a famous landmark city like, say, advantage of expanding our world, to provide more Venice or London, they come with a the interesting guests with a wider range of appealing lot of expectations already established destinations in travel experiences than ever before. in their minds. So they see what they that region. So Seabourn has explored virtually all of expect, and while the experience may this year we added three more voyages the world’s cruising regions over the be impressive and memorable, it lacks in that area, adding calls in France, past two decades, but there are certainly the spark of discovery and surprise that Ireland, an overnight stay in Amsterdam many appealing destinations within they feel when they explore places about and Antwerp, Belgium, which is an those regions which are worthy of more which they have no prior knowledge example of a cruise port with a lot to exposure to cruise guests, and with more or expectations. That’s why we are offer. It’s the hub of the world diamond ships, we can offer more of them to our continually spicing our itineraries with trade. It also has museums covering topics guests. authentic, interesting places that exist from the fi rst industrial printing plant Selling travel to desirable in between the names in bold to fashion and musical instruments, plus destinations is Seabourn’s Selling type on the map. great art by native son Peter Paul Rubens. stock in trade. We have An example is the western The cruises also visit interesting places built our loyal clientele by travel European coast between such as Pembroke, Wales; Liverpool; St. providing worldwide travel to desirable Lisbon in the South and both Mary’s in the Isles of Scilly and St. Peter experiences in a gracious, destinations the United Kingdom and the Port on Guernsey. We are investing in pleasurable style. Our is Seabourn’s entry to the Baltic. Seabourn developing the market for cruising in this cruise itineraries, which stock in trade has traditionally sailed this region. are masterfully designed coastline once or twice a Surprise has always been a part of by our director of itinerary year as a positioning cruise the Seabourn experience. Our staffs are development and land between the Mediterranean always striving to surprise and delight operations, Peter Cox, and the Baltic, which is what our guests with an extra touch they didn’t feature a mix of well-known, most other ships do as well. expect. It is a very effective way to create marquee ports and the Because of the intimate scale a luxury experience on board, and we lesser-known spots we call of our Seabourn yachts, we believe in taking that same approach Seabourn Secrets. These last can also go up the rivers when we are selecting ports to visit. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 51

Conover.indd 1 4/3/08 08:43:55 One operator - Four countries DMC - Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Sweden

DMC was founded in 1983 and is today a major cruise passenger operator with offices in the Baltic Region and South America.

Skiing, winetasting or enjoying the stunning na- Unique meeting facilities, great atmosphere ture - all is possible in Chile and serious shopping in hip Copenhagen

Feel the wings of history in stunning Tallinn with Beauty on water and Nobel dinner in stylish authentic medieval buildings Stockholm

As your professional incoming partner, DMC will gladly take care of all arrange- ments in connection with innovative incentive programmes, product launches, study tours, corporate meetings, conferences, groups and FIT’s, as well as cruise passenger programmes.

For further information and assistance, please contact our Copenhagen office.

:HIDC>6 8=>A:

Groenningen 15 // 1270 Copenhagen K // Denmark // Tel: +45 3312 1200 // Fax: +45 3312 1211 // [email protected]//www.dmc-cph.dk

Untitled-5Untitled-1 1 28/9/074/3/08 09:56:0014:43:55 Executive Commentary After an eight Thomsonyear absence is returning to the

CaribbeanDavid Selby, Managing Director, Thomson Cruises fterftfterer aann eieightighght yeyyearara aabsence,bsbseenncec , ThThomsonomsos n CrCruisesuises iss ffairlyaia rly ununique.ique. It iiss ooff the WWorld.orld. The momostst aaccessibleccessible wawayy ThomsonThhomssoon CrCCruisesruiuiseses iss rreturningeteturrningn ttoo inintegratedtegrated iintonto ththee fafabricbrb ic ooffit itss paparentrent to get ttherehere iiss nonott to flyfl y iintontoJo Jordanrdan Athe Caribbean and there’s more company TUI Travel, which also owns however, which has limited access, but signifi cant change to come explains nearly 1,000 travel retail outlets, operates arriving on the Thomson Celebration Managing Director David Selby. 76 of its own aircraft in the UK and has (formerly Noordam) cruiseship from “Next December, Thomson Cruises, part the most visited travel web platform in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, a popular hot- of the TUI Travel organisation based in the the country. spot with British holidaymakers, to which UK, will commence operations from La Thomson Cruises operates fi ve ships, one can fl y from 10 UK departure points. Romana in the Dominican Republic after which outside the big three corporations It is no wonder that with 25,000 visitors an absence of eight years. is fairly substantial. “We will call at 113 per year, Thomson Cruises is the UK “We operated Emerald, a 1,000 berth different ports this year. However, in market leader to Jordan. ship, using Barbados as the home port. This terms of passenger volume, the cruising “We are probably the world leader time we are going in with Thomson Destiny operation accounts for a fairly small in the cruise and stay concept, and by (formerly Sunbird, Song of America) at 1,450 proportion of the total passengers that I mean the combination of a week’s lower berths, with a mixture of British and carried” said Selby. “This means we cruise with a week in a hotel that is used Canadian passengers, sourced from our get the benefi ts of scale of the parent in the main Thomson beach holiday sister company Signature Vacations from company’s operations. For example, programme, usually by the beach. We near Toronto. our Western Mediterranean itineraries now offer this type of holiday in Majorca, commence and fi nish in Palma De Tenerife and Gran Canaria in the Canary THE BENEFITS OF VERTICAL INTEGRATION Majorca. The cruise operation shares a Islands, the Portugese island of Madeira, “Our aim is simple. We wish to profi tably basket of fl ight seats of the company’s own Sharm El Sheikh, the Halkidiki area maintain clear market leadership in the airline, from a choice of 22 UK airports. of mainland Greece and the popular 3-star plus UK cruise market, Seats are sold on a fi rst-come- Greek island of Corfu, not to mention by offering the widest choice We are fi rst served basis – usually from the Dominican Republic next winter. of destinations and departure a channel of owned distribution. This type of holiday is very popular with points, on a platform of probably Therefore the group takes a fi rst-time cruisers, who may not be totally service excellence and value the world fi nancial contribution at each stage sold on cruising to start with, by allowing for money. Our service levels leader in the of the customer journey and at the them to try a cruise, without feeling they are signifi cantly above the cruise and same time, our distribution costs might waste their precious fortnight away. rating of the hardware. We stay concept are extremely low. can do this as the hardware is Thomson Cruises has pushed A WIDE BASE OF CUSTOMERS of relatively low book value, the boundaries with itineraries. Ships vary in size from the 1450 lower and so we heavily invest For example, in 2005 it was the berth Thomson Destiny, to the relatively in the “softer” elements fi rst cruise operator to feature tiny Calypso at 486 lower berths, of the cruise experience, regular itineraries around the Red introduced last year. The latter is reserved for example dining and Sea, featuring ports in Egypt and for adults only, and was an absolute hit. entertainment” Jordan. Petra in Jordan is often Where the Thomson Destiny is more As a cruise operator, described as the eighth Wonder deck parties, production shows and

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 53

Selby.indd 1 4/3/08 08:45:00 Untitled-1 1 2/3/064/3/08 11:11:3209:56:26 Executive Commentary

comedians, the Calypso is more drinks aircraft, which are based in Canada during at sunset, plays and port lecturers. Due the winter months. to its small size, it can get to ports that “We are very pleased to be using our other ships can’t reach. It operates three own aircraft which have a wider seat- 7-night itineraries starting from the pitch on long-haul in economy than both Greek city of Thessalonika. The fi rst British Airways and Virgin, and with itinerary sails around the Black Sea and “rewind and pause” seatback TVs” said takes in The Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania Selby. Increasing Long Haul business is and Turkey, the second sails through the part of the overall strategy of TUI and we Corinth Canal and up the Adriatic Sea to will be the fi rst UK company to operate Montenegro and the third sails around the new Boeing 787 Dream-Liner in the Greek Islands. “We were amazed at 2010, which is around 25% more fuel how many school teachers sailed on the effi cient than the typical modern jet ship during the school holiday month of aircraft of today. August!” WORKING WITH OTHER CRUISELINES ROLL ON THE CARIBBEAN Thomson is in the cruise business not The Thomson Destiny arrives in the just through Thomson Cruises. Through Caribbean region on December 15th this its 1,000 shop network, Thomson is the year to start its season of sailings from largest retailer of cruising in the UK. “We La Romana starting with the Christmas sell all the major cruiselines” said Selby. cruise on 21st December. The season will “At the end of the day, if competitor consist of two itineraries, which can be cruiselines are there to operate, I would taken separately, combined to make a 14 rather see a cruise be sold by Thomson night cruise, or combined with a week’s than any other retailer”. In addition, the stay at one of 14 hotels in the region. TUI Airline, Thomsonfl y, fl ies more In the fi rst week, the ship calls at St. cruise passengers to the Caribbean than Lucia, Barbados, Guadeloupe, St.Kitts, any other airline. “We are pleased to and Tortola before returning to La provide the airlift for all the Carnival Romana. Then it’s off to Grenada, brands, Royal Caribbean and Fred Olsen, Dominica, Antigua, St. Maarten and and their custom is extremely important to us. Tortola before returning to base. The airline can adapt its service according to We have weekly fl ights the specifi cation of each cruiseline.” served from London, Although Lastly, the group owns a range Birmingham and Manchester of destination service agents for in the UK and then we we’ve cruiselines including InterCruises, operated what we call a added an as well as companies throughout the “Rover” fl ight from one of average of one world that fall under the “All4Ships” a range of regional airports ship per year brand umbrella. “Its sometimes hard each week including Cardiff, to the fl eet in to keep up” said Selby. Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Of the future, Selby would not Midlands and Bournemouth the last three be drawn, except to say that 2008 on the south coast of years, I think and 2009 are going to be years of England. One can also there is more signifi cant change in the business. add Toronto, Montreal, change to “Although we’ve added an average Winnipeg and Vancouver, of one ship per year to the fl eet in using some of the same come the last three years, I think there is aforementioned 76 UK more change to come.” 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 55

Selby.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 08:45:06 Time to Cruise

Start your cruise experience already onboard SAS

We offer you a wide range of products and services designed to simplify your travel and ensure a smooth process throughout your journey. Avoid hassles, choose the smarter and easier way to fly.

Time to book your ticket on www.flysas.com

Untitled-2Untitled-1 1 29/1/074/3/08 09:56:4717:19:19 Executive Commentary

Looking By Bob Dickinson Retired President back on Carnival Cruise Lines 35 years of fun

pon my retirement in November profi table. have certainly evolved with the advent after 35 years at Carnival Cruise Over the years, this success allowed of the Internet, but the knowledge and ULines – including the last 14 as its us to expand our business, including expertise provided by travel agents remain president and CEO – it’s appropriate to investing billions in new ship construction an important part of the cruise purchasing look back at the many changes that our – with a remarkable 24 ships introduced process. company and industry have undergone over the past 25 years. These ‘fl oating And although I am leaving Carnival during the past three-and-a-half decades. resorts’ – which got progressively larger after 35 years, my retirement will enable In 1972, when I fi rst joined Carnival and more elaborate over time – helped me to focus more of my efforts on an Cruise Lines– then a struggling, single- change the perception of cruising, organization that I have been involved ship cruise line established by visionary with luxurious spas, myriad dining and with for many years – Camillus House, a entrepreneur Ted Arison – cruising was entertainment venues and expansive local homeless assistance programme in considered an elitist vacation for the rich, facilities for children and teens. Miami, where I serve as the chairman for something that wealthy retirees aspired Today, Carnival Cruise Lines is the its board of directors. to in their twilight years. It certainly was largest, most popular and most profi table I am working with a very dedicated not the mainstream vacation choice that cruise line in the world, carrying 3.6 group of individuals here in South Florida it is today. million guests a year on 22 modern ‘Fun on a wide-ranging project whose goal Carnival’s original “Fun Ship” – called Ships.’ The company’s expansion will is to eradicate chronic homelessness in the Mardi Gras – was a refurbished ocean continue with the launch of three new Miami-Dade County. We’re in the midst liner and offered very little in terms of ships between now and 2011. of a capital campaign to raise $88 million amenities and facilities. It was, however, Carnival Cruise Lines’ success also laid – $40 million of which is coming from the a fun and relaxing shipboard experience the foundation for the creation of Carnival private sector and is the primary focus of vastly different from what was being Corporation & plc; a multi-line cruise my involvement. offered by other cruise lines. conglomerate traded on both the New York This $88 million in funds will enable Seizing an opportunity, as Carnival’s and London stock exchanges that operates Camillus House to build a campus- executive vice president, I came up with a diverse portfolio of brands throughout type facility that will provide drug and the idea of marketing the ship as the North America, Europe and Australia. alcohol rehabilitation, mental health destination – defi nitely a groundbreaking And while Carnival’s innovative treatment, job training and placement, idea for the time. Thus, the ‘Fun Ship’ marketing approach and investment in and permanent housing; helping residents marketing strategy was born. new ship construction are important to achieve independence and become One of the key foundations to the company’s success, our commitment productive members of society. Carnival’s success is that to providing guests with relaxing, Once this campus is up and running we realized, early on, the I came satisfying and memorable in early 2008, we expect our project will importance of defi ning vacations is what really has enabled serve as a model for other communities ourselves as being in the up with our company to grow and prosper. across the country. There’s no doubt in vacation business – rather the idea of If guests aren’t having fun on my mind that we will be successful in than just the cruise business – marketing the vacation, we are out of business! achieving our goal of eradicating chronic which enabled us to reach out ship as the Looking back, cruising has homelessness in Miami in 10 years. to those consumers who had destination. undergone some of the most In my 35 years in the cruise industry, never considered cruising as a dramatic changes of any leisure I’ve worked with some incredibly talented viable vacation option. Thus, the travel sector over the past 35 years. individuals who have a passion to create Employing this innovative ‘Fun Ship’ And although much has changed, wonderful vacation memories for our marketing philosophy – and marketing one constant has been the support guests. It has truly been an honour lots of hard work from a strategy was of the travel agent community, to work alongside these outstanding dedicated team of employees, which continues to account for the professionals and I cherish all the of course – Carnival began to born. majority of cruise line bookings. memories I have as I move on to this next turn the corner and become Granted, the distribution channels chapter of my life. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 57

Dickinson.indd 1 4/3/08 08:45:51 Bergen

ergen is the Gateway to the famous Fjords of Norway Highlights Middle Age in all Norway – a – situated to the south of the King of the fjords and to Bryggen – a World living historical area of the city. Bthe north of the Queen of the fjords – Sognefjord, the Heritage Site world’s longest at 204km, and Hardangerfjord respectively. Bryggen has been the nerve Fløybanen Funicular Bergen is a beautiful international town with charm and centre of the city for centuries A fi ve-minute ride to the top atmosphere. The city, with its 240,000 inhabitants, is and the silhouette of its of Mount Fløyen (320 m.a.s.l.) surrounded by seven mountains overlooking the sea. The ancient gables is perhaps the gives a magnifi cent view over museums and galleries of the historic old parts of town most familiar image from the Bergen. keep both art and its ancestral heritage alive. And as the port is within walking distance of the city centre it is easy to experience the living history of this modern city. Along the harbour is the Bryggen – the most intact example of a group of wooden houses representative of an architectural tradition, which dates back almost nine hundred years. It’s listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List – as are the fjords, which are the most recent addition to the list. Bergen has also been a European City of Culture in part due to the renowned composer Edvard Grieg, the international solo violinist Ole Bull and the composer Harald Sæverud who called the city their home.

58 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Bergen.indd 1 4/3/08 08:46:27 the emigrant church, Fjord Cruise and music Brampton Lutheran Fjord Cruise and fi shing Church, brought over Golf: Meland Golf Club from North Dakota in the – 18-hole golf course, one Port facilities USA and an emigration of Europe’s best newly Port of Bergen can archive for Hordaland and established venues, set among accommodate 7-8 ships of Sogn og Fjordane. Four 225 acres of forests, lakes and medium size simultaneously. commemorative stones have mountains. been erected in connection Maritime and technical with North American The benefi ts of combining services, provisions, supplies history and the Norwegian Bergen’s historic and cultural and consumables, transport contribution during World city life with the experiences and operations, tourism, War II. One stone shows the of Fjord Norway’s stunning shore-excursions, and support connection to the Western scenery include: organisations available. Isles of Viking times. A • Unique nature and beautiful schoolhouse, a pioneer’s house scenery Bergen – an ideal choice for and schoolteacher’s house from • Fresh air and clean water a part or full changeover of pioneer times have also been • Mild summer climate passengers brought home and rebuilt. A • Long summer days and • Good infrastructure town hall, prison and doctor’s short summer nights • Save more than two days’ surgery opened in summer • 16-20 hours daylight each North Sea crossing. 2002. day • Passengers can enjoy more www.utvandringssenter.no • Safety on shore – safety at time to enjoy the scenery sea and cultural life. Sightseeing by boat • A quiet corner of the world • Sheltered waters. See the famous west coast • Interesting and well- • Tax-free deliveries for scenery with its steep organised shore excursions Norway-only cruises. mountains, towering cliffs, and • Profi table product narrow fjords. • Highly satisfi ed passengers. 

Bergen Cable Car Ulriken Bergen Aquarium The Ulriksbanen cable brings One of the fi nest and most you to the top of Mount extensive collections of marine Ulriken (642 m.a.s.l.), which fauna in Europe. has Bergen’s most magnifi cent view of the fjord, island and Shopping coast. Tourists will fi nd plenty of tempting shops – from the Wooden houses small and specialised to a Small wooden houses painted large department store. There lovingly in bright colours are a are also several interesting very special feature of Bergen. pedestrian shopping streets as well as large shopping The Old Bergen Museum centres. Most of the shops An open-air museum with that stock local arts and crafts Contact details more than 40 wooden houses, and souvenirs are situated on Port of Bergen representative of Bergen Bryggen. Nøstegaten 30, P.O.Box 6040, N-5892 Bergen architecture and interiors in Western Norway Emigration Tel: +47 5556 8950 the 18th 19th centuries. Center Fax: +47 5556 8986 The Fish Market The Western Norway E-mail: [email protected] An abundance of fi sh, fl owers, Emigration Centre (Vestnorsk Web: www.bergenhavn.no fruit, vegetables and souvenirs. Utvandringssenter) includes www.visitbergen.com

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 59

Bergen.indd 2 4/3/08 08:46:40 Holland Amsterdam

Your central, efficient and convenient hub to Holland and the rest of Europe

Amsterdam Cruise Port t +31(0)20 551 25 57 i www.amsterdamcruiseport.com Felison Terminal t +31(0)255 54 54 54 i www.felisonterminal.com Passenger Terminal Amsterdam t +31(0)20 509 1000 i www.ptamsterdam.com

Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:48:59 Costa.indd 1 4/3/08 08:47:30 Costa at 60

Costa celebrates 60 YEARS

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 61

Costa.indd 1 4/3/08 08:47:30 Costa at 60 The remarkable transformation of a family company into a global cruise brand carrying over 1 million passengers a year

As Costa marks its diamond anniversary Chris Ashcroft visits their Genoa headquarters to catch up with six executives, with 200 years service between them, to find their enthusiasm and passion undiminished.

osta has travelled a long way since shipping business which was increasingly fi rst newbuild – the 20,400gt Federico the 12,030gt Anna C set sail for to become the heartbeat of the company C. Built at the Ansaldo yards in CBuenos Aires, Argentina on March as the decades passed. Genoa (also builder of several iconic 31, 1948 – and not just in sea miles. Anna C (formerly Furness Prince Line’s transatlantic liners such as Andrea Doria Its 60 years in passenger shipping has Southern Prince) and the smaller (8,604t) for Italian Line), this was originally seen it expand from the Europe-South Andrea C (built as a war-time freighter for confi gured as a three-class ship for America migrant run into the emerging the British Government) were initially 1,279 passengers travelling to and from cruise sector, changing names between used only on the South America run South America. Costa Line/Linea C and now Costa (where they were joined by another But, by 1970, she was a one-class ship Crociere, and also ownership (from the former freighter, Franca C) but later for 800 passengers which then spent Costa family to Carnival Corporation via became part of the growing cruise fl eet. the next 13 years cruising both the a joint Carnival/Airtours takeover) in the By the 1960s, Anna C was making Mediterranean and Caribbean. process. three and four-day cruises (costing It was the same story for the next new In those 60 years, it has operated passengers from $59) out of Florida’s fl agship, the 30,500gt Eugenio C. more than 31 liners and cruise ships and Port Everglades, and she later switched She was the last to be built (in 1966) currently has another fi ve cruise ships on to weekly Mediterranean cruises from specifi cally for the South America service the order books. Genoa. – with 1,636 berths spread across three It has carried millions of passengers and Andrea C fi rst cruised out of Rio but classes. But she was soon combining the topped 1m in a single year for the fi rst ended her days sailing weekly out of liner service with long winter cruises, time in 2007. Venice in the late 1970s. including the line’s fi rst world cruises It is a remarkable transformation for a Carrying 354 one-class passengers, (from 1977) and, by the 1980s, she was family company set up shortly after the Franca C was the fi rst Costa vessel to a full-time cruise ship spending the unifi cation of Italy and which operated its operate purely as a cruise ship, though. summers in the Mediterranean. fi rst ship (Ravenna) in 1924. From then She was converted for the purpose in In the meantime, Costa was busily until World War II, it operated a fl eet of 1959 and, after initially cruising from growing its fl eet with the acquisition of cargo ships transporting olives and other Port Everglades, later inaugurated the fi ve ships (Bianca C, Enrico C, Carla C, produce around the Mediterranean. North American industry’s fi rst fl ycruise Flavia and Italia) which were to be used But, with nearly its entire fl eet lost programme with sailings out of San Juan, extensively on cruise schedules although during WWII, it had to start again and, Puerto Rico in 1968. two (Carla C and Italia) also spent time on although it stayed in the cargo trades for The year before Franca C became charter to Princess Cruises. many years to come, it was the passenger a cruise ship, Costa introduced its In fact, it was on Carla C that the

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Costa.indd 2 4/3/08 08:47:45 Costa at 60

author Jeraldine Saunders wrote the fi rst with a glass wall affording natural light (Airtours) to buy Costa in 1997. chapters of what became “The Love into the public rooms. Carnival took full control in 2000 Boat”, the TV series which played a major But these ships were still in the and the arrival that same year of the part in popularising cruising across North 30,000gt/1,000-passenger range and the 85,700gt/2,680-passenger Costa Atlantica America. major step forward for Costa came with was a clear signal of intent. It wanted In 1979, Costa chartered Daphne and the building of two sister ships – Costa Costa to emulate the success of Carnival Danae, the two high quality cruise ships Classica (1991) and Costa Romantica (1993) Cruise Lines – the largest cruise brand converted by Greek tycoon John Carras – which both measured 53,000gt and not just in North America but in the for his own start-up, which was supposed carried nearly 1,700 passengers. world. to combine with the land resort (Porto The much smaller (12,000gt) Costa In the next eight years, seven more Carras) he had created near his home Playa was acquired along with Mermoz Costa ships were introduced. The fi rst town in Northern Greece. with the purchase of Paquet Cruises in two (Costa Europa and Costa Tropicale) Five years later, Costa bought the 1993, but Costa was still thinking big and were switched from other Carnival brands ships outright and cruised them in in 1996 the 75,200gt/2,394- with the latter later switching Alaska and the Caribbean as well as the passenger Costa Victoria arrived The again to P&O Australia but the Mediterranean. and wowed everybody with its major next fi ve were all newbuilds Other ships operated by Costa in the futuristic observation lounge and of increasing size. Costa late 1970s and early 1980s included and nod to classic liner travel step forward Mediterranea (2003) was a Columbus C, Costa Riviera (formerly the in the inclusion of an indoor for Costa sister to Costa Atlantica, while famous liner Guglielmo Marconi), and swimming pool. came with the Costa Fortuna (2003) and Costa World Renaissance. Not only was this ship the building of two Magica (2004) were both By that stage, it was clear that cruising largest ever built for an Italian 102,600gt/3,470-passenger was the future and so, in 1986, the company, she was the largest sister ships – and Costa Concordia (2006) company was renamed Costa Crociere cruising in Europe. Costa Classica and Costa Serena (2007) both SpA, and so a process began which saw its But the next key move for and Costa 112,000gt/3,780-passenger. fl eet transformed and expanded – at fi rst the company was not in the Romantica Three more sisters to gradually but later at an increasingly rapid shipyard or in the water but in Costa Concordia are on order pace. the boardroom, as the world’s through to 2012, but there is Costa Marina (1990) and Costa Allegra largest cruise company, Carnival also a new and smaller class (1992) were added in the early 1990s, and Corporation, joined with a of ship on the way with the both featured a futuristic cutaway stern leading UK travel company 92,700gt/2,828-passenger

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Costa.indd 3 4/3/08 08:47:45 Costa at 60

Costa Luminosa due in spring 2009 and a sister to follow in 2010. Just between 2000 and 2012, though, Costa will have spent €5.5bn on new ships – €4.5bn in Italian shipyards. The result of this rapid expansion is that Costa has been breaking passenger records every year, with the 2007 total of 1.1m passengers, a 14% increase on the 2006 total of 880,000 and including 70% fi rst-time cruise passengers. And occupancy levels are now regularly in excess of 100% and passenger satisfaction scores are at 98%. It has been the largest cruise brand in Europe for many years and is market leader in Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland. But its growth has also made it the fi fth largest (in capacity terms) cruise brand in the world and, according to the current order books, is set to become the third largest by 2012. It expects to carry more than 1.5m passengers in 2010. It has recently added new, ground- breaking winter deployments out of Dubai and Mauritius and was chosen by Carnival to be the pioneering brand in its plan to open up the potential of the Chinese and broader Asian market for cruising. Costa Crociere, which is still headquartered in Genoa, now comprises two brands: Costa and the German- oriented AIDA Cruises, while the new Carnival joint venture in Spain – Ibero Cruceros – also reports to Costa’s Chairman Pier Luigi Foschi. It has offi ces in 28 cities in 16 countries and employs 14,000 staff on board the ships and 1,000 shoreside. Signifi cantly, 70% are under 40 years of age and they come from 80 nations. Costa also works with 65,000 travel agencies around the world (26,000 in Europe), as well as with key tour operators in emerging markets such as Russia, Turkey and India. In 2009, it introduces two new ships (Costa Luminosa and Costa Pacifi ca) to increase capacity by 12% in a year when it offers more than 100 different itineraries to 250 destinations. These will include fi rst-time cruises to New England and Canada and a combined transatlantic voyage and Amazon River cruise. Capacity is also being increased in Asia and the Indian Ocean. The brochure has been added to Costa’s website which also allows visitors to book shore excursions with the help of a virtual cruise assistant. Costa has travelled a very long way in 60 years 

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Costa.indd 4 4/3/08 08:47:54 Costa at 60

Pier Chairman and CEO Luigi Foschi

Marion Cotillard, Godmother of Costa Serena fl anked by Pier Luigi Foschi and Captain Giacomo Longo at the christening ceremony.

As Costa celebrates its 60 years successful if it can convince the public to before I arrived. This began in 2000 with in passenger shipping, Pier Luigi choose it. And the public will choose it only Costa Atlantica, which represented a total Foschi looks back on his ten years if it can offer them the best quality. With break from the past. at the helm. that in mind, we launched a project geared The unique size, style and features of towards achieving excellence – something our new ships have allowed us to reach hen I fi rst arrived, Costa was for which a huge shift in company culture a wider and younger public, one that a family-run business with a was required. traditionally was not interested in Costa Wmanagement style that was We all had to learn what exactly was or cruising at all. It was a gamble but it fragmented because it was effectively meant by quality. As the team was slowly has paid off as we have demonstrated that several companies quite poorly integrated put together, we defi ned and explained Costa is not only a cruise but also a fun into one. Also, although it was to everyone our mission and and high quality holiday that can appeal the established leader of the As the company values. We set up to everyone. Italian cruise market and had team training schools in various I have worked hard to create a already begun to expand in was slowly countries in order to teach what cohesive company, driven by a highly Europe, it had failed in North is meant by working to a high competent and professional management America - a market for which put together, standard of excellence for an team. In the tourist sector the level and it had built the wrong kind of we defi ned international clientele such as competence of the management is crucial ships. and explained ours. and it has certainly played a major part in The fi rst thing that I set to everyone Today, our ships are among the making Costa a successful company. about to do was to focus the our mission largest hotels in the world and we The excellent results we have achieved company on its core business, provide a thorough service for are also down to constant innovation eliminating other scattered and and company every single one of our passengers and improvement of the quality of the unprofi table activities. Then I values depending on their language, product along with the consistency of the identifi ed that the product and origin, culture and individual taste. decisions in our development programme service that we offered had to be We have also had the which has allowed us to consolidate our improved. courage to make the ships more role as a leader in the rapidly developing A company will only be innovative than they had been cruise market. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 65

Costa.indd 5 4/3/08 08:48:47 Costa at 60

Mario Senior Vice President Sales Martini and Marketing, Europe and Rest of the World

hen Mario Martini took the disembark once as I was enjoying life on Mario also had success with cruises dreaded midnight to 4am watch board so much, especially the solitude of marketed to Venezuelan students and also Won his fi rst liner heading down to those early morning watches.” honeymooners. South America, he remembers seeing “so Having been fi rst offi cer and later been But the economic crisis which hit the many sunrises” but admits he would never put in charge of on-board entertainment, country in 1983 also coincided with a have foreseen the turns his career with he then became chief purser. This was a change of tack for Costa, which slimmed Costa was going to take both on board role for which his language skills came in down its wide-ranging activities to and ashore. particularly useful – as they did when he concentrate solely on cargo shipping and, This career has taken him around decided that it was time to settle down of course, cruising. the world and given him experience of ashore. Mario returned to Italy in 1984 as many aspects of the Costa operation, so “I married in 1976 and realised that, if I commercial director for that cruise it is no wonder he says now: “I wish and wanted a proper family life, I had to give market. He said: “I thought I would hope that the young people working with up life on board,” he said. manage the market quite easily after my me now have the same passion for the So he jumped at the chance to become experience in South America, but it was a company that I have had for 40 years and commercial and operations director at completely different situation. that – like me – they are happy to arrive Costa’s Venezuela offi ce in La Guaira. “I thought it would be easier to sell in the offi ce every day. For this work is He enjoyed eight memorable years, holidays rather than migrant voyages, but never mundane – there is building the business up rapidly it was actually more diffi cult. always something new to do I wish over the fi rst seven before seeing “Everyone knew Costa in Italy and the and learn here.” and it hit hard by the local currency support from travel agents was stronger In fact, his connection with devaluation in 1983. than it had been in Venezuela, but the Costa goes back even further hope that the Although the USA and Italy publicity the company received for its as he went on board many of young people were the main markets for Costa’s world cruises and other long voyages was its ships as part of his studies working with cruises in the region, Mario saw working against us. at nautical school. me now have the Venezuelan market grow “It was diffi cult to persuade agents – This bred a fascination substantially to about 20,000 particularly in the north-east – that our for the company’s liner trade the same passengers by 1982. Costa cruises were not just for old people, and to South America so, once passion for the Venezuela turnover reached $19m that we had many short (seven or 10-day) qualifi ed from naval academy, company that the same year. cruises as well as the longer voyages, and he signed up and spent his I have had for Some itineraries were designed younger as well as older passengers.” fi rst 19 months travelling 40 years to appeal to Venezuelans, But, as ever, Mario was quick to turn a backwards and forwards who fi lled 80% of the berths, negative into a positive. between Genoa and Buenos with an increasing number of He said: “The season was much shorter Aires. Colombians and Panamanians in those days, with ships often being laid He said: “I did not booking the remaining capacity. up for several weeks or months. As many

66 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Costa.indd 6 4/3/08 08:49:00 Costa.indd 7 4/3/08 08:49:17 Costa at 60

of the fi xed costs remained while the ships my current position in 2003.” were inactive, I suggested we use those Refl ecting on Costa’s current pre- blank weeks for mini-cruises for travel eminence in Europe and its rapid growth agents. to carrying more than 1.1m passengers, “I was given the go-ahead in 1985 he picks out four key changes and and it meant we were able to show our innovations which have paved the way. product to 5,000 agents in a single year.” He said: “The fi rst was when Mr Foschi “I travelled on board with the agents arrived and told us that we must work to and set aside an hour every day to educate ensure zero complaints. We had to learn them about the product so that, when how to achieve this and then convey it they returned to their offi ces, they put our to everyone working with us. As a result, point-of-sale material in their windows. there was a complete change of attitude I also told them to fax me every time and in the values of the company. they made a Costa sale so that we could “The second change was the maintain our relationship. introduction in 2006 of ProntoPrice, “I have invested a lot of money in travel which encouraged early rather than late agency training over the years, because bookings by making sure the best prices I think it is the most important sales and went to the early bookers.” marketing tool alongside newspaper and This has also meant publishing cruise television advertising.” programmes and brochures much earlier The China programme was a slow It has paid off, as there are now than in the past. starter but, after some changes to the 5,000 agents selling Costa all the time, Another important development is itineraries and the way it is marketed, this compared with 800 when the training ongoing – the establishment of winter is now picking up pace. programmes began. cruising in the Mediterranean. Mario According to Mario, this is typical of the Mario’s next challenge was to build up said: “This means looking for a different way Costa works: “We are not perfect but the Spanish market. He said: “Again, I kind of client and devising new ways of when we make mistakes, we rectify them thought it would simply be like marketing communicating with them.” and then refl ect on them and try to ensure and selling in Italy, but I quickly And the fi nal innovation Mario they are not made again.” discovered that the Spanish market was identifi ed is the raft of new destinations One thing is for sure, though: Mario ten years behind Italy. being added to the Costa mix. knows joining Costa all those years “It has taken time to grow it and it has He said: “We have decided again to be ago was no mistake. “When I was fi rst been a similar story for France, Belgium the fi rst to discover new areas like Dubai, working on board, I used to wake up and and Portugal which came within my Mauritius and Asia for our European think I was dreaming – I couldn’t believe orbit when I was made Southern Europe clients, and also to source passengers from they were paying me for a life I loved so Commercial Director before taking up Asia and particularly China.” much.” 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 67

Costa.indd 7 4/3/08 08:49:17 Costa at 60 Antonio

DeVice President CruiseRosa Operations

osta is part of my life and I feel health and – in purely commercial terms brands, it is generating more repeat myself to be part of Costa,” – the money they are saving on their bar business.” “Csaid Antonio De Rosa before bills is now going on massages and other Samsara is also a way of recreating explaining how what happens on board treatments in our spas.” some of the exclusivity of the old fi rst- Costa ships also refl ects the lives of their The emergence of full service spas class travel without returning to two or passengers. on cruise ships is not exclusive to Costa three-class ships. “As people are not walking as much as but the Samsara spa cabins and suites Antonio said: “Samsara attracts they used to, they are tending to watch programme is certainly taking the concept professionals, people who work too hard what they eat and drink. That is why a stage further. and have stressful lives. They want to health and fi tness has become a major Antonio said: “We are going deeper recharge their batteries and relax – it is feature of the on-board activities on our into the subject of wellness to fi nd not about signing up to a diet, just to a ships. something unique for our clients and, healthier on-board lifestyle.” “People are trying to take care of their by differentiating ourselves from other It is also not a return to the 1970s when

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Costa.indd 8 4/3/08 08:49:40 Costa at 60

Antonio joined Costa (1977) and cruising was dominated by rich and often snobbish passengers used to travelling fi rst class on liners. Antonio said: “It all changed in the early 1980s when we opened the doors of the product, as we moved from being fl oating hotels to fl oating resorts, and from segmenting the day so that certain services were only available at certain times, to the 24/7 approach. “Now people can do the things they want to do whenever they want to do them – but nothing is compulsory. “One of the biggest challenges is with food as, not only are we responding signifi cant increase in families. “The number of activity-based to passenger demands for a change of The entertainment is being tailored to shore excursions is higher in the diet towards more fresh Mediterranean refl ect that change. Caribbean, while there are fewer on the produce and, in particular, more There is a large animation team Mediterranean winter cruises, which vegetables, but this also has to be available dedicated to children who can take up attract older passengers and offer a all the time.” 20% of the berths on the largest ships in more relaxed cruising style with earlier In fact, he noted a trend towards July and August. excursion departures. balcony dining, too. “People do like The trend towards younger, more “In fact, we are now attracting a wider their privacy as much as they enjoy being active passengers is also refl ected in the range of passengers with all kinds of new involved in the entertainment options wider range of shore excursions. lifestyles, likes and dislikes, and these have outside in the public areas.” Antonio said: “There is a demand for to be constantly taken into account in Costa passengers have become younger more tailor-made shore excursions, mainly the cruise product we are offering day by as the ships have increased in size, with a from those booked in the Samsara suites. day.” 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 69

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Untitled-4Untitled-1 1 27/2/074/3/08 09:57:1623:19:14 Costa at 60

Walter Product Director German

great adventure” – is how other Europeans and British passengers Walter said: “The difference is Product Director Walter attracted. extraordinary. When you go on board “AGerman describes his 32 years But, according to Walter, it was a ship like Costa Serena, you are greeted at Costa and the changes that have taken not until the 1990s that the on-board by banks of glass elevators and lavish place on board the ships during that time. entertainment range began to change – interiors. In fact, you may not like it at “Life on board has moved from total and radically. fi rst if you are more used to the smaller, relaxation to total activity,” he said. He said: “At that time, land resorts older ships but you soon get used to it. “Back when I started with the company started to put on full production shows so “In fact, if I go on board one of the (in 1976), entertainment was restricted we decided to follow suit. older ships now, it takes only 15 minutes to shuffl eboard, card games and a little “It helped that we were starting to before I am missing some of the things music and dancing. The highlight for introduce larger ships like Costa Marina you take for granted on the new ships. many was the cinema, which showed fi lms and Costa Allegra, and particularly “Even though replace with: Even from lunchtime through to midnight.” newbuilds Costa Classica and Costa though cruising is better value today, With so few alternatives, it was little Romantica, because we needed more clients are even more demanding – but I wonder it was full most of the time, space to stage these shows and they think that does not just apply to cruises whatever fi lms were being also attracted a broader range of but everything these days.” shown. Clients passengers to appreciate them. “In fact, we now have two sales “For most passengers,” said today “Although we had always had opportunities as we have two types of ship Walter, “the main activity dancers, we also introduced to sell.” was simply reading while know exactly animators on these new ships so But there are more challenges as well as sunbathing, although pursers what they want as to appeal to the much wider more opportunities. did organise occasional and we have to passenger nationality mix we had “Clients today know exactly what quizzes, competitions and come up with on board.” they want and we have to come up with simulated horse races on a The singing continued to be something innovative every year,” he plastic track, on which $1 something in Italian or English; the shows said. “Even though they are paying wagers could win $20 – a innovative became more visual and were also lower prices, they are even more good prize back then.” every year designed to appeal to the increased demanding – but I think that does not In those days, virtually all number of families attracted on just apply to cruises but to everything passengers and crew were board by promotional fares for these days.” Italian but this gradually children. “All I know is that there is so much to changed, with South But, today, Costa Romantica do on cruises these days that sometimes Americans added to the crew and Costa Classica seem small by people feel like they need another holiday and an increasing number of comparison with the newest ships. straightaway.” 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 71

Costa.indd Sec1:10 4/3/08 08:49:56 Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:58:44 Costa.indd Sec2:11 4/3/08 08:50:07 Costa at 60

Mario Director Hotel Operations Minuto

hen Mario Minuto joined Costa Costa prepared, presented and served. his fi rst contract was for just He said: “People used to go to the Wseven months. That was 38 years restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner ago and he is still there – it is just his job every day. Today, particularly the younger description that has changed. passengers want to do everything in ten Now Director Hotel Operations, minutes or half an hour at the most, he originally joined as a cadet purser, rather than sit at tables waiting for waiters soon graduating to fi rst purser when his to bring their food. main task was to keep the 200 fi rst class “This is especially so when we are in passengers on Eugenio C happy and port and they want to eat quickly before entertained during that ship’s voyages and after going ashore, and this is why the from Genoa to and from South America. buffet areas on our new ships are larger “We organised the menus for dinner, than the restaurants. played games, made jokes – everything,” “We are also having to change the he said. “I was only 23 but I found menus to cater for all ages and different it hugely enjoyable and stayed for tastes, now that we are attracting younger 18 months before switching to our passengers and more nationalities. Caribbean cruise ships where I was “We are Italian and want to retain that looking after mainly American passengers. in the way we present food, but we also “Life on board was completely have to accept that the traditional cruise different, as these were seven-day cruises dining ways have largely gone.” with passengers going ashore at daily In the three-class liner days, he ports of call, instead of just getting on and remembers the emphasis on French and off at the beginning and end as they did Italian cuisine and on choice – fi rst class on the South America voyages. passengers were offered a choice of 40 “The entertainment was dishes, second class had 20 and also very different back then We are even third class were presented from what we offer today, n with ten. as the ships were old and Italia He points out, though, that the small (20,000t compared and want to alternative “Club” restaurant, with with 100,000t-plus today) retain that its more personal service, does Costa dining on the way, all designed to with very little space to do in the way maintain some of that classic cruise enhance the experience for passengers. anything. we present style on the current ships. But the As Mario admits, he would never “It meant that we had to Club is also innovating by trialling have imagined on that day (May 15, rely mainly on staff learning food, but we the new molecular cuisine – where 1970) when he fi rst signed up for how to entertain passengers. also have to food is created from the chemical Eugenio C that 38 years later he would No-one was very professional, accept that reaction to certain ingredients be responsible for ensuring that unlike today when we only use the traditional being put together. 250 Chinese passengers on a Costa highly professional acts and cruise dining “There is also the Samsara ship (Costa Concordia) would receive production shows.” restaurant for those who want Cantonese food and menus. But there has probably ways have dishes cooked with less butter and But that early 2008 challenge was just been an even bigger on-board largely gone fewer sauces,” he said. another sign of the changing times for change in the way meals are And there are more changes to both Costa and Mario. 

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Costa.indd Sec2:11 4/3/08 08:50:07 $REAM7ORLD#RUISE!PDF!-

Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:59:16 Costa at 60

Paolo Technical Operations Director Parodi

eing withwith Costa for a mere 27 years I fi rst joinejoinedd tthehe company wwhenhen ttherehere wawass ClClassica/Romantica/Victoriaassica/Romantica/Victoria were a mamajorjor almostl makesk Paolol Parodid a new not as muchh attention paidd to controllingll step fforwardd as theyh were ddesignedd solelyl l Bboy compared with some of the 35 costs.” for cruising from the start. They had to 40-year company stalwarts but – now Inevitably, there have also been major larger cabins and public areas with full- Technical Operations Director – he has changes in the type of engine machinery size theatres and casinos and more open still lived through major changes in the used. deck space. cruise industry in general but especially at He said: “All the big passenger ships “Since then, we have built many more his own place of work. like Eugenio C were steam-powered, even larger ships with much more space,” He said: “This is a very different but since then we have introduced fi rst he said. company to the one I joined in 1981 when diesel and now electric propulsion, But arguably the biggest change the Costa family controlled everything. which is more effi cient and fl exible. since the 1980s is the new emphasis on Budgets were lower then and the Pod drives have also brought very good environmental issues. organisation was less well structured. manoeuvrability as well as some new On the technical side, he said: “The family began the change themselves maintenance challenges. “The future will be all about reducing when they brought in new directors “Redundancy is now always built in so emissions, which is a very complex issue from outside in 1986 in the run-up to that, for example, Costa Fortuna and Costa as it involves fuel types and where they the ordering of Costa Classica and Costa Concordia only use fi ve of their six diesel can be used, funnel-fi tted scrubbers and Romantica, but the major turnaround came engines to operate at full speed.” the pros and cons of using shoreside after Costa Victoria arrived in 1996 and the But, as he points out, there have power.”  company was bought (1997) by Carnival also been even greater changes in the (initially with Airtours). passenger areas of the ships. “When Mr Foschi arrived he provided He said: “Not only were the original strong leadership for all departments and ships three-class, with each group of very good project guidelines. passengers segregated from This was vital as we began to With the other and with their own build more and larger ships built in facilities like swimming pools and and to carry more passengers restaurants, but also many cabins generating more revenue. redundancy were without bathrooms. “As an example, the Costa Fortuna “They were also – like the engine room now comes and Costa public lounges – small by today’s under the control of the Concordia standards, and some of the former hotel department which liners even had dormitories for 24 programmes dry dock only use fi ve of migrant passengers. Crew quarters schedules a year ahead. their six diesel were even more cramped and This enables us to provide engines to lacking in facilities.” the shipyard with a full operate at full Shortly after he joined, some specifi cation of the work speed cabins on Costa ships were rebuilt required so that it can draw to increase their size and reduce up a quotation six months in their occupancy by including just advance. two beds. “This did not happen when Then the early 1990s ships Costa

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 75

Costa.indd Sec3:12 4/3/08 08:50:31 Untitled-6Untitled-1 1 5/3/074/3/08 19:23:4509:59:57 Costa at 60

Victor Vice President Fleet Deployment Fordred and Itineraries

he more things change, the more strongly at the time, for the same reason they stay the same. That is what as it allowed us to fi ll ships from source Tthe French say but, for Costa, it has markets a long way away.” really been the other way round. But, again, the concept of attracting Or, as Vice President Fleet Deployment passengers from around the world was and Itineraries Victor Fordred put it: not a new one. He said: “I think we are “The seven night itinerary we operate one of the few cruise companies that from Genoa is the same as I was selling in can be described as truly international, the reservations department 35 years ago. as we have always catered for many The geography has not changed, no new nationalities. ports have developed in any signifi cant “We started with Italians but quickly way and it still suits all nationalities. added Germans, French, British, Swiss “But in other ways it has completely and Austrians from Europe, North changed, as then there was just one and South Americans, and now we are homeport, but now passengers can sourcing from Asia, too. embark at different ones like Marseille “It means that we are now very and Barcelona along the way. “ experienced in catering for multi-national This trend started in the 1990s but and multi-language passenger mixes.” echoed the 1970s Costa stopover cruise But many things have changed in the innovation, which saw passengers way the business is now conducted. Victor embarking at one port (either Genoa or said: “When I joined the headquarters cruising was then just for the wealthy, and Venice) but then leaving the cruise for a were still on the 20th fl oor of the Piazza that needed to change for the market to one-week stay at one of the Vante building. It was a family-run grow. All companies – including Costa – ports of call, before rejoining We are business that spread way beyond played a part in persuading people that the cruise the next time now very passenger ships to cargo trades and cruising was not the exclusive preserve of around. the olive oil and textiles sectors. the rich but just like any other holiday. The multi-embarkation experienced “In fact, cargo was then more “This took time and for many years it option was given a major in catering important than passengers in was diffi cult to get business outside the boost when the new, larger for multi- business terms and liner travel peak June-August season. ships began to be introduced national and more signifi cant than cruising, too. “Another problem was in fi nding following Carnival “But the line voyages were places to deploy the ships in the winter. Corporation’s purchase of the multi-language already slipping out of favour Although our overall capacity is much company. passenger with the arrival of the jet aircraft, greater these days, the number of ships is Victor said: “It takes a lot mixes and liners were being converted not so very different, so we had our work of passengers to fi ll the larger into cruise ships. Costa was at the cut out fi nding viable routes for all our ships so obviously the more forefront of this change, being one ships.” ports you can fi ll them from, of the fi rst to develop Caribbean One successful option was the world the better. cruising with fl ycruise links from cruise originally operated in the late “The fl ycruise concept Europe. 1970s by the then fl agship Eugenio C. was also being developed “It was a pioneering time as “The commitment by the UK’s Saga

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Costa.indd Sec4:13 4/3/08 08:50:44 Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 10:00:28 Costa at 60

Holidays to take a large allocation on these voyages was a very important factor in the decision to operate them,” said Victor. But itinerary development has become even more complex in recent years, with the expansion not just of Costa’s, but also of the worldwide cruise fl eet. After many years in sales following his initial reservations involvement, Victor was appointed to his current position six years ago. “Although I had been involved to some extent in my sales and marketing roles,” he said, “it was the fi rst time I had been exclusively dedicated to planning itineraries. “The seven-day programmes remain the core of what we offer and, as I said, many of these have not changed radically but the quality of the ships operating Caribbean, we have developed separate the satisfaction levels of the passengers who them has done. itineraries for Europeans and North do book. “Carnival’s initial involvement ten Americans while, when the China market “There is also the question of the shore years ago was a turning point for Costa as was slow to fi ll Costa Allegra, we modifi ed excursion revenues lost by cutting out we became its European brand and that the itineraries and opened up sales ports, and whether that will prove greater meant new ships coming along at regular internationally and found a strong market than any savings made on fuel.” intervals. from Europe. Once again this is not a new problem as “Although we had “I believe that no other there was a major fuel crisis in the mid- competitors in Germany, The company has developed as many 1970s, too. the UK and Spain, they 7-day new destinations as Costa has done But Victor did point to a couple of were one-nationality brands in recent years.” major changes between then and now. whereas Costa is both programmes He acknowledged that the “The offi ces we worked in were not European and international.” remain the escalating cost of fuel has added very modern and certainly not as well Coming up with ideas for core of what another challenge to the itinerary equipped as they are today. Reservations new itineraries is an ongoing we offer planning process. were manual rather than computerised. process so, having been seen and many of He said: “We do try and “There were also fewer people working as a mainly Mediterranean optimise fuel use by reducing there although this did have the benefi t operator, Costa expanded these have speeds required to meet the of creating a close-knit family atmosphere recently, fi rst to Northern not changed schedule but this is not a simple where we all knew each other very well. Europe and then to Dubai for radically but equation. “There has been some loss of that the Arabian Gulf, Mauritius the quality “The easiest way to save fuel is to family feeling, but this is still a very nice for the Indian Ocean and reduce time in port or cut a port out company to work for and it has been Shanghai and Singapore for of the ships of the itinerary. But it can be harder fascinating to see just how far Costa has Asia. operating them to sell a cruise with fewer ports and come, and very exciting for me to have He said: “Even within the has done it can also have a negative impact on been part of that development.” 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 79

Costa.indd Sec5:14 4/3/08 08:51:06 Costa at 60

Gianni President Onorato

As Costa Crociere continues to introduce its style of cruising to global markets Gianni Onorato is far from complacent

t the grand old age of 60, Costa is “Secondly, as well as developing a larger Costa’s own competitive position about to enter the fourth dimension winter presence in the Mediterranean, has undoubtedly been enhanced by its Abut then, as President Gianni South America and the Caribbean, we have introduction of the ProntoPrice system, Onorato said: “Every year at Costa there is identifi ed new areas of deployment in the designed to offer capacity-controlled something new, something for the others to Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf and Asia where pricing that rises rather than falls as follow.” we have established a presence and want to departure dates approach. For 2009, this means the latest new continue to expand.” He said: “We are using ProntoPrice ship Costa Luminosa will arrive boasting He does not rule out rivals moving in to in every market where we have a strong her own 4D cinema – a fi rst for any cruise compete in these new areas, but points out competitive position and it conforms to ship. that a brand needs to be strong in European local rules and regulations – we are 90% He said: “We try to follow the changing markets in order to source suffi cient there – this now includes South but not lifestyle trends in food and wines and in passengers to make such programmes North America.” entertainment, and refl ect them in what we viable. There is no question of Costa’s leadership do on board our ships. He said: “Although we will also be in one area of increasing importance to the “But we also innovate and set cruise looking to develop in North and South industry – the environment and the whole trends, as with our Samsara spa suites and America as well as China, our main focus sustainable tourism agenda. Formula One race car simulator. With for at least the next fi ve years will remain It was the fi rst company to receive the every new ship, we repeat the European markets which are at Green Star from RINA, certifying that it these popular innovations but Our main the core of our business.” operates all its ships in an environmentally always add something new focus for For example, he pointed to the responsible manner and conforms to the each time.” investment in the new terminal highest standards as far as preventing The same applies to at least the at Barcelona, as signalling the marine pollution is concerned. itineraries, with New England/ next fi ve years company’s commitment to the It was also the fi rst to be certifi ed (again Canada offered for the fi rst will remain Spanish market by enhancing the by RINA) as B.E.S.T.4 (Business Excellence time in the 2009 programme the European passenger service experience at the Sustainable Task) in the areas of social announced early in 2008. crucial point of embarkation and accountability, safety, quality and the “We have two main markets which disembarkation. environment. objectives as far as are at the “It is certainly possible that It has now published its own social deployments are concerned,” core of our competitors will follow us into our accountability report, setting out its targets he said. “Firstly, we want business new deployments,” he said. “But for improvement. to reinforce our presence the way they are structured makes it He said: “In some ways, it is easier to in our traditional summer likely that it will be one in one area earn this kind of certifi cation the fi rst time destinations of the Eastern and and one in another, rather than a than it is to maintain it. To do so, we have Western Mediterranean and single company challenging us in all to make sure that everyone in the company Northern Europe. of them.” is behaving in accordance with our social

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Costa.indd Sec5:15 4/3/08 08:51:56 Costa.indd Sec5:16 4/3/08 08:52:18 Costa at 60

accountability policies.” I don’t ahead is important to maintain These policies ensured that believe and improve Costa’s standing in Costa was a recent signatory to any company the cruise sector, there has to be the Venice Blue agreement and should ever time to look back, too. that it renewed both its 2005 He said: “For our 60th agreement with the World Wildlife be satisfi ed anniversary, we designated Fund (to support projects to with the level one cruise for our most loyal preserve endangered eco-regions of service past passengers and it was fully in the Mediterranean, Greater they deliver, booked in 36 hours. We offered Antilles and north-east Brazil) because the a second and that went in 48 and that with the European hours. We have since added a Commission’s Research Centre customers third and there will probably be to measure pollution levels in the will always more.” Mediterranean. be raising the On each of them, there Clearly crew training is an bar of their will be retired captains and important element in all safety, executive chefs on board, each reward for customers who have been loyal quality and environmental areas, expectations of them bringing memorabilia to Costa and will bring a good feeling to and President Onorato made clear from past cruises. our anniversary celebrations which will run the challenges that lie ahead, with He said: “This is a nice through the year.”  expanding cruise lines competing for quality staff, not just with each other but also with other leisure and tourism sectors. “I don’t think any company should ever be satisfi ed with the level of service they deliver, because the customers will always be raising the bar of their expectations, so we need to keep increasing our quality to make sure we meet them. “We decided ten years ago that we wanted to avoid training on board. Instead, we ensure that crew trainees live the full on- board life created at our land-based training centres on the way to earning their skills diplomas.” But, although he knows that looking

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 81

Costa.indd Sec5:16 4/3/08 08:52:18 Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 10:02:20 Untitled-1 2 4/3/08 10:02:22 Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention off ers a wide array of sponsorship and advertising options to help participating exhibitors develop an eff ective marketing plan prior to, during, and after the event.

Untitled-1 2 4/3/08 10:02:22 cultureulture cuisineuisine connectivityonnectiv cruiseruise change-overhange-o choice:hoice: one port, two countries COPENHAGEN MALMÖ

COPENHAGEN Denmark MALMÖ Sweden The Øresund Bridge connects Copenhagen and Malmö. 13 miles apart – 30 minutes apart.

The axis at the heart of the Baltic. www.CMPort.com

Copenhagen-HP.indd 1 27/3/07 16:10:46

Milford Haven is setting new standards in terms of West Coast Cruise Ports. As one of the World’s deepest natural harbours, and set within the UK’s only coastal National Park, Milford Haven Port Authority has worked tirelessly in recent years, gaining continued praise as a modern Cruise Port of professionalism and flexibilty.

Berthing: vessels up to 220 metres at Milford Haven vessels up to 163 metres at Pembroke Dock Anchorage and berthing for larger vessels under review

The Old Sail Loft, Milford Marina, MILFORD HAVEN, Pembrokeshire SA73 3AF Tel: +44 (0)1646 696373 Fax: +44 (0)1646 696379 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.mhpa.co.uk

Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 10:03:45 Awards.indd Sec2:5 4/3/08 09:02:26 Awards

W O R L D CRUISE D E S T I N AT I O N S

2007AWARDS

he recent survey of ports and has pointed out on several occasions preferences invariably reflect the destinations has shown a gulf recently. The consequences of itineraries that have been selected Tbetween a handful of marquis this have been that cruise lines are for a fleet that can range in size ports, that clearly have become the expecting an ongoing evaluation of from just a few ships to 20 or more bedrock of the industry in their port facilities and infrastructure, and and in capacity from 100 to 4,000. particular regions, and a wide range an assessment of the potential impact Nevertheless our task remains to give of known and unknown ports and of increased passenger numbers on recognition to ports and destinations destinations. It is noticeable that tourism venues. who have delivered their product or the increasingly global aspect of The same can be said for ports service in a commendable way. This deployment has resulted in there and destinations in other regions in year it seems as if the pendulum has being many more choices in the Far which activity has quickened over moved back to a select number of East for example. the past year as customers seek new marquis ports and destinations. It would be remiss of me not to adventures on cruises that explore Commendations for attractions make special mention of Barcelona. hithertoo unavailable parts of the reflect the need for new and The city and port has quite literally world. enhanced attractions to be developed dominated the port, terminal and What is required of ports is a to cater to a passenger profile that is destination sections this time – not question that is not as easy to answer rapidly changing in mix, in age and in just amongst the large ship brands as it used to be. How many factors preferences. but also favoured by the deluxe end of come into play when choices are Finally, we salute the towns and the market. considered for this annual survey? cities that are shown to have the It is true to say that the dynamism Berthing requests being dealt with very best guides, and we applaud the of the industry is forever bringing quickly and efficiently; the cruise owners, entrepreneurs and managers new challenges for ports and lines’ relationships with the ports; of attractions for understanding the destinations. The catalyst, as always, delays in disembarking passengers; importance of creating, developing continues to be the sheer size and issues surrounding congestion and or simply improving their product. number of ships being built and their port fees. I am sure there are plenty We also congratulate the companies deployment to regions where yields of others but, as before, I should who have delivered outstanding are the highest. remind you that it has never been service in the past year. And many Europe has become the new centre easy to select one port over another, congratulations to all those ports and of gravity for the cruise industry as one destination over another, destinations that are award winners David Dingle, CEO Carnival UK, especially when a cruise company’s this time. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 85

Awards.indd Sec2:5 4/3/08 09:02:26 Awards

Dream World Cruise Destinations

Most Improved Port Most Efficient Port Best Port Welcome Facilities Services

The most relevant improvement to; Most efficient combination of pilotage, port The best welcome to passengers fenders, pier, or berth; or to infrastructure; agency services, customs clearance and coming ashore. or parking spaces. good working relations with the operations departments of cruise lines.

Winners Winners Winners

Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Spain Antigua, Antigua & Barbuda Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Copenhagen, Denmark Dubai, United Arab Emirates Kiel, Germany Port Everglades, USA Invergordon, UK Shanghai, China Singapore, Singapore La Rochelle, France Valletta, Malta Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

86 Dream World Cruise Destinations Spring 2008

Awards.indd Sec1:1 4/3/08 09:01:50 Awards.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 09:02:08 Awards

2007AWARDS

Most Responsive Port Best Turnaround Port Most Improved Terminal Operations Facilities

The port with a cruise team that responds Port with the best berths, terminal or covered Most improved terminal whether through quickly to requests for information, and passenger facility, efficient services such construction of new building or as finds solutions to the challenges and as security; customs; baggage handling; a result of refurbishment delivering: demands of the cruise lines. communications; passenger services; link with new technology, bonded baggage the airport; logistics capability; stevedoring; services, or improvements to security, storage; ship services including provision of communications, or services to the fresh water and disposal of waste. passenger.

Winners Winners Winners

Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Spain Barcelona, Spain Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dubai, United Arab Emirates Kiel, Germany Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain Port Everglades, USA Oranjestad, Aruba Pointe à Pitre, Guadelope Singapore, Singapore Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Tortola, British Virgin Islands Vancouver, Canada Trieste, Italy

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 87

Awards.indd Sec1:2 4/3/08 09:02:08 Awards

Dream World Cruise Destinations

Most Efficient Terminal Most Improved Best Destination Operator Destination Experience – Organised Tours

Most efficiently managed and operated Improvement to tourism product and/ Destination where the quality and delivery terminal. or infrastructure; eg city/town centre of the product includes an organised tour landscaping; traffic flow; provision of booked through the cruise line. transport; access to tourism information; new attractions/experiences.

Winners Winners Winners

Amsterdam, Netherlands Alexandria, Egypt Alexandria, Egypt Barcelona, Spain Alghero, Sardinia, Italy Brugge, Belgium Kobe, Japan Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic Buenos Aires, Argentina Port Everglades, USA Dominica Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic Singapore, Singapore Icy Point Straight, USA Komodo, Indonesia Vancouver, Canada Komodo, Indonesia Limon, Costa Rica Koper, Slovenia Shanghai, China Sanya, China St. Petersburg, Russia Valletta, Malta Stockholm, Sweden

Best Attraction Experience Service Companies

The best combination of product and friendly, professional staff and efficient organisation. Business recognised for outstanding service to passenger

Commendations Commendations

Alhambra Palace, Grenada, Spain Stalin's Dacha, Socchi Abercombie & Kent, South Africa Arrecife Urshuaia Agenza Maritime Sarde, Sardinia Beto Carreiro Water Park, Brazil Vatican Museum Agenzia Ferraz, Funchal, Madeira Cape Town, South Africa Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands Aviomar (Aventours), Mexico Cartagena, Panama Alossi Brothers, Italy Ephesus, Turkey Aquilar Tours, Canada Fjiords, Norway Arctur Travel, St. Petersburg, Russia Fortress Louisberg, Sydney, Canada Atlantic Tours, Halifax, Nova Scotia Grieg's Home, Bergen, Norway BG Tours, India Hermitage evening visit, St. Petersburg Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic Loro Parque, Tenerife Cherbourg Maritime, Northern France Mayan Temples, Guatemala Cox & Co. St. Lucia Polaria Centre, Tromso, Norway Creole Travel, Seychelles Portofino, Italy Cruise Line Agencies, Alaska, USA Small Fishing Ports, Iceland Denholm Shipping Services, Dover, UK St. Kitts Scenic Railway Destination Canada, New England, USA

88 Dream World Cruise Destinations Spring 2008

Awards.indd Sec1:3 4/3/08 09:02:20 Awards

2007AWARDS

Best Destination Best Turnaround Destination with Best Experience – Independent Destination Tour Guides Sightseeing

Destination where the quality of the The best combination of airlift and airport Destination where the quality and experience derives from passengers capacity, transport links (road/rail), ground professionalism of guides is considered making their own arrangements for their handling, hotel stock, tourism appeal, and outstanding. time ashore. seamless transfers to seaport. Barbados Barcelona, Spain Winners Winners Buenos Aires, Argentina Cape Town, South Africa Copenhagen, Denmark Bergen, Norway Amsterdam, Netherlands Cozumel, Mexico Calvi, Corsica, France Barbados Dubrovnik, Croatia Hong Kong, China Barcelona, Spain Funchal, Portugal Lubeck, Germany Copenhagen, Denmark Halifax, Canada New York, USA Dubai, United Araba Emirates Helsinki, Finland Quebec City, Canada Ft. Lauderdale, USA Montevideo, Uraguay Salvador Bahia, Brazil Hong Kong, China Naples, Italy St. Maarten Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe Palma de Mallorca, Spain Venice, Italy Panama Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada Best New Attraction Santo Tomas de Castillo, Guatemala Singapore, Singapore St. Petersburg, Russia Stockholm, Sweden rs, crew or ships. The best new development/product. Tallinn, Estonia

Commendations

Estanislao Duran E Hijos, Vigo, Spain ATV, St. Lucia European Cruise Service, Norway Botanical Gardens New Cable Car, Funchal Foster & Ince, Barbados Canopy Tour/Buggy Adventure Dominican Intercruise, Spain Republic Land & Sea Transportation, Miami, USA Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic Linholm Cruise Services, Sweden Concorde, Bridgetown Airport, Barbados Maersk, Denmark Ice Bar, Copenhagen, Denmark Nascotours, Egypt Ilha Grande, Brazil P & B Agencies, Barcelona, Spain Keeling, Taipei National Palace Museum Platinum, Barbados Komodo Dragon Tour, Indonesia Rais Hassan Saadi Group, UAE Leiptis Magna, Libya Saigon Tourist, Vietnam Napoli Express, Naples Swiss Travel, Costa Rica Pisa Little Trolley Train, Italy Trumpy Tours, Italy Zahara Resort Show, Dubai Turismo Nuevo Mundo, Argentina Wallem Shipping, Hong Kong

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 89

Awards.indd Sec1:4 4/3/08 09:02:23 Company profi le Turn To Tura The key to an innovative tour service in Turkey

EXECUTIVEEXEXECECUTU IVVE SUSSUMMARYMMM ARARY iininspiredsppirredd managementmannagemenent andannd ststafftaffa tot bbee ourour clients’clliei nts’ kkeyeyy toto TurkeyTuTurkr eyy inceinincec iitt wawwass fofoundedundeded in 11966,96966,6 toto achieveachieve eevenvev n greatergrg eaeateter heightsheigghth s off anandnd enensuresuure allall visitorsvissittoro s leaveleava e ouourr Tura Turizm has become service and product innovation. tours with smiles on their faces. Sa major player in Turkish Th e latest saw Tura become At the core of the company’s tourism. More than 40 years of the 2007 inaugural winner of ethos is teamwork. It is through seamless inbound and outbound Seatrade Insider’s “Supplier of their enthusiastic, experienced services have been appreciated the Year” award and was further by national and international recognition of the company’s core and ultra-professional staff , and organizations. values of innovation, creativity, their commitment to operating as Th ey have also earned the quality, safety, and the all- a team, that ensures Tura Turizm company no fewer than 72 awards important personal touch. It also off ers the best possible services for which – on each occasion – have underlined its mission statement: cruise lines operating in Turkey.

Since 1966

Go with a smile Tura Turizm Cumhuriyet Cad.No.133 Elmadag 34360 Istanbul TURKEY Phone: 90 212 241 21 52 Fax: 90 212 241 29 89 [email protected] www.turaturizm.com.tr

90 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Turkey.indd Sec2:1 4/3/08 09:03:25 Turkey.indd Sec2:2 4/3/08 09:03:38 Tura Turizm Innovative Services

INNOVATIVENNOVATIVE SERVICES FROM TURA whatwhat to do, wherewhere to eat, wherewhere to shopshop and TURIZM howhow best to get around the city. Th ey also have AsAtfTTi part of Tura Turizm’s’ missionii tto makek a list of bars, bars restaurants and nightclubs for all its tours stand out among the standard all ages and tastes as well as information on products off ered to cruise lines and their mosques, churches and synagogues. passengers, it is constantly adding extra, Th ey are happy to share their insight into innovative services. Th ese now include:- the city and its way of life and will also give detailed information about the Old City; HEALTH AND SAFETY THE KEY Sultanahmet, Hippodrome, Grand Bazaar, In the key area of health and safety, Tura Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Topkapi Palace, ensures that an ambulance with one English- Dolmabahçe Palace, and areas around the speaking doctor and one nurse is ready and port as well as on the Asian side. If visitors on call from the moment a ship arrives until want to know about other areas of Turkey, it leaves Istanbul port. staff also have that information to hand. Th e desk is the place to go for phone cards It stays at the port until all the excursions and any assistance with calling or mailing have left and then switches to Tura’s service postcards and letters, and it also acts as the centre between Th e Museum of Hagia Lost and Found area for mislaid items. Th ese Sophia and Topkapi Palace – a central are returned to the ship’s representative if the location for all tours. Emergency contact owners do not claim them. numbers are given to all cruise staff and Staff are also trained to deal with any guides. urgent situations that may occur at the port.

Th e ambulance has all the equipment ELECTRIC CAR REDUCES WALKING IN necessary for emergencies as well as minor TOPKAPI PALACE health problems, but its priority is to take Although the ultimate must-see in Istanbul, care of minor health issues that visitors might its sheer scale means that Topkapi Palace have during their tour and/or to take them requires plenty of walking, so groups can to Memorial Hospital in case of anything have problems keeping visitors with diff erent more serious. Memorial Hospital is one of walking capacities and pace equally happy. the two American Hospitals in Istanbul and Once again, Tura Turizm has come up with the closest to the tour venues. the answer: an environmentally friendly, easy-to-board electric car which has been Even if there are no health problems during a converted into a decorated Sultan’s vehicle. call or tour, the knowledge that an ambulance Visitors who prefer not to walk the 700m is on standby is welcomed by visitors and from the entrance to the fi rst gate of the cruise staff alike. Th e ambulance will – if Palace are welcome to join this Sultan’s ride requested – display the cruise line’s logo on run by the Tura team. More than 3,000 its front and side doors. happily took this option in 2007.

Even if there are no health problems during a HEADSET ENSURES VISITORS DON’T call or tour, the knowledge that an ambulance MISS A THING is on standby is welcomed by visitors and As all tour sites can be heavily congested and cruise staff alike. Th e ambulance will – if noisy, it is often diffi cult for guides to make requested – display the cruise line’s logo on themselves heard to everyone in their group. its front and side doors. To solve this problem, Tura Turizm clients are given the option of a headset through which – ALL-DAY HOSPITALITY DESK via a direct link from the guides’ microphones A hospitality desk is also in service from a – they will be able to hear every word they cruise ship’s arrival until its departure. It is are saying even in the noisiest surroundings. there to provide a warm welcome and any Th is unique solution – a fi rst for any Turkish information that visiting passengers (and tour company or visiting cruise line – also ship’s crew) may need. means they are able to walk around the site Staff provide maps of Istanbul, the Old City individually, listening to the guides without and other areas if requested and will advise on having to follow them around all the time.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 91

Turkey.indd Sec2:2 4/3/08 09:03:38 Company profi le Innovative S

Th e headset system is insured and It has an elevating ramp system for easy shore excursions exit and in front of the maintained by Tura Turizm staff who wheelchair access, protection belts and side Hospitality Desk. It is delineated by brass will also be able to deal with any technical slides, and carries up to eight (including four marine columns and, as well as making problems during tours and replace disabled) passengers. Th e driver has medical visitors feel special, it also helps them equipment if necessary. Th e guides are knowledge and experience with disabled orientate themselves for their shore excursion trained to use it before the season starts and passengers and there is also an escort to help. departure point. Th e carpet is also used at are also given the necessary technical details the entrance to the restaurants. in order to operate it. GPS KEEPS TOURS ON SCHEDULE Th is system is optional for each visitor and From 2008, each Tura Turizm bus will TAKE A TOUR – PLANT A TREE carries a small additional charge. It can be have GPS (Global Positioning System). Another new idea from Tura Turizm booked at the same time as the excursion and Th is innovation will make it possible – via was that of planting trees for each visitor a separate bus will be allocated to users. a special code – for the whole call-day who takes the full day shore excursion tour operation to be monitored. Th is code in Kusadasi. A tract of land has been set SAFE AND SECURE COURTESY OF TURA will be shared with Tura cruise company aside in the mountains of Virgin Mary and TURIZM clients so they will be able to see how the Ephesus and 30.000 trees have been planted A team of 16 trained security staff operation is run, check the durations of the since 2006. Th e forest can display the logo are operational during each cruise tours and ensure the guides deliver the tour and name of a cruise company and be shown call to Istanbul. Th ey have an internal as advertised. Th is monitoring can also be to visitors during their excursion. A picture communication system in addition to radio used as proof if there are any client/visitor of the land with the logo will be presented to connection with all the buses, guides and complaints about durations. the company in October. ground staff in case of an emergency. Th ere Tura will present each tour participant are also two patrol cars. MUSICAL WELCOME FOR VISITORS with a certifi cate (on A4 recycled paper) For every call, Tura’s security company When cruise ships arrive in Istanbul, the marking the planting of their tree. forms a specifi c security plan designed to Janissary Band welcomes their passengers in keep all visitors safe and secure without their the Customs Area with military music dating TWO CONTINENTS CERTIFICATE being aware of a security presence. back 2,500 years. Th ere is a separate certifi cate for those who Th is creates a very colourful atmosphere visit the Asian side of Istanbul on their tour. TRANSPORTATION FOR DISABLED and has a positive impact on passengers as It states that they have passed from Europe GUESTS they are getting close to the pier. Th is is the to Asia via the Bosphorus Bridge. A deluxe, air-conditioned mini bus especially initiation of their “Turkish Experience”. Th e Th is A4 Certifi cate states: Congratulations! designed to serve the needs of disabled show takes about 40 minutes, lasting until You have crossed from Europe to Asia. We visitors on shore excursions, is provided by shore excursions have departed. wish that you remember Istanbul as a city of Tura Turizm at all Turkish ports through two continents where East meets West. Th is is the season, although early booking is VISITORS SEE RED – AND APPRECIATE IT the Europe that you do not know and the Asia recommended. A red carpet is laid out towards the that you will discover. With the compliments of

92 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Turkey.indd Sec2:3 4/3/08 09:03:49 Turkey.indd Sec2:4 4/3/08 09:04:00 Tura Turizm ervices

Tura Turizm wheelchair-confi ned. inside the gift set to remind them of the Th e transporting vehicle can display a tablet’s importance and purpose. WET ICY CAPS – A VERY COOL IDEA company logo and be at the disposal of the An Interactive Live Show Booklet is also For hot days in Ephesus, Tura Turizm has particular cruise line during its ship’s visits to placed in the gift set to combine with the come up with an idea to cap them all – wet Istanbul and Kusadasi. Th is service is free of information they receive from guides before icy caps to cool visitors down. charge for the visitors. Ephesus attracts 90% of visitors to Kusadasi they see the Interactive Show. but it can be very hot in the summer so two EXCLUSIVE GIFTS FOR YOUR GUESTS Tura staff greet groups near the end of the tour Souvenirs that Tura Turizm off ers cruise EPHESUS INTERACTIVE LIVE SHOW and hand them the icy caps which they have line passengers on any shore excursion from Th e Ephesus tour includes a site tour to all kept cool in mobile freezers. Kusadasi are listed below, and a set will also parts of the ancient city which is spread over Given the usually older age groups of be presented in an environmentally friendly an area of 5km. With the Ephesus Interactive cruise visitors, these caps are not just a pack for review. Live Show, Tura Turizm aims to simulate the welcome innovation but they are also a safety A bottle of holy water. Th is is given to look of the city when the Romans were there. measure as it has been proved that their use those on excursions including visits to the can help avoid heat-related health problems. Virgin Mary’s House. Th e bottles, made Actors from the Conservatoire of Izmir Th e feedback from visitors has been very exclusively for Tura Turism, are made out of are dressed as Romans of diff erent ranks and positive, proving that this is another good soil with a glazed interior, to recall the times social classes and pretend they are living there way to diff erentiate the tour product. the Virgin Mary lived. Th ere is a fi gure of and are busy with their daily activities such as the Virgin Mary on one side and explanatory giving speeches on democracy at the Agora, MOBILE TOILETS BRING RELIEF information on the other. Visitors are playing the harp in the Auditorium, buying Another popular Tura Turizm initiative welcome to fi ll their bottles with holy water fi sh from the market, chatting in the famous is its provision of a Mobile Toilet Service and to take them back home. that is located at the most congested areas in Ephesus Th eatre Entrance Tablets. It baths of Ephesus etc. Istanbul and Kusadasi to enable Tura clients was a custom when Ephesus was the largest Th ey do not, though, act or interact with to avoid the long queues for – and doubtful Roman City in the area for people to enter the visitors but are simply there to fi ll the gap hygiene of – public toilets. the theatre with a ticket in the form of a so that people can understand the era when It has 10 booths inside: four for ladies, fi ve for “tablet”, so a replica is given to each visitor Ephesus was a living city in its golden era gentlemen and one for disabled guests. It is fully on a Tura tour to Ephesus with the guides Th e Interactive show and scene is supplied with toilet paper and soap and there explaining its signifi cance. It has a “drama and presented for each group with timing are two staff in charge to help with any further melodrama” illustration on one side and the coordinated between staff at two locations. requests. It is fully air-conditioned at all times n ame of Ephesus written as it was carved on and is maintained by Tura Turizm. the original tablets. It is a fl ashback in history and an animation Th e disabled restroom has a ramp Th e tablet is presented to visitors in the of Ephesus, which helps visitors visualize the accessible even for guests who are completely form of a necklace with an explanatory note city, and is a memorable experience for them.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 93

Turkey.indd Sec2:4 4/3/08 09:04:00 Regional Reports Caribbean Ports

CaribbeanBy Tony Peisley

he proposed $200m cruise port Exactly how this works in practice key ports for Caribbean cruises out of development at Falmouth in Jamaica will be the subject of much scrutiny by action for long periods so there needs to Tencapsulates both the promise and those within the Caribbean but there is be more choice of both ports of call and the problems facing the cruise industry in no doubt that the region does need new homeports in the mix. the Caribbean. ports, new experiences and enhanced Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd (RCCL), On the one hand, it will benefi t the port and tourism facilities to maintain which is contracted to bring a minimum industry by creating effectively a brand its market leadership in the cruise of 2.2m passengers to Jamaica over a new port – one specifi cally designed to sector. fi ve-year period, is part of the Falmouth handle Genesis-size ships – in the region. Although year-on-year capacity project which involves Jamaican and US It will benefi t Jamaica in general by increases in the Caribbean have been developer partners. ensuring it will not miss out on attracting slowing down in recent years (just 4% in Although it means that its Genesis- the next generation of ships simply 2007), this still means – as the Curacao berth plans for Ocho Rios have been because it lacks the logistics to handle port authority has forecast – that the dropped in the process, there will still be them and their larger passenger numbers. number of cruise ships deployed in the upgrades there and also at Montego Bay It will also spread the positive impact Caribbean is likely to have risen 10% where $67m is being spent on renovating of cruise tourism more widely across by 2012. This just serves to underline three berths and adding a second the island with Falmouth, in particular, the importance of ongoing port and terminal. guaranteed the kind of economic destination development. RCCL is also at the early stages of turnaround sought by any rundown port As reported in the last Dream World its involvement with the upgrading of and community. Destinations, the Caribbean Tourism Heritage Quay at St John’s, Antigua As well as dredging the harbour, Organisation (CTO) now believes cruise while, in conjunction with the port reclaiming land and building a sewage tourism to be almost entirely incremental authority and a New York developer, treatment plant, the two-year plan business rather than a cannibalisation of the cruise company is also helping drive culminates in Falmouth applying to land stay traffi c but also that this means the proposed redevelopment of the UNESCO for World Heritage site status. even more work needs to be done to waterfront at Aruba’s Oranjestad port. Its Georgian buildings will be improve the cruise passengers’ experience This will cost up to $80m and take restored, the area around them on shore. up to seven years to complete but will landscaped and a shopping mall (with Positive word of mouth include a new terminal as well as hotel, Georgian-style features) created on the recommendation from them could be condominium and retail areas. outskirts. crucial, especially with the new passport It follows the government decision to Local residents in 18th Century requirement for North American visitors switch all cargo and container traffi c to a costumes will meet the ships at a large and the prospect of hurricanes over the different port on the island by 2009. new terminal, act as guides and run next 10-15 years both likely to impact on A similar plan is being considered for horse-buggy and similar tours for the the region. Nassau in New Providence, Bahamas passengers. Hurricanes have already put three while, on Grand Bahama, there is the

94 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Caribbean.indd 1 4/3/08 09:05:22 Caribbean.indd 2 4/3/08 09:05:25 Regional Reports Caribbean Ports

St Maarten

prospect of a new cruise port away from that Puerto Rico is also developing two to get on and off the island, cruise visitor the cargo-cruisecargo-cruise ffacilitya at Freeport. new cruise ports: the newly-privatised satisfaction levels are certain to rise and, A$15bA $1.5bn ddevelopment l of the Maya West and Ponce. equally importantly, their time (and waterfront at San Juan, Puerto Rico, The newest cruise port in the therefore their spending) ashore will should be completed by 2015 and, in the Caribbean, Grand Turk, has quickly increase once the four mega-ship berths meantime, the scheme of rebates and built up port of call business and is now become operational next year. reductions started by the Puerto Rico looking to attract homeporting ships, Tobago is also looking to change its Tourism Company in 2005 to incentivise initially from Carnival Cruise Lines low-key cruise image by cruise lines to call has now been extended (CCL). investing $74m in berth extensions in beyond this year. The Cayman Islands are hardly new both Scarborough and Charlotteville. As part of the same strategy, two to cruising – in fact, they are the third The importance of the dual destination piers have been dredged to cater for most popular Caribbean destination – St Maarten/St Martin is underlined by the Genesis-size ships while improved airlift but, by turning Grand Cayman into a fi nancial involvement of both Carnival from both the USA and Europe should docking rather than a tender call, they Corporation & Plc and RCCL in building also help to increase the more lucrative will radically change its appeal without a second mega-ship pier at Philipsburg on homeporting business. necessarily increasing visitor numbers. the Dutch side of the island. But in some ways it is equally important By reducing the time (and crowding) This will have room for two Genesis- size ships and should be operational at the San Souci terminal end of next year. There is also a plan for a new pier for smaller cruise ships as part of a yacht marina development at Marigot, the port on the French side of the island. Curacao’s Willemstad has plans for its own second mega-ship cruise berth/ terminal. If approved, this would open in 2010. Grenada wants to add two berths of more modest proportions while St Kitts plans one new berth. And Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) opened its new cruise terminal at the end of last year (2007) as part of its $76m drive to establish itself as a major homeport in the region. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 95

Caribbean.indd 2 4/3/08 09:05:25 Caribbean Destinations

96 SpringSpring 2008 DreamDream World Cruise DestinationsDestinations

Guadeloupe.indd 1 4/3/08 09:06:32 Guadeloupe.indd 2 4/3/08 09:06:40 CCaribbeanaribbean DestinationDestinationss

he seven islands of Guadeloupe For the shoppers there’s plenty there is no need to handle luggage between were discovered and named by of choice. There are boutiques the two. Instead luggage is scanned at TChristopher Columbus in 1493. specialising in perfume, china and both the airport and seaport for maximum The two largest islands – Grande-Terre crystal and many luxury items from security and stress-free transfers. Security to the east and Basse-Terre, are separated France. There’s a good selection of is up to ISPS standards at the airport and at by a small channel of seawater known quality local products that make fi ne the ports. as “La Rivière Salée”. The former, fl at, gifts to take home: Pottery, hand- The port of Pointe-à-Pitre has fi ve dry, chalky and covered with fi elds of painted fabrics, handmade lace, French quays dedicated to cruise vessels, two of sugar cane, is ringed with white sandy champagne and wines, as well as rums, which can receive cruise vessels of 300 beaches, which in turn are encircled by a coffee beans, and unusual spices. metres in length. There are no swells coral reef. The second, wilder in aspect, One of the dominant views of the islands and there is a draft of 9.0 metres. The is home to the Soufrière volcano that is the dormant volcano, La Soufrière, port is ideal for turnaround traffi c as all rises to a height of 1,467 metres. All on Basse-Terre. Coaches drop visitors the marine and land-based services are around is the beauty of a thick tropical relatively close to the summit for them to on hand including quality fresh water forest, listed as France’s seventh national approach the rim nearly 5,000 ft above certifi ed by Institut Pasteur, garbage park. In Guadeloupe’s people you will sea level, on foot. The museum at the removal, laundry, sludges and grey/ fi nd a centuries-old fusion of Creole and lookout point, which describes the history black water removals, supply of fuel via French refl ected in their elegant culture, and volcanic formation of the surrounding barge, specialised medical assistance at clothes, cuisine and faces. islands, is popular with visitors. the hospitals; and taxis and large coaches. These two islands are blessed with a The natural park offers one of the Berthing facilities are also available at myriad of little bays, each with its own most beautiful and best-preserved the Port of Basse-Terre, which is south character and spirit. From fi ne white tropical forests in the Caribbean, where of Guadeloupe on the route between sand on Grande-Terre, to golden brown you’ll fi nd more than 300 different kinds Antigua and Dominica. sand on the leeward coast and black sand of trees, bushes and giant ferns. There Anchorages are located at Marie from the volcano on the west end of are marked nature trails with information Galante, Iles des Saintes and Deshaies Basse-Terre, as well as coral reefs with centres throughout the rainforest and Bay. Marie Galante has the most shallow water. The zoological garden, there is the beautiful 350ft Carbet Falls. beautiful white sand beaches surrounding the orchid garden, the coffee and cocoa the Bay of Saint Louis. The island has a plantations, a banana plantation, and Seaport and airport overview history of sugarcane production, where the different botanical gardens contain Pole Caraibes, Guadeloupe’s international one sugarcane factory and three rum local and other exotic plants sheltering airport is managed by the Chamber of distilleries are still active. The distilleries hundreds of birds and butterfl ies. Commerce and Industry of Pointe a Pitre. produce agricole rum, which is higher The seven islands of Guadeloupe are It has a runway of 3,500 metres, capable of quality than regular rum, as it is distilled surrounded by warm, clear seas with an servicing several of the very largest planes from the sugarcane juice rather than incredible underwater world, which is why at the same time. One terminal is dedicated molasses. The Bay of Terre de Haut, snorkelling has become so high popular to cruise home- porting for the mainly Les Saintes is recognized as one of the throughout the islands. Sailing, boating European and American passengers. And most famous bays in the world as it is and deep-sea fi shing are also high popular from 13th December 2006, there will be dominated by Fort Napoleon, and has activities with visitors. Three high-speed a new direct service operated by Delta a history of naval battles between the catamarans can bring passengers from the Airlines from Atlanta, USA with fl ights on French and the English. Les Saintes are port of Pointe a Pitre to Marie Galante Wednesdays and Saturdays. The airport is the lands of cactus, iguanas and gardens and Les Saintes. And Deshaies offers a just 15 minutes from the port of Pointe-à- of exotic plants. At Deshaies there is the protected and charming bay just in front of Pitre, and one hour from the port at Basse- botanical garden with a variety of plants, Montserrat and Antigua, directly connected Terre. Airlift exists to over 30 destinations trees, fl owers, and fl amingos as well as to the tropical forest and mountains. Here, in the Caribbean, Europe and America the zoological garden in the Natural as on all the islands, your appetite can easily although the regular service from France is Park of Deux Mamelles, where you can be satisfi ed by a choice of excellent cuisine its mainstaymainstay.. As there is a seamless transfer “walkwalk on top of the treestrees” and discover heavilheavilyy infl uenced bbyy Gallic fl avoursavours.. service from airairportport to seaseaportport it means thethe racoons.racoons. 

SpringSpring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 9977

Guadeloupe.indd 2 4/3/08 09:06:40 FCCA Conference, Cozumel Cozumel

Cozumel is home to the magnifi cent Palancar Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world

98 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

FCCA-Cozumel.indd 1 4/3/08 09:07:36 FCCA Conference, Cozumel

The land of By Gilly Ashcroft the swallows ozumel, the largest island in the Gervasio, a sacred area that was strategically Mexican Caribbean, traditionally important for commerce and politics and a Cknown as the land of the swallows, sanctuary for Goddess of Fertility X’chel. is located close to the eastern tip of the Visitors can explore four different historical Yucatán Peninsula. The island’s size districts dating from the early classical (13 miles by 10 miles) is all the more period (A.D300 -AD600) to the late post astonishing when you consider that only classical times of A.D1250 – A.D.1500. 5% of the island is inhabited, the majority Chankanaab (a Mayan word meaning Little of which are clustered around the island’s Sea) National Park is located just a short north west arc which contours the unique distance south of San Miguel. This is home to coral formations for which Cozumel is so the world’s only inland coral reef formation, well known. An abundance of coral reefs The Chankanaab Reef, which surrounds the and sea life draws many divers to these National Park and is renowned for its trees turquoise blue seas. And with temperatures, of black coral, enormous yellow sponges, in and out of the water, averaging around gorgonian fans and schools of brightly 80degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year, coloured fi sh and marine life. The Park offers this destination has become a fi rm favourite. excellent snorkeling and a sunken ship attracts And so it is with cruise passengers too, divers. You also have the option of swimming who fi nd the island’s long stretches of with dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery, tour golden beaches and coastal sand dunes, a reproduction Mayan village and learn about mangrove and lagoon systems equally ancient customs and farming practices. There appealing. Besides diving and snorkelling are 350 species of tropical plants from more there is the Atlantis submarine for than twenty countries in the botanical gardens underwater marine viewing as well as and this is also a haven for indigenous wildlife Catamaran rides, horseback riding, kite and beautiful butterfl ies. boarding, buggy tours, wind surfi ng, The Museum of the Island of Cozumel kayaking, as well as a golf, tennis and fi shing is conveniently located in the heart of down amongst the numerous activities available town San Miguel on Avenue Rafael E. on this friendly island. Melgar. The Museum familiarizes visitors Cozumel is also an island of cultural with an understanding of the island’s treasures, proud traditions to add to its geographical and historical origins. There vibrant shopping experience with San are four interesting exhibition halls featuring Miguel, its capital and port of entry, nautical artifacts, swords, art and sculptures, providing handcrafted Mexican clothing charts and interactive demonstrations. An and jewellery, Mayan pottery and a folk informative collection of murals depict the art as well as duty-free shops for watches, scenes Mayan life and photographs of the jewellery and perfume – with a range as early island residents line its walls. A small wide as your pocket. Mayan house exhibit is another feature that On the southern tip of the island eco- represents the life and ancient customs of the enthusiasts will fi nd Parque Punta Sur island’s inhabitants. Those who are fascinated ecological reserve – a unique environment by the evolution of a island population this is of natural lagoons, sand dunes, reef truly a gem of a place not to be missed. formations, observation towers and a Cozumel is an island of many choices, diverse fi sh population that mix with natural beauty and friendly people. There crocodiles. This is a protected area not are numerous activities to suit the interests simply for the natural and unspoiled beauty of every age group and with so many bars, of the landscape but for the historical Punta restaurants and coffee shops within eye Celarain lighthouse which also houses the shot of the cruise ships, it is one of the few maritime museum. destinations where passengers linger until The most important Mayan the last moment to hop back onto their archaeological site on Cozumel is San ships for the next leg of their itinerary. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 99

FCCA-Cozumel.indd 2 4/3/08 09:07:43 Untitled-6Untitled-1 1 5/3/074/3/08 19:28:4710:04:27 FCCA Conference Who said What?

Micky Arison, chairman and chief executive offi cer Carnival Corporation & plc and chairman FCCA Arison warns of globalisation

t the Florida Caribbean Cruise to reinforce the fact that it has become a example of an opportunity gained where, Association (FCCA)’s Cozumel much more competitive industry. thanks to the leadership of the minister of AConference Micky Arison, chairman Arison went on to state that, “despite tourism, a fantastic facility was developed and chief executive offi cer Carnival the enormous growth in beds in the and the island went from no cruise visitors Corporation & plc and chairman FCCA, construction of new ships, capacity in the to 500,000 passengers last year. So, while spoke of the dramatic change in the Caribbean will be down this year for the it is true to say that the Caribbean in industry over the past few years and its fi rst time in my memory”. Nevertheless general may be fl at – and I hope that this impact on cruising to the Caribbean. he offered hope to the Caribbean and will change and start to turn – even in a “There is no guarantee of growth for hinted that he had a soft spot for the fl at market certain destinations will see certain regions. The industry has truly region when he stated: “That’s not to say growth”. become global in nature – 10 years ago that the Caribbean is still not the No.1 It was clear that Arison sees a it was a very North American/Caribbean destination for cruises, it also isn’t saying Caribbean with an expanded number of sensitive industry – but as the economies it can’t continue to be. It’s important to destinations a priority, but he believes around the world have grown and their understand that it has the best year round the culture seekers exploring other populations have travelled, the industry weather, the most beautiful beaches, one parts of the world on cruise ships are has grown dramatically outside of this of the seven wonders of the world, and not turning their backs on the region, region [Caribbean]. An area like the Baltic there’s no reason we can’t work together as they are going to want to relax has exploded in growth – historically that – the industry in the Caribbean and and enjoy all those beautiful beaches has only been an issue for this region Mexico – and turn that around and get and wonderful sunsets as well. The [Caribbean] in the summer but as the this growth back up”. Caribbean has plenty to do, but those dollar has weakened and companies are In a comment about the opportunities destinations who take this moment going from dollars to pounds, euros and the industry provided, Arison made the to seize the opportunity to develop Canadian dollars, today we are fi nding point that sadly not every destination their products and offerings will see new and interesting winter deployments, picks up the mantle at the opportune growth in the coming years, even if the for example: year round Mediterranean moment by providing a few contrasting Caribbean cruise market remains fl at.  cruising; our company has three ships examples. “You’ll see certain destinations based in Barcelona. In move on opportunities and grab a global environment There’s market share, and other areas will people in Russia, Poland, allow opportunities to pass them Bulgaria, China and India no by. Take Puerto Costa Maya, it’s are travelling for the fi rst reason we a great example of a destination time. Are they going to go can’t work that is meeting the challenge and to a sun destination or are together – the meeting the opportunity. In the they going to be interested industry in the last year they received the benefi ts in seeing Florence, Venice, of passenger numbers up by or St. Petersburg? And that’s Caribbean and 500,000 to 1.3 million”. He named why Europe is exploding”. Mexico – and Cancun as an opportunity lost, Arison was also astonished to get this growth as the city would have expanded, discover that the industry has back up. particularly for the European 14 ships committed to Brazil market, had they grabbed the and this combined with all opportunity when it was there. the other global deployments “Turks & Caicos is a perfect

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 101

Arison.indd 1 4/3/08 09:08:23 FCCA Conference Who was There?

Team Barbados

Chukka Caribbean Adventures are all smiles Team Guatemala Micky Arison, Michele Paige and

Michele Paige, President FCCA, left, Micky Arison centre and Mayor of Cozumel Gustavo Ortega Joaquin fl ank Team Costa Rica

102 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

FCCA-Pix.indd 1 4/3/08 09:10:02 FCCA Conference Who was There?

Team Panama

Team St. Maarten

Cesar Lizarraga, Puerto Costa Maya with Rick Sasso d Rick Sasso meet the exhibitors

Team Martinique with, centre, essay winner Naïna Patrice Edward Thomas, West Indian Company with Team Guadeloupe Micky Arison

Team Sansouchi Cruise Terminal, Santo Domingo

Team Trinidad

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 103

FCCA-Pix.indd 2 4/3/08 09:10:27 FCCA Conference, Cozumel Bartlett voices great ambitions for

Jamaicain conversation with Chris Ashcroft

104 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Jamaica.indd 1 4/3/08 09:15:05 Who said What?

Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica

amaica’s government has decided to and luxury arrangements that ships are active by 2012, two to three years after make tourism the centrepiece of its offering. We want to tap into that and the major Falmouth development. Jeconomic transformation. According Port Antonio is being developed as our (Falmouth will become Jamaica’s fourth to Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund preferred port of call for those boutique port when complete at the end of Bartlett, tourism must now be the driver ships”. 2009.) Developments at Ocho Rios and for economic growth and enrichment. The minister was extremely positive in Montego Bay will run concurrently with “It has the potential to create more jobs respect of a project to turn the historic the Falmouth project and so by 2010 faster than any other industry, and also Port Royal into a thematic entertainment Bartlett expects “to be in a position to convertibility in terms of planning that and cultural attraction. Bartlett sees great offer four working cruise ports and a fi fth is second to none,” he says. demand for that type of niche and as Port under active consideration. That will Core to his thinking is that Jamaica Royal is a World Heritage Site he feels allow us to have up to 15 vessels in port currently has plenty more attractions the project is ideally placed to become on any given day. That’s the capacity we than the rest of the Caribbean but another marquee attraction. “Port Royal will have with Falmouth being able to “lacks attractions that have marquee has history, tradition and a notoriety berth two Genesis-class ships at the same value, except for Dunn’s River Falls and that makes it of international and time”. swimming with dolphins To achieve this global appeal. It is a special and unique Bartlett concluded with the bold we are looking at partnerships with the experience that should become a very claim that Jamaica is poised to become investment world so we can become a important attraction for Jamaica” he said. the cruise capital of the region. “At the more unique and special destination. The Port Royal though is just one corner moment we receive just over a million government is providing all the necessary of a cultural triangle the government passengers per year, but we want to do incentives”. Key to the government’s wants to transform. Just 15 minutes away much better than that by increasing our strategy is the intention to develop is Spanish Town, Jamaica’s capital under market share substantially”. tourism into an export industry and that Spanish rule. Its strong Spanish infl uences Of equal importance to that ambition is is why Bartlett believes investors and include a cast iron bridge, which was the minister’s objective to achieve a 50% stakeholders will do, and invest, more. the fi rst of its type to be built in the conversion of cruise visitors – that would The minister sees the development of New World. Spanish Town together mean half a million more land based cruise tourism as central to the strategy with Kingston and Port Royal form a visitors to Jamaica when considering for Jamaica’s tourism product. As a cultural triangle that has been earmarked current numbers. “It’s an area we’re going consequence there are ambitious plans to as an important attraction for heritage to be pursuing as part of the vision for the turn Jamaica into a fi ve port destination tourism. Many of the plans are already future. These are the traffi c builders for from its existing three. The existing ports drawn up and some of the designs have our tourism industry as it brings heads to at Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Port been completed. In the end, as with all beds” commented Bartlett.  Antonio have already undergone extensive enormous tourism projects, it boils down development and this continues to keep to fi nance which, in this case, Bartlett is up with current market requirements. extremely confi dent of securing. At Ocho Rios Bartlett indicated Although Spanish Town seems to that the intention is to discontinue the be more of a challenge, due to the commercial aspects of the port educational nature of its and instead to create a dedicated Port appeal, Bartlett stated that: cruise port that will allow for Royal “The Kingston and Park Royal fi ve or six vessels per day to be developments will happen very berthed. “The implications of has history, fast. We are looking to use the that will of course be huge, as tradition and Kingston site so as to preserve it will provide opportunity and notoriety that the integrity of Port Royal, a greater fl ow of visitors into makes it of particularly the sunken city, the area and beyond, creating international which is the only underwater greater demand for attractions city in the entire western World and services as well as jobs, and global and the old area that has been investment and profi ts. appeal submerged is there, pretty “We have further plans to much intact, and it offers a develop Port Antonio into a tremendous opportunity for boutique ship mecca. We’re marine tourism. But we have to looking for high end visitors as develop it very carefully so as we recognise that there is a huge not to destroy its archaeological development in luxury tourism integrity”. where high end visitors are now The minister expects anxious to access the exclusive the cultural triangle to be

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 105

Jamaica.indd 2 4/3/08 09:15:33 FCCA Conference, Cozumel: Who Said What?

St. Thomas set to join the 2 million club

n conversation with the publisher, market, with Thomas mentioning Royal that has been developed as a public/ Edward Thomas, president and CEO, Caribbean International’s Freedom of the private sector attraction by The West IThe West Indian Company predicts Seas calling every two weeks year-round Indian Company and Paradisegate further growth for the US Virgin Islands – bringing 4,000 passengers at every call. Corporation, at the end of the dock with St. Thomas consolidating its status Emerald Princess is calling throughout where the third cruise ship is berthed. as the shopping mecca of the Caribbean. the season and Carnival Freedom began Here there is a swimming pool with He was quick to point out that its its scheduled calls from November 20. authentic sand, volleyball and all the popularity with cruise lines is thanks, in NCL’s Norwegian Gem will sail out of other facilities the crew like to have part, to the location of St. Thomas in New York and include St. Thomas, while access to. relation to the US mainland, and this RCCL’s Azamara brand has Azamara Crown Bay, which has seen signifi cant factor has helped them record 1,917,371 Quest calling at St. John. US homeported investment over recent years, is slowly passenger arrivals last year. ships are not the only ones scheduled beginning to come into its own as Thomas “Cruise ships coming out of the US to visit the US Virgin Islands during explained. “By the end of the 2008/9 mainland are at sea for two days and 2008, as St. Thomas is set to benefi t season we believe the retail units in the new ready to make their fi rst port of call. We from the development of homeporting development will be fully occupied, and are blessed in that we are ideally located facilities at the Dominican Republic, this will help alleviate some of the traffi c to fi t into that sailing pattern and as a which are now set to increase the number that builds up in Main Street and from consequence we have become their fi rst of ships based in the Caribbean. Many passengers travelling from the West Indian port of call on many itineraries”, of these deployments have Company dock to the east of the bay”. Thomas explained. He stated been primarily marketed to The redevelopment of the Yacht further that it is not just the appeal to the European and Haven marina has seen the parallel passenger numbers that support South American markets, growth of sailing trips around the island, this trend toward signifi cant Passengers’ from where there exists good and the new Butterfl y Museum has growth but what they spend spending on airlift to Santo Domingo. St. already become an enjoyable attraction ashore, which is revealed in the shopping has Thomas is once more set to for children and adults alike. A sushi government’s receipts from sales gain market share from this restaurant has sprung up and the tramway taxes. These are very strong become the development, as it is well continues to do well to add to the upscale in the territory because of the backbone of located as a transit port for shopping experience, which continues cruise passengers’ spending the economy cruises out of Santo Domingo. to generate enormous revenues for the habits, to the extent that their “If all goes well we should government. Thomas concluded by shopping has become the reach two million passengers stating that “All in all we are forecasting backbone of the economy. during 2008” states Thomas, 3.5% annual growth over the next 3 A number of new ship calls who was equally proud years”, which should take passenger underpin their position in the of the new crew facility numbers to 2.2 million by 2010. 

106 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

FCCA-USVI.indd 1 4/3/08 09:16:20 FCCA Conference, Cozumel

Puerto Terestella Gonzalez Denton, Director, Puerto RicoRico Tourism Company

he cruise sector is very important back riding – more activity options and working very had to develop sustainable for our island as it represents close expanded the product as the profi le of tourism. There is a place called Utuado Tto 1.3 million passengers a year and passengers is changing and they’re more which is in the centre of the island, this equates to an economic impact of demanding of each destination. originally named by the Indians – and up to $300 million. When the governor Puerto Rico’s market position has it is a place that has the most beautiful appointed me executive director there become to explore and that’s why we have scenery with a lake where you can have were things that needed to be done to launched in November 2005 a marketing boat rides to different restaurants. It is a increase the number of passengers coming campaign – Explore Beyond the Shore. typical Creole place and nearby there is to our island and I am very happy to tell Puerto Rico is not an all inclusive the National Observatory with parks and you we had an increase in the year 2006/7 destination it is a higher market than that. lakes. of 2.5% to 1.376 million passengers and Visitors expect more and so we need to be The place is very beautiful with visitors this is still increasing. And the reason at the same level of expectation. welcomed like kings and queens and it’s for this increase is we have developed an What we’ve also done is develop some just one hour to get there along a very incentive programme to make the cruise more routes not just for those who stay at scenic route up the mountain. And there ships stay longer in our destination, as to hotels but also those that come off cruise is good signage so those who wish to rent have more ships to home port helps us ships. There’s a Salsa route for dancing a car and go on their own can do so. with the pre- and post cruise business. which involves different hotels where We are trying to bring people to other The number of passengers has you can dance and learn Salsa integrated areas outside the metropolitan zones so increased dramatically, and into a cultural district and visitors have a sense of what Puerto Rico because of that we also have an metropolitan area developed is all about. Now we’re working with the incentive for the people to buy Puerto by the government. There’s a Mayors and different communities around local products. That’s why we Rico new product called ‘Cultural Puerto Rico who in turn are beginning to have expanded our destination is not an all District’ that interconnects develop their own tours and activities to team to include the ports. inclusive different events that are bring tourism to their areas. We have been working destination happening at the destination In Puerto Rico you can do so many with the BREA study that i.e. galleries, museums, music, things from gastronomy to visiting showed that San Juan visitor’s it is a higher art and the coliseum and plantations to taste coffee. As almost 30% expenditure increased – we’ve market than convention centre for events. of tourism is represented by local people expanded our tours from the that We are revamping the Lelolai we are also developing these activities to core range of the city tours, Programme so you can enjoy enhance the quality of life of our citizens. shopping and the rainforest. seeing it in the Plaza as well as At the moment tourism is 7% of our Now we have more than the hotels. GDP and we want to increase that as for 14 new tours for the more A new mountain route has too long we have lived in the comfort specialised market – like horse been developed as we are zone. That is now changing. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 107

FCCA-PR.indd 1 4/3/08 09:17:10 FCCA Conference, Cozumel St. Kitts

Richard Skerritt explains to Chris Ashcroft the background to the development of cruise tourism to St. Kitts and how the latest project will impact on the visitor experience.

ver the space of three years we will became an issue St. Kitts, which is right the softening and have moved from approximately on the fringe – just South of St. Maarten greening of the O200,000 cruise passengers visiting – fortunately St.Kitts became one of the area, these are St. Kitts to just over 400,000 in 2008. few survivors reachable in normal cruising things which are One of the reasons why that came about time without having to burn extra fuel. being built in to was that the pier we had got badly So a number of things that have come the master plan damaged twice by hurricanes. It was together to make that happen. for the fi rst time, clearly inadequately engineered and I like to think that I had a lot to do with which is exactly Hon. Richard Skerritt so it cost the Government a fortune to it, but I was in the industry for 10 years what I have been Minister of Tourism, rebuild in spite of whatever insurance before I went into government, so I have worried about Sports and Culture, policies were in place. But it also created good relations with these people, I can for the previous St. Kitts. an opportunity to do it right and so we knock on their doors. I became a Minister master plan of 15 built a pier which people are trying to in November 2004 within three weeks of years ago, when build today. So when our Government becoming a Minister, the FCCA brought people did not re-opened the pier in 2003 it could a team down to see me, initiated by them, understand what we understand now. immediately take larger ships. And when because they felt they had someone who So the focus has been to achieve in 2004/5 the QM II was launched and really understood the cruise industry. an integration into the main town so deployed for some Caribbean cruises it The relationships have been good and that Port Zante doesn’t seem to be set sailed to the only two ports at we have repackaged what apart. There will be residential activity which it could dock. All of a we are representing to the and night life so that when there are sudden we got 13 calls from Over the cruise lines, but really it is no ships in, while it will not be so a 3,000 passenger high end space a combination of our pier, busy, it will have a local component. ship, bringing close to 40,000 of three years that has been costly but very The vendors, the transportation passengers and the buzz we we will have timely, and our geography. sector, which tends to be dominated got from that was wonderful. moved from The point is, in the process of by locals and a mix of merchants, have The shop keepers were thrilled those fortunate coincidences, investment incentives that are attracting as they had never had so much approximately the onus has to be on making a lot of the merchants who are already business in one day in their 200,000 cruise the visitor experience the best in places like St. Maarten and Aruba and shop’s history – so that was a passengers it can be which is where the so Port Zante is taking on an amazing really defi ning moment and it visiting St. development comes in. new life over the next two to fi ve years actually came because of the In this exciting redesign, and it’s going to create a front line for pier. Kitts to just things like the future the Island which everybody will enjoy Location has been helping over 400,000 transportation needs, the and be proud of and it won’t just be that us too as when fuel costs in 2008 future of the public spaces, place where the cruise ships come to. 

108 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

FCCA-StKitts.indd 1 4/3/08 09:22:25 FCCA-Hotel.indd 1 4/3/08 09:23:08 FCCA Conference, Cozumel

AnBy Gilly Ashcroft oasis of calm

t is well known that some cruise back to reality. passengers use their itineraries as a trial Those seeking an active few days need Ito see whether any of the Caribbean not look further than the two swimming destinations visited are worth returning to pools, the putting green, tennis courts, for that long weekend or one week away children’s club or even one of the from their hectic working lives. Cozumel courses for scuba diving which features is ideal for those who seek a get-away a new certifi cation training centre for from it all location. fi rst time divers, as well as one for The Presidente InterContinental certifi ed divers. Resort and Spa is one such place. This The restaurant choices range from deluxe hotel reopened in November dining at the Italian restaurant Alfredo 2006 after a $25 million refurbishment di Roma, El Caribeno, a magnificent that transformed it into the fi rst fi ve- over-sized palapa for relaxed dining in star luxury resort and spa in Cozumel. a perfect setting next to the sea or the Located along 800 metres of a pristine, Cana Brava Beach Bar and Grill for private beach and just minutes away light lunches and drinks on the beach. from the magnifi cent Palancar Reef, the The 6,500 sq.ft Mandara Spa second largest barrier reef in the world, offers a variety of unique, therapeutic the Presidente fi ts the description massage and revitalizing treatments perfectly. and incorporates Mayan traditions and All of the Resort’s 220 rooms and indigenous fruits and herbs to indulge, suites have designer furnishings rejuvenate and relax the body and soul. and top level amenities, including The Spa caters for both men and women Egyptian cotton bed linen. and there is a 24 hour fi tness The décor, fabric colours The centre as well as a hair and nail and artwork have been salon. chosen to complement the beautifully The Presidente lush, colourful outdoor appointed InterContinental is a true environment. The beautifully oceanfront hideaway, in a location appointed oceanfront rooms rooms and that provides grounds and and suites have delightful suites have beach front in immaculately views of the Caribbean Sea. manicured order by staff But for those who can’t quite delightful that are effi cient, friendly bring themselves to cut views of the and helpful. If you wish to themselves off completely, Caribbean Sea recharge your batteries and at the click of a button the you are able to book direct widescreen plasma televisions fl ights to Cozumel, you will or wireless internet fi nd an oasis of calm at the connection quickly bring you Presidente. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 109

FCCA-Hotel.indd 1 4/3/08 09:23:08 Caribbean Destinations Grenada The ‘Spice Isle’ of the Caribbean

110 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Greneda.indd 1 4/3/08 09:24:07 Greneda.indd 2 4/3/08 09:24:44 Grenada

here’shere’s a schoolschool of thought which roads that are laced with history and medals at international competitions and believesbelieves tthathat wwhenh God created names that originate as far back as the sharing in the national pride associated Tthethe cchainhain of vovolcanicl Caribbean 17th century; names that are linked with the receipt of bronze and silver islandsislands thatthat havehave emergedem to become to French Generals, British Lords, medals from re-noun forums like the thethe mostmost ppopularopular ccruiseru ship destination Governors, Mayors, Lieutenants and “Taste of the Caribbean” competition in thethe world,world, speciaspeciall care was assigned many more. It would be especially are also opportunities that visitors can to Grenada.Grenada. PositiPositionedon most southerly interesting to climb the steps of Fort savour. at 12 degreesdegrees north of the Equator, George and Fort Frederick; forts that Adoration for Grenada’s exquisite this 120 sqsq mile trotropicalp paradise has have acted as the eyes and ears of local dialects, tropical fruits, provisions carved for itself, a reputationre that Grenada by providing the strength to and spices is also common among hashas motivatedmotivated ddiscerningiscer cruise ship defend the honor of queens and kings visitors. Cruise ship passengers can deck passengerspassengers to iidentifydentif with cruises that during much of its history. themselves in some of its most famous have incorporatedincorporated GGrenada in their Away from the city, cruise ship oils and perfumes and sample the itineraries.itineraries. TTestimonialsestimon from former passengers can ramble within the indigenous art displayed on paintings, visitors hhaveave augmeaugmentedn the level of country sides and stroll through historic crafts and fabrics. interestinterest tthathat nonoww exexistsi for cruises to this lanes to petroglyphs, spice plantations, Several shopping centres in the capital uniqueunique and unspoiledunspoile destination. and cliff sites that are notorious for St. George’s, and in the environs of the ThThee StStateate ooff GGrenadaren which includes French-Carib combats. Exposure to world-famous Grand Anse Beach, allow thethe sister islandsislands of CCarriacou and opportunities to become involved in for all aspects of purchases deemed PetiteP i MMartiniquei i givesi visitors a special hiking within the rain forest, as well appropriate. tropical treat of historical, cultural as mountain biking, diving, and river Visitors wishing to excite their senses and natural attractions. They include tubing, makes Grenada a perfect cruise with local recipes rich in world famous the warm, hospitable, welcoming ship destination. Add to this the bliss of spices, created by a history and culture that characteristics of its people, along with exotic hideaways, numerous panoramic have transcended from one generation to the charming ambience that overwhelms views, lush mountains, hidden beaches, another, can do so. Restaurants specialize the new cruise ship port that has coves, caves, islets, waterfalls and in cuisine utilizing produce from both the transformed the picturesque and historic underwater art sculptures and one is land and surrounding sea. Esplanade. In Grenada, passengers can convinced about the rich diversity of the In addition to these blissful visit the various sites and attractions “Spice of the Caribbean”. experiences, visitors can examine of the island, actively participate in Admiration of the colourful and treasured secrets like the memoirs in activities or simply relax on the white artistic presentations of Grenada’s the museum that detail the transition sand beaches, and at the end of the day tropical blooms and fl owers, which have from Africa, as well as the period of purchase the spices and other local craft won gold and silver awards in the annual colonialism under various European available. Royal Horticultural Society event at nations. Within the capital city of St. George’s, Chelsea in the United Kingdom, is To this, and much more, visitors visitors should take in the kaleidoscope another high point of a Grenada visit. are welcomed to the most memorable of priceless architectural structures – Tasting rums and liqueurs that have experiences, come savour and enjoy “the buildings, churches and undulating been awarded gold, silver and bronze Spice of The Caribbean” Grenada. 

For more information please visit www.grenadagrenadines.com

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 111

Greneda.indd 2 4/3/08 09:24:44 Caribbean Destinations St.Vincent and the Grenadines The Caribbean’s most diverse destination

112 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

St.Vincent.indd 1 4/3/08 09:25:54 St. Vincent and the Grenadines

he fertile and mountainous island of suite with a private whirl pool and deck, enhancement of our tourism services. St. Vincent is the jumping off point and six bungalows, including three two- The European Union is strengthening Tfor the Grenadines, a string of 32 bedroom and three one-bedroom villas. An the management and sustainable tiny islands spreading south for 45 miles infi nity swimming pool, the Blue Tropic development of the Tourism Sector, (72 km). Café and the Beach Bar will complete this so that is can contribute to the long- The country is blessed with a myriad initial phase. term development of St. Vincent and of natural attractions including a live Additionally, St. Vincent’s fi rst condo- the Grenadines. A total of 19 tourism volcano, some of the most dramatic villa resort, Buccament Beach Resort is recreation sites and attractions will be mountain scenery in the Caribbean, well on its way. It includes 291 spacious developed, under the fi ve million Euro jungle-like rainforest, towering cabanas, four apartment blocks and two Tourism Development project, slated to waterfalls, fi ne dolphin and whale hotel blocks. An adjoining spa resort continue through 2009. Most of the works watching, and scores of sparkling white will house restaurant and spa services, as relate mainly to the building of welcome beaches lapped by clear turquoise waters. well as 40 luxury rooms. In mid-2008, an booths, washrooms, parking, picnic SVG also offers rare black lava elaborate restaurant and bar in the form facilities, trail access, site interpretation, beaches that rival those in Tahiti and of a pirate ship (inspired by the trio of and security in Fort Murray on Union Hawaii, excellent diving, a variety of “Pirates of the Caribbean” blockbuster Island, Tobago Cays Marine Park, and accommodation, world-class restaurants, movies fi lmed here) will follow. These on St. Vincent, Wallilabou Fall Parks, warm and friendly people and unique aspects and more of this development Soufriere Cross Country Trail, Rawacou Caribbean culture. will undoubtedly position our destination Beach, Dark View Falls, Cumberland Our multi-island destination is about for increased quality tourist arrivals and Beach Recreation Centre, Cumberland to take off into a new era of Tourism expenditure in the year ahead. Nature Trail, Vermont Nature Trail, Owia Developments, through the Government Importantly, coupled with such Salt Pond, Botanic Gardens, Belmont and investors’ infrastructural hotel developments are the airport Lookout, Baleine Falls, Black Point, enhancements: namely new hotels, developments taking place throughout Fitzhughes Heritage Centre, Youroumei airports and roads. the island. The US $15.5m expansion Heritage Village, Trinity Falls, Rabacca St. Vincent and the Grenadines now of the airport in Canouan is nearing River Recreation Park and Layou boasts the newly reopened Grenadine completion and the US $178m Argyle Petroglyph Park, and Tobago Cays Marine House offering 20 boutique rooms, among international airport, slated for 2011, Park. other amenities. We are also looking will effectively open up the country A management team will be assigned forward to an 80 room development in to jet aircraft and non-stop fl ights to the sites following the completion of Friendship Bay, Bequia – the Bequia Beach from North America cities. The road each project, overlooking the day-to-day Hotel, premiered in December 2007 with developments taking place on St. Vincent operation of the sites, and user fees will 12 fully appointed rooms, a penthouse are also fundamentally important to the be attached to each venue. 

FACILITY AWARDS ISPS COMPLIANCE The Cruise Ship berth has In 2006 St. Vincent and the Grenadines was Both the Cruise Ship and Ferry Terminal in twenty-seven (27) shops awarded “Most Improved Destination” by Dream Kingstown and Port Elizabeth in the Grenadines excluding a Tourism Bureau World Magazine and in 2007 the island received island of Bequia are ISPS compliant. However, and a meeting room. There “The Caribbean Island of the Year” by Caribbean the Canouan and Union Island Ports are still is also a Lounge that has a World Awards. waiting to be upgraded. complement of four (4) shops: Two bars and two restaurants. The Ferry Berth has one café CRUISE SHIP CALLS LOCATION BERTHING CAPACITY and a bar. A restaurant and bar Year Cruise Calls Total The Cruise Ship Berth is The Cruise Ship Berth has two occupying about 1,500sq.ft of Passengers located on the Eastern side of (2) berths. The North Berth has space is housed upstairs in the 2003 248 66,545 the Capital City, Kingstown. a length of 260m and a depth Ferry Berth. 2004 225 77,585 This facility houses the Cruise of 11.35m, while the South 2005 183 69,855 Ship and a Ferry Berth. The Berth has a length of 100m Other Ferry Terminals are 2006 263 106,475 Ferry Berth is used mainly by and a depth of 8.90m. being proposed for the 2007* 229 118,221 local passengers traveling to There are five (5) Berths in the neighbouring islands of Bequia and from the neighbouring * Estimated for 2007, up to Grenadines each with a width and Canouan. islands of the Grenadines. December 2007. Passengers of 8.0m and a depth of 7.31m. list does not include the crew.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 113

St.Vincent.indd 2 4/3/08 09:26:06 Regional Reports: Baltic Ports The BALTIC The world’s fastest growing cruise destination By Tony Peisley

lthoughlthough tthehe MeMediterraneanditerranean hhasas are signifi cantcantlyly younger – accoraccordingding to A llongong pier in tthehe outer hharbourarbour wiwillll bbee increased faster in the last couple of the surveysurvey, the average was 42 with more completed in two stagesstages, as will a new Ayears, the Baltic remains the world’s than half under 40. There are three other cruise terminal in 2011, and extended in fastest-growing major cruise region over key developments in this context: 2016. the six years since 2001. • AIDA has seen a drop of fi ve years in Stockholm opens a 4,000-passenger It has about 50% of the cruises and the average age of its Baltic passengers, terminal at Frihamnen this year, and passenger nights in Northern Europe, partly due to its increased number of plans for lengthening its quay are going compared with about 25% for the short cruises through the environmental approval Norwegian Fjords and 25% spread • Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL)’s decision process. Another Swedish port, Visby, also between Western European, round- to operate its fi rst Baltic programme, has plans for a longer dock so that it can Britain and Iceland/Greenland itineraries. bringing a younger, more active North become accessible to the largest cruise North America supplies about half American passenger and ships. the Baltic’s cruise visitors with Germany • Royal Caribbean International (RCI)’s The fi rst two cruise piers of the $1bn and the UK the other main markets. In fi rst series of Baltic mini-cruises (out port development at St Petersburg’s fact, among Europeans, the popularity of of Stockholm), also attracting younger Vasilevsky Island open later this year, cruising to Northern Europe (primarily passengers. with two more berths and a second cruise the Baltic) has been growing faster than terminal ready in summer 2009, and the that of both the Mediterranean and the This all adds up to an emerging need fi nal two plus a third terminal by 2010. Caribbean, albeit from a lower base. for adaptation of the Baltic product with Waterborne links to the centre of the Mediterranean-facing countries still more attractions and tours (eg. the new city and various tour sites are also being take the top four places but Norway, ABBA museum opening in Stockholm established. Russia, Sweden and Estonia are all in the in 2009) a priority to appeal to younger Tallinn has plans for a twin berth at its top ten most popular cruise destinations people and families. Old City Harbour, while berths at the for Europeans. Visitor satisfaction levels with the Baltic Hernesaari section of Helsinki port are The Baltic surge from Europe is being have always been high, but this cannot being dredged and a fi rst exclusive cruise driven by increased deployment by AIDA, now be taken for granted as the plus berth opens this summer at the other Costa and MSC Cruises in particular points for one age group can easily be Finnish port of Turku. and this, in turn, is beginning to change negatives for another. Lithuania’s Klaipeda is building a the demographic of the typical Baltic In the past, this is something that would passenger terminal for 2009, while passenger. have been beyond the control of ports, Poland’s Gdynia plans to upgrade its A 2007 survey by Cruise but the emergence of Cruise Baltic berth and quay and dedicate one ferry Baltic confi rmed that there The and a variety of other, smaller berth for larger cruise ships. has been a signifi cant cruise “networks” means that they Oslo port wants more berths and increase in the number of average can work more closely with their a cruise terminal but there are local Southern European cruise age of Baltic tourist partners on land, to ensure environmental issues delaying these visitors – primarily Italians passengers that the changing needs of the plans. and Spanish travelling on has been visitors they attract will be met. Having opened its third terminal last Costa and MSC. This is set in the The ports need to be confi dent year, Kiel plans to spend a further 11m to grow still further as both that this will happen in order to upgrading its cruise infrastructure and lines add capacity and Spain’s 50-60-plus. justify the various investments in expects to add a fourth terminal in the RCCL-owned Pullmantur The Spaniards their own cruise infrastructure. future. also moves into the region. and By 2009, Copenhagen will Rostock-Warnemunde will open a Traditionally the average Italians are have the largest cruise facilities newly extended berth for mega-ships this age of Baltic passengers has in Northern Europe, following August with another 10m set aside for been in the 50-60-plus range. signifi cantly a €30m investment in a new port more infrastructure improvements by The Spaniards and Italians younger section in the North Harbour. 2012. 

114 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Baltic.indd 1 4/3/08 09:27:12 Norway.indd 1 4/3/08 09:28:11 Regional Report

Norway By Tony Peisley

he full impact of the NOx Tax deployment from the 2008/9 seasons. offset the impact of the NOx tax by introduced by the Norwegian The signifi cance of all this was waiving harbour dues, ISPS and mooring TGovernment in 2007 will only begin underlined by a study (Horwath expenses. to unravel as cruise lines reveal their Consulting) that estimated a 22% But this is only one of a rising number deployment plans for 2010. drop ($58m) in the economic benefi t of examples of environmental concerns Its sudden imposition – without any from cruise tourism if the number of impacting on the industry’s planned real warning or consultation – meant that Norwegian fjords cruises fell 20%-30% growth. most cruise lines had to take the fi nancial and Oslo calls by 10%, because ships Following local complaints, the fjord hit in 2007 and 2008, itineraries for which are avoiding making more than one port Geiranger is restricting access were already published. consecutive Norwegian port call. There to a maximum of two ships and 5,000 There were a handful of dropped would also be an additional $260m loss of passengers in order to minimise air calls by a couple of smaller brands but indirect revenue. pollution problems. Ships also have to Saga Cruises was typical in absorbing In 2007, ship calls did fall (by about ensure waste incinerators are switched off an estimated $1m extra to its 2007/8 3%) but, because of the ships’ increasing along with tender engines when docked operating costs in the region. capacities, passenger visits rose 7%. alongside. From 2008/9, it will incorporate the As Cruise Norway has targeted one But other ports are still looking to tax in its ticket price but, like Fred Olsen million individual passengers calling at grow their cruise business, with Alesund Cruises and other regulars fjords cruise the country’s ports by 2015, compared expanding its facilities to allow for two operators, Saga made it clear that – unless with fewer than 370,000 in 2007 and large ships, Eidfjord planning to double attempts to reduce its impact succeeded 180,000 in 2000, it is clearly a matter the length of its berth, and Stavanger – the tax would play a part in its itinerary- of understandable concern by ports and completing a new, longer dock and the planning in the future. cruise lines alike. conversion of a ferry terminal into a Holland America Line (HAL) is the In 2007, Skjolden, which is building cruise-friendly facility by the end of this fi rst to make major cuts in its Norway a new mega-ship terminal for 2010, year. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 115

Norway.indd 1 4/3/08 09:28:11 Regional Reports

North By Tony Peisley America

Miami – the heart of America’s cruise industry

lthough the US-based cruise lines’ North American resident cruise market. passengers by the end of the decade. focus has now switched away from Its leading ports are keen to maintain Both it and Port Canaveral have Athe knee-jerk reaction of so-called the state’s and, more particularly, their sometimes handled more cruise Homeland cruising towards an even more own share which is why, late in 2007, Port passengers in a year than Miami but their global approach to deployment than Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) signed a totals have included signifi cantly more existed pre-9/11, there is still plenty of 10-year agreement with Royal Caribbean one-day casino or party cruise passengers. activity among North American ports and Cruises (RCCL) that guarantees that For conventional multi-day cruising, regions looking to secure their share of 8.5m of its brands’ passengers will use the Miami has led the way for decades and the economic benefi ts generated by cruise port during that period. it is certainly not sitting on its laurels as tourism. About 600,000 of these will come Port Everglades expands its share of that But, just as the US and Canadian annually from the two Royal Caribbean business. It, too, is forecasting to double governments have no International (RCI) Genesis ships, its cruise traffi c by 2020 and has recently signifi cant nationwide Florida which will both be homeporting completed two new terminals for Carnival policies on this key industry, at the port from 2010. As part of Cruise Lines (CCL) and redesigned the so these activities continue to ports this deal, RCCL is also investing two these replace for Norwegian Cruise lack a unifi ed approach and handled more $37m into the cost of expanding Line (NCL) to use. thus vary widely in style and than 5m cruise Terminal 18 just for these ships. It also had plans for a Genesis-size substance from port to port, embarkations Having already doubled the size terminal but this may be delayed by RCI’s region to region. in 2007, which of one its terminal baggage halls in decision to go to Fort Lauderdale fi rst. Florida ports handled 2007, the port plans to refurbish As a major cargo port and hub for the more than 5m cruise is nearly a or rebuild 12 other terminals Caribbean and Latin America, traffi c in embarkations in 2007, which third of the by 2012, when it is predicting it and around Miami has become a major is not only nearly a third of worldwide will have overtaken Miami as the issue for port-users and city residents the worldwide total but – total world’s leading cruise homeport. alike. A new road effectively separating excluding passengers fl ying In fact, it has recently revised cargo and cruise traffi c is only a partial in from overseas – also still its 2020 master plan to forecast solution, so the city and Dade County represents nearly half the double the number of cruise fi nally agreeing to help fund a tunnel

116 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

US.indd 1 4/3/08 09:29:02 North American Ports

linking port and city was a major extent – Galveston. Houston, its Bermuda programme with breakthrough late in 2007. But all three are continuing to which capacity increasing this year Although some funding issues remain, expand and enhance their cruise and next, the port of Boston there is some confi dence that the tunnel facilities. currently lacks was naturally keen on a $70m could be in place by 2012. This year Houston, which a regular proposal to link a cargo building For its part, Port Canaveral is building currently lacks a regular homeporting with its Black Falcon cruise a new terminal and berth for mega-ships homeporting cruise line, is due cruise line, is terminal to create a new mega- of Genesis size and has plans to dredge to open a new $81m cruise terminal, berth and ground and widen the harbour channel and terminal and 1,000ft berth, and due to open transportation centre together turning basin. there are plans for two more to a new $81m with a revenue-generating Jacksonville’s plans for a new cruise handle an eventual total that the cruise terminal shopping and entertainment terminal will have been given new port predicts could reach 1.7m and 1,000ft mall. impetus by an increase in CCL’s capacity passengers (counted twice). No berth If it gets the green light, this from the port, but will probably require date is given for reaching this development could be open the introduction of a second CCL ship total but it has already forecast early in 2010. or a new year-round ship from another 500,000 by 2012. Elsewhere in the state, brand, to trigger the development Galveston, which is now the fourth Gloucester has opened a new multi- which would either involve converting a busiest US homeport, has an ongoing purpose marine terminal and, along the container terminal or a greenfi eld site at $12m improvement programme for its Eastern Seaboard, Philadelphia (Camden) nearby Mayport. cruise facilities and was boosted by RCI’s has plans for a new terminal while it is Despite CCL’s delay in returning to its decision to deploy Voyager of the Seas upgrading its existing one. pre-Hurricane Katrina capacity because from the port this past winter and also Having opened its $13m terminal at of perception problems amongst its 2008/9. This is the largest ship ever to use South Locust Point in 2006, Baltimore passengers, it cast an effective vote of this or any other Texan port. is expecting a signifi cant increase in confi dence in the long-term future of Although Florida remains the number cruise embarkations during 2008, while the port of New Orleans by extending its one cruise state, there are in fact more Washington DC’s Wilmington has plans operating contract to 2010. individual port developments – either to improve its facilities up to homeporting This supported the port’s decision to recently completed, underway or planned standards. continue with its pre-Katrina plan to – in the sector along the US East Coast. A revitalised New York is in the middle convert the Poland Avenue cargo wharf Norfolk, Virginia, opened its $55m of a variety of cruise port expansion into a new cruise terminal as part of a Half Moon terminal last year while and improvement plans, with the next $3bn waterfront development. Portland, Maine, opens a combined cruise milestone the revamping of one of the The hurricane problems of the Gulf of and ferry terminal (Ocean Gateway) this Manhattan terminals by the end of 2009. Texas have clearly impacted the previously year. Although some of the cruise traffi c is rapid growth of emerging cruise ports like Having signed a new 10-year heading southbound to the Caribbean New Orleans, Houston and – to a lesser agreement with NCL for it to continue (including during the winter), the routes

Houston’s new cruise terminal

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 117

US.indd 2 4/3/08 09:29:08 Regional Reports

Vancouver, Canada’s busiest cruise port, saw a 13% increase in 2007.

to New England remain a key to New more tourism facilities, the obvious Charlottetown on Prince Edward York port’s continued cruise traffi c choice, it is rarely included in itineraries. Island recently opened an $18m growth. Now, after several years’ consideration, Historic Waterfront development that This, in turn, has put pressure on the Canadian government has fi nally includes a new 183-metre pier, while existing ports on the traditional itinerary linked with Quebec on a project to build a Newfoundland’s Corner Brook plans new paths to upgrade and expand, while also 300-metre pier there. passenger and crew reception areas. prompting local authorities This is one of the projects The government of Nova Scotia has and cruise lines to search Seattle’s that the St Lawrence Cruise promised to support these smaller ports out potential new ports to Association believes will ensure in their efforts to promote themselves as add repeater appeal to these success cruise traffi c quadruples between potential calls on itineraries using Halifax cruises. in establishing 2006 and 2014. as a hub for fl ycruises. As ships en route to itself as a rival Another new port is being Ironically it is the success of a US port, Quebec regularly detour to Vancouver developed at Havre Saint-Pierre, Seattle, in establishing itself as a serious from the St Lawrence Seaway as a homeport even nearer Quebec, with a $10m rival to Vancouver as a homeport for to show passengers the terminal and quay operational Alaska cruises, that has boosted cruise spectacular fall foliage and for Alaska from this spring. tourism for a number of West Coast whale watching along the cruises, has Meanwhile, in New Brunswick, Canadian ports. Saguenay fjord, the town of boosted cruise Saint John is building a $6m The Passenger Services section of Saguenay itself is the ideal tourism for cruise terminal as part of a $21m the Jones Act requires foreign-fl ag place for a port of call. development, in preparation for cruise ships to include non-US ports But, because it currently many West an expected 40% increase in traffi c in itineraries homeported in the US, requires tender service and Coast ports by 2009. so those using Seattle to go to Alaska

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US.indd 3 4/3/08 09:29:14 US.indd 4 4/3/08 09:29:16 North American Ports

typically include a stop in Victoria, which Nowhere in North America are the LA has had to settle for an $11m has therefore been justifi ed in spending environmental challenges for the cruise upgrade of existing facilities and the plan more than $3m on its Ogden Point industry greater than on the West Coast to have shore power available from the terminal and $200,000 on the Ship Point and within Alaska in particular. end of this year while San Francisco is terminal used by smaller ships. There is no doubt that the strength also setting up a shore power system for Prince Rupert has also invested $16m of the environmental lobby drove the Princess ships and developing a dry dock on two terminals as it expects 200,000 imposition of the $50 head tax on Alaska- for post-panamax ships from later this cruise visitors by 2014 while Nanaimo has bound cruise lines and their passengers year. improved its tender dock but has more along with a series of other punitive For San Diego, it is a different story ambitious plans for a $15m cruise berth measures apparently designed – although as it is building a new terminal large so that ships can dock. It has no doubt this was not accepted by the state enough for simultaneous handling of two looked enviously at the $24m terminal legislature – to reduce cruise capacity mega-ships. Work starts in 2010 but, with built with public money to launch expansion in the region. investment from CCL, it is currently Campbell River as a new cruise port. Having been caught out by the strength upgrading existing facilities in time for The busiest Canadian cruise port, of public opinion against its presence, the 2009. Vancouver, is the only one to have lost cruise industry responded by setting up There had been rising local out through the emergence of Seattle but, the Alaska Cruise Association to forge environmental concerns at the rapid after four years of declining numbers, it closer ties with local communities. expansion of cruise traffi c to the Hawaiian saw a 13% increase in 2007. But, although cruise lines have made Islands. These, though, will lessen with There are no plans, though, for any noises about reducing capacity and NCL America’s reduced capacity for major expansion of its current cruise switching ships away, the reality is that 2008/9 and the question mark on its facilities, but a rapid transit line between Alaska is a hugely popular – and high- future in the region following Apollo the airport and the waterfront is due to yielding – destination which they would Management’s $1bn investment in NCL open for the 2010 Winter Olympics, so be highly reluctant to lose or diminish Corp. this will benefi t the fl ycruise sector which so Ketchikan’s considered decision to The concern now is for foreign fl ag is the main part of its cruise business. spend $40m on upgrading and expanding lines operating not just to Hawaii but It has also linked with Seattle in a joint its cruise facilities is unlikely to prove also to Alaska, due to a proposed re- effort to reduce emissions by 70% from unwise. interpretation of that Passenger Services ships at berth by 2010. As part of this, Further down the US West Coast both provision in the Jones Act which would Seattle has arranged a new shore power Los Angeles and San Francisco have seen require them to spend much more time facility for Holland America Line (HAL) major projects to expand their cruise in non-US ports, on an US port intensive ships. facilities to handle the larger mega-ships itinerary, than they currently do. Seattle has also delayed its plan to and so help boost their largely stagnant This is being done to protect NCL switch and convert two terminal facilities cruise traffi c blocked for a mixture America’s US fl ag operation in Hawaii but and so create a new cruise terminal for of reasons – fi nancial, logistical and could have implications for all itineraries 2009. environmental. around the US coastline. 

San Diego is building a new terminal large enough for simultaneous handling of two mega-ships. Work starts in 2010 but, with investment from CCL, it is currently upgrading existing facilities in time for 2009.

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 119

US.indd 4 4/3/08 09:29:16 Regional Report

Mediterranean By Tony Peisley

lthough exact fi gures are harder to owned, these have fi nancial targets to expanded disembarking facilities and also establish than for any other major meet and most appear unwilling to risk the berthing of two 3,000-passenger ships Acruise destination due to the much losing future business by turning away simultaneously from 2010. greater number of smaller cruise brands too many calls due to congestion on a Sicily also has a new cruise port in the region, this year appears to bring particular day. – Trapani, where a new tender pier is a capacity increase of about 10% for the Unless they are in Libya, of course, part of a long-term investment aimed at Mediterranean. where the renewal of diplomatic relations making it a port of call for smaller ships. This is less than half that achieved in with the USA had fuelled optimism for In Sardinia, where a new terminal 2007 but impressive nonetheless and with developing that country’s several ports and 325 metre berth opened at Cagliari two signifi cant highlights: and major sites into a signifi cant element last year, two 275 metre berths have also • the summer arrival of the fi rst of the Mediterranean’s cruise tourism, been converted for cruise ship use in an Freedom-class ship (Independence only for subsequent rules of entry changes attempt to attract more cruise lines to of the Seas) cruising from to kill these hopes almost stone dead for include the rarely-featured Olbia in their Southampton during the summer the time being. itineraries. and Elsewhere in the Mediterranean, part Along the French Riviera, Antibes • the deployment of another Royal of the answer to congestion must lie – as moved into the cruise sector with its Caribbean International (RCI) ship with the Caribbean – in the creation of fi rst-ever call in 2007 while, as part of the (Brilliance of the Seas) on winter as new ports and the enlargement of existing island’s positioning of itself as a potential well as summer cruises. ones. homeport, Corsica’s Ajaccio opens a The former meant some rapid dredging There is also some evidence that new pier later this year and dredging is and other facility-expanding work for smaller lines are switching ships away planned for Portovecchio, where three ports keen to attract the largest ship yet from the larger marquee ports in Italy and quays were also upgraded last year, to to cruise in the Mediterranean, while the Spain but, so far, this appears to be just as allow larger ships to dock from 2009. latter brings other ports some welcome much about the high costs of calling as it Louis Cruise Lines, MSC Cruises winter business to help justify investment is about the congestion issues. and Costa Cruises are negotiating with made or planned in cruise tourism-related Similarly, it was concerns about cost Marseille over the port’s offer of 25 years infrastructure. and the quality of the cruise infrastructure of preferential use of its main cruise It also helps defl ect some of the that persuaded Costa to help set up berths and terminal, in return for a criticism coming the industry’s way about Savona as a rival homeport to Genoa. guarantee of up to 1m passengers and 450 its failure so far to prevent congestion in But it is its own congestion issues calls a year. popular ports on certain days during the which has prompted Naples to promote Malta’s sister island Gozo is being summer. the neighbouring port of Castellamare as promoted as a cruise port for small, Although there are problems with an alternative cruise call now that a 150m boutique ships. cruise companies risking anti-trust berth has been built. The main pier at Kusadasi is being or allied accusations about operating A new terminal at Ravenna’s port is extended and there are plans for another, cartels if they talk to each other about due in 2010 while Trieste has set itself but the proposed development of a new deployment decisions, there does appear up as an alternative, overfl ow port to the cruise port in Istanbul has stalled, so other to be a lack of will – or certainly a lack of increasingly busy Venice. Turkish ports are emerging. urgency – about dealing with an issue that The public/private company now These include Akdeniz (Antalya), is only going to get worse with the new operating it plans to lengthen which is having a new terminal built industry focus on Europe. and widen the existing by 2010 to make it more suitable for Simply putting the onus terminal to allow for homeporting; Marmaris, where a onto ports to turn business terminal is also being built; away is not the answer and Sinop. as, whether privately- or publicly-

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Med.indd 1 4/3/08 09:31:34 Mediterranean Ports

The Black Sea port of Sochi plans a simultaneously, and plans a new 2km quay and a cruise terminal, in new terminal by 2010. time for its staging of the 2014 Winter And, while plans Olympics, while Batumi (Georgia) is new to separate cruise from to the cruise scene, along with Albania’s other marine operations Sarande, which opened a new terminal at Civitavecchia have been and cruise berth at the beginning of this delayed through political wrangling, year, just after Romania’s Constanza Venice will complete a fi fth terminal opened its own new terminal. this year, and is planning to combine Similarly, while Lisbon waits on a cruise terminal at Isonzo Quay developing its Santa Apolonia port with a 2,300-car parking garage terminal complex, the smaller Portuguese connected to Venice by a port of Portimao opens a new cruise new monorail.  quay this year, while another little-visited Portuguese port, Leixoes, is building a new terminal and marina for 2011. A decision was imminent early in 2008 on the tenders submitted to redevelop Larnaca effectively into the major cruise port in Cyprus. Malaga’s port redevelopment has been an even longer drawn-out business than the Larnaca/ Limassol project, but two mega- ship berths should become operational later this year and, while Barcelona doubles the size of one terminal and Costa plans another by 2010, a new terminal has already been completed at Palamos. Three new berths and a new terminal will also open at Valencia next year, and there is a long-term plan for a mega-ship berth at Almeria, while work is underway on extending the cruise terminal and dredging around berths at Gibraltar. In the Adriatic, Koper opens a new €11m terminal this year and will then add a new pier, while Croatia’s Zadar is currently building a terminal and Dubrovnik has also expanded its facilities to handle three mega-ships

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 121

Med.indd 2 4/3/08 09:31:47 Regional Report Continental Europe and the North Atlantic By Tony Peisley

Le Havre, France

he growth of cruise tourism in markets), which is generating more calls Also with homeporting plans is the Europe is affecting the northern for North Atlantic ports in Iceland, port at The Hague, where up to $700m Tports of Continental Europe in Greenland and, further south, in Spain is earmarked for a port and residential different ways. and the Azores. development. This project awaits local Those in Germany are primarily In Germany, Kiel has become the government approval but could be benefi ting from the increased capacity busiest cruise port and, having opened completed by 2012. on Baltic itineraries, which is resulting in its third terminal in 2007, it now plans to In France, Cherbourg’s new terminal some growth in cruise calls, but is mainly spend a further 11m upgrading its cruise (operational at the beginning of last year) generating a sharp rise in homeporting infrastructure, to which it also expects to is mainly for transatlantic passengers business. add a fourth terminal sometime in the but Le Havre’s 3m welcome centre To a lesser extent, the same future. opened later last year is targeted at the development is benefi ting ports in The Rostock-Warnemunde will open a homeporting ships the port is hoping to Netherlands, which are also seeing newly extended berth for mega-ships this attract. increased mini-cruise traffi c from the August with another €10m set aside for Reykjavik opened its new 450-metre UK (including Christmas and New Year more improvements by 2012. pier last year, helping boost cruise traffi c itineraries). A new mega-ship berth opens in across all fi ve Iceland ports to record French ports are also being included in Hamburg next year with a new terminal numbers while, in Greenland, a new some mini-cruises while one (Cherbourg) set for its Grasbrook port area in 2011. exclusive cruise port at Nuuk is under is – like Hamburg in Germany – being In The Netherlands, Vlissengen/ consideration. boosted by an upsurge in demand for Zeeland has converted its outer harbour In Northern Spain, Vigo will have a transatlantic crossings. into a cruise dock and has homeporting longer cruise quay in operation by 2010 It is also the increase in UK-US ambitions, while Amsterdam has while, in the Azores, Ponta Delgada cruise capacity (targeting both the expanded its quay to cater for two mega- opens its new cruise terminal later this UK and North America as source ships simultaneously. year. 

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Continental.indd 1 4/3/08 09:33:48 UK.indd 1 4/3/08 09:37:43 Regional Report UK & Ireland

he permanently underfunded Partnership, a network of This year, and extended landing stage Cruise UK (part of the Visit Britain organisations and companies Falmouth last year, the next move for Ttourist organisation) continues with a mutual interest in Liverpool is expected to be to promote cruising to UK ports, but developing cruise tourism to hopes to a second cruise berth as part most of the relatively modest growth the port, city and surrounding receive the of the redevelopment of a in this incoming sector has emanated region. go-ahead docklands site, which has space directly from the general expansion in The second busiest cruise for a project for more berths if required. cruise line fl eets which has seen them port, Dover, has plans to For Newcastle, the Port become increasingly creative with their lengthen one berth, enlarge to dredge of Tyne has upgraded, deployments. the manoeuvring area around its harbour, extended and strengthened This is equally the case for the much it and also create more baggage increase the its Commission Quay while more impressive growth in cruising handling and parking spaces. length of its Barrow has plans for a cruise out of UK ports, which continues to The Destination Southwest wharf and terminal. be driven by the battle for market group, set up to promote The Channel Islands of share between Carnival UK brands cruise tourism to that part build a cruise Jersey and Guernsey are also (P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and of the English coast, reports terminal for looking at building dedicated Princess Cruises) and Royal Caribbean about 110 annual calls to its summer 2009 cruise berths. International (RCI) on the one hand ten member ports and this has In Scotland, Leith has and between the niche brands like Fred. prompted investment from upgraded its cruise terminal Olsen Cruise Line and Saga on the most of them. but has more ambitious plans for a new other. This year, Falmouth hopes to receive berth outside its lock gates. Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and the go-ahead for a project to dredge The Welsh ports of Milford Haven, MSC Cruises are also now introducing its harbour, increase the length of its Holyhead, Cardiff and Swansea also signifi cant ex-UK capacity. wharf and build a cruise terminal for have plans for new docks and terminals This has prompted an overdue summer 2009. It will, though, have in various stages of development, while upsurge in the level of investment been monitoring the situation with Douglas (Isle of Man) adds a tender in cruise infrastructure at a range of Travelscope very closely. This cruise/ landing stage this year and may build a ports around the UK although these coach operator was its main homeporting cruise ship berth. continue to exclude London where client until it went into administration A Tourism Ireland survey showed that there is no clear progress on the latest at the end of 2007 but there were strong cruise tourism brought an economic proposal for a new terminal by the O2 hopes that a buyer would be found to benefi t of €90m to the country in 2006. Arena (formerly Millennium Dome) in continue its operation. This was based on 175 ship calls and Greenwich. Among the other southwest ports, passengers spending an average £107 a Up to earlier this decade, the port Plymouth is building a new landing stage head per shore visit. Equally signifi cant of Southampton was equally slow in for 2009; Portsmouth is considering was the fact that about 60% were on recognising the importance of the cruise separating its cruise and ferry operations their fi rst visit and a similar number said sector, but now it is planning a fourth within the harbour; Portland hopes to they wanted to return for a longer stay. terminal (as part of a 20-year deal with have a new cruise berth ready for the Recent port enhancements have, Carnival) in the Eastern Docks. 2012 Olympics; and Weymouth is to though, been limited to Cork’s Not only that, it has also just develop a new waterfront. expansion and upgrade of its Cobh helped found the Southampton Cruise Having opened its new cruise terminal cruise terminal. 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 123

UK.indd 1 4/3/08 09:37:43 New Ship Review

wo of the biggest UK media stories Cruises’s Arcadia), it was strengthened several lounges which promise a liner of December 10, 2007 highlighted (including thicker steel at the bow) and rather than cruise-ship ambience. Tcomebacks by two major brands. given a slightly deeper draft to ensure It also leads straight into the art deco One was the fi rst live performance it has more of a liner’s ocean-going Britannia Restaurant, which is modelled for 30 years by mega rock band Led capability. on the dining car of the famous London- Zeppelin; the other was the naming by It was also lengthened, which allowed for Paris Golden Arrow train. the Duchess of Cornwall of Cunard Line’s more changes to be made to the interior, Among the 864 outside cabins and 90,000-ton/2,000-passenger Queen Victoria. notably the inclusion of some of Queen suites, 718 have balconies and the six top As Cunard president Carol Marlow Mary 2’s most popular features such as the suites (out of 127) are lavishly fi tted and pointed out: “There was a 35-year gap impressive twin Grills and Golden Lion named after famous Cunard liners. The between QE2 and the next Cunard liner pub. standard cabins, which include 143 inside, Queen Mary 2 but with Queen Victoria now, But the areas which are most strikingly are more modest in size and facilities. and then Queen Elizabeth in 2010, we will different from the P&O and HAL ships Even a minimum grade balcony cabin has have introduced three new Cunard ships are the two-deck high Queens Room, a fairly cramped bathroom. in just six years.” three-tier Royal Court Theatre (complete Although some of the ship – especially Former Cunard steward and, latterly, with 16 private boxes), twin-level library the Lido casual dining area, spa, internet Britain’s deputy prime minister, John (with 6,000 books) and nearby bookshop, centre, casino, nightclub and pool Prescott later echoed her view that the the three deck-spanning Grand Lobby decks – has much more of the look of a line’s new owner (Carnival Corporation) and the Royal Arcade shopping area with contemporary cruise ship, Cunard appears had revived a brand which had previously its eye-catching Big Ben look-alike clock. to have achieved its aim of introducing appeared to have gone into terminal These each have the classic look and a ship which stands apart from those decline since its transatlantic heyday. sophisticated feel of some of the great operated by sister brand P&O Cruises. The fi rst Cunard liner built in Italy (at transatlantic liners of Cunard’s past – This is important, as Queen Victoria Fincantieri’s Marghera yard, Queen Victoria huge portraits of which adorn many walls will be operating a similar cruise is designed primarily for cruising rather and stairwells on the ship. schedule. After a maiden cruise to the than transatlantic service, but the aim was Although the much-vaunted Baltic for the Christmas markets, she still to create a classic liner feel on board Cunardia “museum” is something of a set off on a world cruise in January the ship. disappointment, being more of a modest, and will offer a mixture of cruises from Although essentially the same hull mini-exhibition area, the Chart Room Southampton to the fjords, Baltic, as recent Holland America Line Vista- piano bar/lounge is awash with Cunard Atlantic Islands and Mediterranean class ships (one of which became P&O images and memorabilia, and is one of during the summer. 

124 Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations

Queen-Vic.indd 1 4/3/08 09:43:20 Queen-Vic.indd 2 4/3/08 09:43:22 New Ship Review

QUEEN VICTORIA (CUNARD LINE) Contract signed: December 3, 2004 Keel laying: May 19, 2006 Float out: January, 2007 Naming Ceremony: December 10, 2007 Maiden Voyage: December 11, 2007 Tonnage: 90,000 Length: 294m (964.5 feet) Decks: 16 (12 passenger) Passenger capacity: 2,014 (lower berth) 2,170 (maximum) Crew: 900 Cost: £300m Classifi cation: Lloyds Register Built by: Fincantieri (Marghera)

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 125

Queen-Vic.indd 2 4/3/08 09:43:22 Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 10:05:07 Untitled-1 2 4/3/08 10:05:10 Last Word

he new joint venture between TUI AG and Royal Caribbean Cruises TLtd (RCCL) will be a Premium rather than a Contemporary product, according to RCCL Managing Director EMEA and Senior Vice President International Susan Hooper. She said: “We want to deliver a four star-plus experience to distinguish it from the current market leader AIDA Cruises.” This will also differentiate it from the company’s other European wholly-owned or joint venture cruise brands in Spain (Pullmantur), the UK (Island Cruises) and – also new – France (Croisieres de France – CDF), which are all in the three star-plus range. RCCL stepped into the TUI deal when Carnival pulled out, citing costly delays in the approval process. As Carnival already owns AIDA and another major player in the German market – Costa Cruises – the European Commission was always going to look closely at its proposed joint venture with TUI but RCCL is hopeful of a speedier process given its current minimal presence in the German market. Hooper said: “In fact, this venture effectively provides us with entry to Europe’s second largest cruise market. “AIDA is very clearly branded and positioned as a club ship, a fun ship – much like Carnival Cruise Lines in North America. So we are looking to introduce a much more upmarket product but one also 100% focused on Germans, many of whom would not want to cruise on an AIDA-type ship. “We are bringing in really good hardware, starting with a RCCL ship in 2009 and this will be followed by newbuilds. No orders will be made before we receive EC approval but we do not anticipate any problems with that and – once it comes – we will be able to move ahead very quickly.” Susan Hooper discusses & She also said that distribution will with Chris Ashcroft the be predominantly (but not exclusively) development of new through TUI’s extensive travel agency brands for RCCL in network. Europe

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Hooper.indd 1 4/3/08 09:45:57 Last Word

Although Germany will be a ground- breaking exercise for RCCL, its new venture in France is ground-breaking for the whole industry. For decades, it has been the received wisdom that the only way of stimulating the perenially underperforming French cruise market is for a large-scale national brand to emerge and, although Croisieres de France (CDF) is not French-owned, it will be France-based and targeted solely at the French market. There have already been some French- oriented brands like Louis Cruise Lines’ Croisifrance and Compagnie Iles du Ponant (which has just ordered two new ships) but they do sell in other markets and do not have the resources and potential to expand at the kind of rate RCCL-backed CDF will if the product proves successful. Hooper said: “What is striking about the market is that absence of a national brand and yet everything we see from the French passengers who cruise with us suggests that cruising is as much a habit in France as it is elsewhere. “The real opportunity is to establish a local, French-only brand along the lines of AIDA in Germany and our own Pullmantur in Spain. Everyone who has seen what we have done has said it is the right thing to do. “CDF will be three to four star quality and, because of our Pullmantur purchase, we have been able to start with a smaller ship (the 750-passenger Holiday Dream/ Blu de France) rather than use a larger RCCL ship, which would have been a tough ask in that market. “We have not had a long lead time, with the fi rst cruise due in May this year, but it is still too early to see a booking pattern.” Hooper said: “At the moment we are &concentrating on getting the product right so that our fi rst French passengers are really happy. Dining, entertainment and shore excursions will all be geared towards that.” 

Spring 2008 Dream World Cruise Destinations 129

Hooper.indd 2 4/3/08 09:46:05 Untitled-1 1 4/3/08 09:50:43