P&D iss1 AW 0609:P&D iss1 AW 0609 23/07/2009 15:31 Page 5
| NEWS |
05
Venice goes for growth
Already a major cruise homeport
and port of call, Venice is rapidly
developing its port facilities to
handle the newest generation of
mega cruise ships.
The Venice Port Authority is
conducting feasibility studies into
a new cruise pier and terminal
capable of processing the latest
mega-ships. The area earmarked Tax hits Alaska cruise capacity the state by ship.
for the potential development is a Alaska’s tourism industry fears a “This will have a painful impact
lagoon area on the Canale dei catastrophic decline in cruise on businesses across Alaska and
Petroli, easily accessible from the visitors as lines pull calls at the not just around the cruise ports,”
sea and around 10 minutes’ drive state’s ports due to the economic says Ron Peck, president
from the centre of Venice. crisis and the problems caused by of the Alaska Travel Industry
The project would allow for a the US$50-a-head cruise visitor Association. As well as spending
two-storey, 5,000 square metre tax imposed since 2006. cash on meals, souvenirs and
terminal building with space for Norwegian Cruise Line is the excursions around the port, many
further expansion as required. latest company to pull a ship off cruise tourists also stay pre or
Estimated cost is around €100m Alaska runs in summer 2010. post-cruise and visit Canada
and construction would take Royal Caribbean International, and/or the Alaskan interior,
roughly 15 months. Holland America Line and Princess boarding trains and coaches to
A new, 4,000-passenger Cruises have already announced explore scenic areas like Denali
terminal spanning 8,000 square cutbacks in summer 2010 capacity National Park and Fairbanks.
metres opened earlier this year for the region. “This situation could see
and will form part of a larger This is expected to cause an tourism to Alaska’s interior fall by
shopping and hotel complex. And estimated 12 per cent drop in a quarter,” he adds. “Hundreds
one of the port’s other terminals Alaska cruise visitors next of businesses especially small
spanning 15,00 square metres will summer, when up to 120,000 local concerns will be hurt
be refurbished this autumn. fewer tourists will visit by this.”
Kiel over the moon in May
Expansion of the Ostseekai cruise passenger Mein Schiff, MSC passengers terminals at the port - “The new Ostseekai is now one
terminal in the German port of Cruises’ 2,550-passenger MSC has seen the opening of two new of the most efficient cruise
Kiel has been rewarded with Orchestra, Costa Cruises’ 2,700- luggage halls and a doubling in shipping terminals in Northern
growth in calls by large-capacity passenger Costa Magica and size of the terminal’s waiting area. Europe,” says Port of Kiel
cruise ships. Holland America Line’s 2,000- A separate crew entrance and managing director Dirk Claus.
In May, the port hosted the four passenger Eurodam all visited. 500 new seats have been “We expect to have processed
biggest cruise ships in its history A recent expansion programme installed, alongside a café and more than 200,000 passengers by
during a single week, when the at the 9,000-passenger-capacity lounge, a newsagents and a the end of September.”
new brand TUI Cruises’ 1,900- Ostseekai – one of three tourist information desk.
| ITINERARY PLANNING | SHORE PROGRAMMES | PASSENGER HANDLING | SUMMER 2009 |
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32