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QUARTERLY JUNE 2007 ISSUE 16 Via Sinop Turkish port of Sinop, MedCruise’s newest member

Sinop lies on an isthmus linking Boztepe Peninsula to the mainland he Turkish Black Sea port of and Seljuq periods; some isolated columns and purchased as souvenirs. Four generations of Sinop is the newest member of inscribed stones built into the old walls and dating knife-makers have also resided in Sinop, started TMedCruise, which officially joined from the early Greek and Roman periods, and the by the Ozekes family as a hobby in 1890. the association at the May General Alâeddin Cami mosque, built in 1214. The Decorative kitchen and hunting knives are Assembly in Sochi. foundations of the Temple of Serapis are located produced today using steel and animal horn or The city and port of Sinop lies on an in the grounds of the Archaeological Museum wood for the handles. isthmus linking the Boztepe Peninsula to the where some beautiful golden icons are displayed. Last year eight cruise ships called at Sinop, mainland. It is surrounded by azure blue natural The countryside surrounding Sinop includes including Holland America Line’s Prinsendam deepwater bays on both sides. miles of natural sandy beaches, thick pine forests, and Peter Deilmann’s Deutschland. According to legend, Sinope was founded caves and waterfalls. Hamsilos Fjord, 11 kms from by the Amazons, who named it after their the city centre is the only fjord in Turkey. queen, Sinova. It ultimately became a Locally produced handcrafts include woven flourishing Greek settlement and the textiles, linen and cotton clothing, model ships birthplace of famous philosopher Diogenes. and knives. The skill of model ship-making When the Romans captured the city in 70BC, dates back to 1950 when two prisoners started it was nearly destroyed by fire. teaching the wood carving craft to the local Historic monuments of interest include the community – today model ships of every style town’s ancient citadel rebuilt during the Byzantine and size in all different types of wood can be Via Sochi

n Saturday, May 19th, MedCruise sunny beaches of the Black Sea to dramatic delegates attending the general snow-capped mountains within less than an Oassembly in Sochi were invited by hours' drive. The Olympic Committee the Olympic Committee of the Russian provided a presentation of the major Federation to visit Krasnaya Polyana, a improvements underway both at Sochi (its mountain ski resort expanding under airport, its port and its sports venues) and at massive investments by the Russian Krasnaya Polyana, as Sochi is one of three government and private companies. candidate cities for the 2014 Winter Olympic The visit to the resort, in the Caucasus Games, the winner of which will be Mountains, brought the delegates from the MedCruise delegates at Krasnaya Polyana announced July 4th. Destination-16 1/6/07 09:51 Page 2

DESTINATION MEDCRUISE –

Via Almeria Hosts of the next General Assembly

Norwegian Jewel at the Spanish port of Almeria

n October MedCruise members are see sites to visit are the Alcazaba fortress built of the Sierra Nevada. Other attractions invited to the Spanish port of in the 10th century to defend the city which nearby include the beaches and salt marshes IAlmeria which is hosting the next provides panoramic views of the surrounding of Cabo de Gata national park; the Arabic general assembly between 18-19th. landscape; the Cathedral built on the site of an town of Mojacar; Tabernas - considered Delegates will get the chance to see the ancient mosque that was used as a fortress to ’s only desert where many spaghetti historic city of Almeria and for those who protect it from pirate attacks; the narrow westerns were filmed and Sorbas, a maze of can extend their stay one day, an streets of the old city, a walk through the palm spectacular caves. opportunity to visit the bewitching trees of the Nicolas Salmeron Park running Around 50-60 ships bringing 40,000 Alhambra Palace, the top tourist attraction parallel to the sea and tapas tasting in the cruise passengers call at Almeria each year at for cruise passengers visiting the port. cafes alongside the Mineral Quay. the port’s dedicated cruise berth close to the Known as the City of Light, the sun shines Less than two hours way is Alhambra and city centre. Another berth, also close to the on Almeria almost the entire year. The must- the Royal Nazari Palaces set in the foothills town, is also available.

Via Barcelona Costa inaugurates Palacruceros in Barcelona

osta Crociere inaugurated its new Palacruceros terminal facility at CBarcelona’s Moll Adossat pier in April. Chairman and ceo of Costa Crociere, Pier Luigi Foschi; joined by Jordi Valls, president of Barcelona Port Authority; and other high- ranking Catalonian regional government and Barcelona municipal authorities, marked the start of service at the new Terminal D with the arrival and departure of 112,000gt, 3,780 passenger Costa Concordia. Palacruceros has a surface area or almost 10,000sq mtr on three levels. It incorporates an Palacruceros at Barcelona’s Moll Adossat pier Internet Cafe, a VIP lounge, Children’s Club, shopping area and a cafeteria and terrace with Based on the European Cruise Council Palacruceros, will bring the parent company’s panaromic views over the Mediterranean. estimate of local expenditure per passenger in total activities at Barcelona during 2007 to Costa Crociere has invested approximately Spanish ports of some ¤45, Costa is forecasted 251 vessel calls and some half a million ¤12m in the new facility, which will handle 126 to generate approximately ¤15m for the passengers overall. Costa Crociere vessels’ port calls during 2007, Barcelona economy in 2007. Barcelona expects to handle some 1,600,000 bringing a total of 330,000 passengers through Other Carnival Corp. and plc cruise cruise passengers in 2007, approximately 15% the Port of Barcelona. companies, with preferential berthing at more than in 2006.

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DESTINATION MEDCRUISE –

Via Portoferraio Relaxing natural beauty ortoferraio, capital of Elba, the largest island Pin the Tuscan archipelago receives around 80 calls a year. Strategically located between the city ports of to the south and Livorno to the north, Portoferraio promotes itself to cruise line itinerary planners as an island escape offering relaxing natural beauty together with history and culture. The port lies within the town itself and the deep water quay, where the majority of ships tie up, is just Mulini containing period furniture, along the coast, overlooking the sparkling a stone’s throw from the historic centre. autographed letters and various paintings Mediterranean Sea. Passengers disembarking by foot can and the summer residence at San Martino, Currently the biggest ship to berth stroll along the promenade of the Medicean just four miles away. Both are now national alongside has been Hapag Lloyd’s 199mtr long town between fashionable boutiques and museums open to visitors. Europa. The port is currently awaiting the small restaurants. Alternatively passengers can venture inland approval from Italy's Ministry of Infrastructure Napoleon Bonaparte, who was exiled in to small villages hidden away on mountaineous to extend the existing quay by 65mtr to Elba between 1814 and 1815, left many slopes amid green chestnut forests to enjoy provide a 180mtr long cruise berth, which traces including two residences: Villa dei some local wine or admire the villages strung would take two years to finish.

Via Trieste Marina is also homeporting every Trieste goes for growth Sunday throughout this summer. In 2008, the port is looking to host at least 55 calls including the arrival of 2,700 passenger which will be deployed on a weekly cruise programme using Trieste as a base port. The cruise terminal is located just a short walk from the city centre. It has a 210mtr long quay alongside but there are plans to extend this quay by 220mtr which should be operational by 2010. In the meantime dolphins will be used to host bigger ships. Trieste, located just 100km from Venice, is keen to promote itself as an alternative Adriatic home port. Currently it handles n May 3rd this year Trieste currently negotiating with several companies, 60,000 passengers, more than 90% of which are Terminal Passeggeri (TTP) was including some cruise line customers, who are turnarounds. Oformed by Trieste Port Authority interested in becoming stakeholders. For passengers arriving on a transit call or for to manage and develop cruise-related In 2007, Trieste will welcome 38 cruise calls up pre and post stays the must-see shorexs include a business at the Adriatic port. from 30 last year. MSC Cruises is using Trieste as a walking tour of Trieste and a wine excursion, either On the first day of 2008, TTP will become a home port for the first time positioning MSC on bikes or by horse to the local wine cellars. joint stock company with private investors taking Opera from September on weekly Slovenia is only 12km away and Croatia 25km shares in the company. The port authority is Adriatic/Aegean cruises. Costa Crociere’s Costa both of which are reachable on a one day tour.

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DESTINATION MEDCRUISE – GEORGIA/AZORES

Via Batumi MedCruise Members ■ ■ More than 137,000 people live in Batumi, the Alanya Naples administrative centre of the Adjara region - a ■ Alicante ■ Palamos combination of highland and coastal areas of ■ ■ outstanding natural beauty. Almeria A typical tour around Batumi takes in a visit ■ Balearic Islands ■ Pescara to the Botanical Gardens and Gonio Fortress, ■ ■ built in the first century by the Romans and one Barcelona Piraeus of the main forts on the Black Sea coast. It was ■ Bari ■ Portoferraio from here that the Argonauts sailed on the ■ ■ Golden Fleece. The state museum of Batumi Batumi Portuguese ports houses items found in and around Gonio, ■ Cagliari ■ Ravenna incuding jewellery and objects made of gold. ■ ■ The old city of Batumi dates back 150 years. Cartagena Rijeka Here you can see coffee-making machines, as ■ Castellon ■ Sete well as coffee mills, being manufactured and ■ ■ used producing an aroma that is hard to resist. Catania Sevastopol There are lots of open cafes where locals and The dolphin is the symbol of Batumi ■ Ceuta ■ Sibenik tourists gather to drink aromatic coffee. The ■ ■ he Black Sea city of Batumi is a harbour hosts fishermen of all ages. Cyprus ports Sinop popular holiday destination for Batumi is a multipurpose port with two ■ Dubrovnik, Korcula ■ Sochi Georgians due to its warm, sub- 220mtr long dedicated berths for passenger T ■ ■ tropical climate. Located on a bay ships, including one with a terminal alongside. Egyptian ports Split lined with sweeping beaches this Batumi has been chosen as a port of call ■ French Riviera ports ■ Tarragona colourful city boasts palms, cypress by Voyages of Discovery both this year and ■ ■ and citrus trees abundant with fruits in 2008. The 610-passenger cruise ship will Gibraltar Toulon, St Tropez and flowerbeds that bloom year-round. call on October 14, 2007 as part of a 12- ■ Koper ■ Trieste Closeby are the Botanical Gardens day Black Sea Discovery cruise. In October ■ ■ containing more than 4,000 species of 2008, this cruise is being repeated twice La Spezia Tunis flora from around the world. during the month. ■ Lattakia ■ Valencia

■ ■ Via Azores Livorno Valletta ■ Malaga ■ Venice n the middle of the ■ ■ Atlantic Ocean, between Messina Volos IEurope and North America, ■ Monaco ■ Zadar lies the volcanic archipelago ■ of the Azores, nine dazzling Moroccan ports islands with unspoilt landscapes. Each island has a Artists impression of the new ‘Gateways of the Sea’ Contacts unique character, some with luxuriant visiting cruise ships. It also includes The Sea vegetation and astonishing lakes, Pavillion - a grand plaza, with a cafe, terrace, and MedCruise others with black carved rocks, and a restaurant overlooking the sea. Music events José Campos Secretary General others filled with tradition and history. will take place on a nearby 4,000sq mtr stage Portal de la Pau, 6 Azores' major city and port, Ponta Delgada, is whilst swimming pools filled with Atlantic waters 08039 Barcelona, Spain constructing a new cruise and passenger terminal, can be safely and fully enjoyed. Tel: +34 607 87 87 50 aimed at making the archipelago a mandatory A new marina has been built with capacity Fax: +34 93 306 88 17 stopping point for cruise ships sailing the to berth 470 yachts. [email protected] transatlantic routes. This infrastructure is expected All these new facilities are collectively [email protected] to be completed in April/May next year. known as Portas do Mar, the new Gateways The Cruise Liner Maritime Terminal, will offer a Of The Sea. MedCruise News dedicated quay measuring 380mtr long with Ponta Delgada is a vibrant town which received Editor: Mary Bond Editorial Assistant: Libby Isted 11mtr water depth alongside. Passengers will 45 cruise calls last year and expected to rise to 57 Production Editor: Fiona Hockey embark/disembark via a gangway connected to carrying around 70,000 passengers in 2007. Also Seatrade Communications Ltd the terminal building which is located a few worth a visit are the islands of Terceira, a UNESCO Tel: +44 1206 545121 hundred metres from the city centre, accessed via World Heritage site for the architecture of its main Fax: +44 1206 545190 a newly-laid promenade. Parking for excursion town, and Faial, the Atlantic meeting-point for [email protected] buses will be located above the terminal. yachts from all over the world. The 1,200sq mtr Maritime Terminal and Visit Ponta Delgada's new Gateways of the adjacent 5,300 sq mtr Commercial Zone is Sea and you'll experience a fun-filled mid- designed to serve both inter-island traffic and Atlantic stopover. Published by Seatrade Communications Ltd

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