MedCruise News Bringing the Med together June 2014 | Issue 44 Record attendance at MedCruise 44th General Assembly, Castellon ver 120 port members, associates, those demanding services and the interests of media and members of the local cruise, those supplying services. While each side Otourism and city communities gathered advocates its interests through the respective in Castellon, Spain for the 44th MedCruise associations, and should continue to do so, General Assembly, 21-25th May, 2014. collaboration is essential. Collaboration can be The GA welcomed three new port members: better done when ports in the Med and its IN THIS ISSUE Istanbul, Taranto and Trabzon and two new adjoining seas proceed in engagement associate members, Allegra Montenegro and collectively through MedCruise.’ Association News/People 1-6, 8 B&A Europe. The highlight of the first day was the Round MedCruise 44th GA in Castellon 1-3 During his opening speech, Stavros Table devoted to Sustainable Cruise, with the MedCruise at Cruise Shipping Miami 2014 4 Hatzakos, MedCruise President, said that the participation of Rob Ashdown (CLIA Europe MedCruise-CLIA Collaboration 5 association represents ports hosting more than Secretary General), Elisabetta Pinna, (Costa Trabzon visit 5 28 million cruise passenger movements Crociere), Manos Shinakis, (‘Sustainable Cruise’ Espo Passenger Committee 5 annually and he emphasised that through the Project), Stavros Hatzakos, Thanos Pallis ecoports 5 active participation of its members, the (MedCruise Secretary General) and the MedCruise Diary 2014 6 expanding MedCruise is gaining in strength. intervention of Dimitrios Theologitis, Director MedCruise pavilion at Seatrade Med 2014 8 Praising the European Commission’s move to for Ports and Port Policy of the European simplify the visa code for third-country visitors Commission. Itineraries / ships 7 to Schengen passport-free areas, the MedCruise The session explored first the potential of President emphasised that through cruise ports and cruise lines to work together at Epic year-round Med for Norwegian 7 collaboration, the cruise industry and the port local level and create clever and innovative Med will see more MSC newbuilds 7 industry might only benefit and expand cruise solutions referring to waste reception facilities Cunard’s wider choice of Med-fly cruises 7 activities. and waste collection practices at sea and New Med itineraries for Costa 7 MedCruise has also worked with the ashore. European Commission on the new EU Strategy Discussion then moved to the ways that for more Growth and Jobs in Coastal and policies at international level might facilitate Maritime Tourism. The strategy outlines a ‘Green’ cruise ports. Ashdown focused on the number of actions to strengthen the cruise need for sophisticated, market driven practices sector’s position as a key driver of Europe’s blue and policies, rather than top-down approaches, economy. whereas Hatzakos mentioned the importance On the issue of collaboration with cruise of networking. lines Hatzakos noted, ‘This collaboration needs The second day started with a Ports & Cruise to respect the fundamentals of the market. In Lines Session on ‘Cruising the West Med’ (see Web: www.medcruise.com each sector there are always the interests of page 2). www.facebook.com/medcruise.association www.medcruise.com @MedCruisePorts MedCruise 44th GA Cruise lines discuss green ports, deployment and shorex revenue issues Royal Caribbean’s Adam Sharp Gala Dinner at Castellon Auditorium Hosts Port of Castellon and Stavros Hatzakos orts from Southern Europe, gathering in have purchased tickets for either one or the other and For the Royal Caribbean brands, a turning point in Castellon for the 44th MedCruise General in many cases both events.' Other event-related the Med will come this fall said Adam Sharp, manager PAssembly, heard a broad range of discussions cruises next year feature the Funchal Flower Parade. port operations Europe RCCL with the Oasis of the on green ports, deployment issues and shorex revenue Presenting AIDA Cruises’ deployment strategy, Seas sailing a few cruises out of Barcelona, before the in the Med. Kay-Uwe Maross focused on seasonal deployment, Allure of the Seas sails a full summer season in 2015. Simon Douwes, director deployment & itinerary, the search for variety in countries, the significance of With the bigger ship, however, come issues such as Holland America Line, noted the brands strong slow steaming, and cost/revenue optimization. port and city congestion, which he said Royal commitment to Europe and in particular the Med. Michael Pawlus, director strategic planning at Caribbean is working on. 'With no ECA and many ports close together makes Silversea Cruises, spoke about guests interest and for cheaper ship operations in the Med compared to satisfaction, port and fuel costs, evening and overnight other areas.' He noted operating costs in Alaska are calls, the mixture of experiences, shore excursion twice those in the Med. selections, and their marketability. On the shorex side, Peter Deer, commercial The Mediterranean is core to Costa Cruises’ director, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines said tours in the programs, said Susanna Illiano, port area coordinator Med generally generate lower revenue than those in for the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Red Sea and Arab Northern Europe. He said the brand has been Gulf. She said that Costa calls at 93 ports in the focussing on driving shorex revenue and referenced Mediterranean, offering interporting in 32. A key the current 'Film Star and Fast Cars' cruise featuring factor going forward was transparency of port costs, Cannes Film Festival and Monaco F1 Grand Prix. according to Illiano. She added that Costa will do Deer commented, 'a major number of passengers random audits to ensure the quality of its port agents. ‘Sustainable Cruise’ Roundtable discussion, L-R: Rob Ashdown, Stavros Hatzakos, Thanos Pallis, Elisabetta Pinna and L-R: Port of Castellon’s Miguel Rojo and Roberto Arzo Manos Shinakis Cubero flank Silversea’s Mike Pawlus 2 in Castellon, Spain What’s cooking in Castellon? ruise line execs attending the 44th GA of tourist city so it offers a different draw to some of the MedCruise in Castellon had a chance to view larger and more popular destinations in the vicinity. Cthe city, located less than an hour's drive First up a guided walking tour through the town, north of Valencia, and its surrounds. and an opportunity to mingle with the local The Port Authority of Castellon offers various community going about their daily routine. Sights quays plus a 350mtr long cruise berth, situated around included the Town Hall Square, Cathedral and Bell 20 minutes by bus from the city centre. Tower, then onto the market selling fresh locally Situated on Spain's Med coastline, which offers an grown produce and a welcome break at a street side abundance of well established cruise ports, has proved tapas bar. a challenge for Castellon to attract a significant A new tour this year and one unqiue to Castellon number of calls. Fred Olsen, Crystal, Windstar and is a visit to the Porcelanosa factory to see the Holland America Line have all featured Castellon on manufacturing process of ceramic tiles from the raw West Med itineraries in the past few years. material stage to finished product which are exported Later this year Windstar's Wind Spirit will be the to over 80 countries worldwide. sole cruise call in 2014 but port president, Juan Jose Finally a visit to Masia Les Casotesa, a villa in the Monzonis and managing director, Roberto Arzo countryside outside the city, where owner, Emma Cubero are hoping that by hosting the MedCruise Bordils, and chef Miguel Martí, taught the party how gathering and bringing several cruise line executives to prepare and cook the traditional paella dish, which to see the city and its surroundings first hand, might was heartedly eaten by the cruise line executives. unlock more cruise business. On the last day delegates had a chance to go Simon Douwes, director of deployment & itinerary further afield with tours offered to Morella, the planning Holland America told Seatrade Insider, medieval town in the mountains with its centuries- Prinsendam's first call in Castellon produced 'excellent old castle at over 1,000 mtr above sea level or to feedback from passengers'. Prinsendam will return in Peniscola, along the Med coastline and its 14th 2015. century castle-fortress perched on a rocky outcrop The appeal of Castellon is that it is not a major and linked to the mainland by a strip of sand. Castellon’s fish market Cruise Line execs cook up some Paella Chef Marti shows how it’s done Castellon’s town square Costa’s Susanna Illiano outside Porcelanosa factory Peniscola visit HAL’s Simon Douwes with Stavros Hatzakos 3 MedCruise at CSM - Statistics media briefing edCruise member ports counted 27m seas reached 14,428 last year, a 4% rise compared to cruise passenger movements in 2013, 2012 when 13,958 calls took place. Mrepresenting a 4% rise on the previous The number of calls in 2013 was only 298 shy of year and a 24% increase in the five year period the record number of 14,726 calls at MedCruise ports (2009-2013). in 2011. The fifth edition of the MedCruise Statistical At the time of publication the number of Report, based on data from 67 MedCruise ports members of MedCruise represented about 75% of representing over 78% of the total cruise passenger cruise calls in the region. Following the GA in movements in the Mediterranean last year, was Castellon and the addition of three new members, presented by the association’s president Stavros MedCruise now accounts for 80% of cruise Hatzakos during Cruise Shipping Miami 2014. passenger movements and calls taking place in the Cruise calls in the Mediterranean and adjoining Med. Stavros Hatzakos presents the 5th edition of MedCruise Terminal design discussion Statistical Report.