By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Cruise ships are set to return to the Black Sea in 2019 after a two-year absence, thanks to the efforts of MedCruise’s recently launched Black Sea Working Group.
The group held two meetings in late 2018 and early 2019 to make plans for bringing cruising back to the Black Sea, which included outlining the ports’ necessary commitments and discussing the marketing strategy for 2019-2021. This April, the Black Sea Working Group participated at Seatrade Cruise Global 2019 in Miami, Florida to encourage cruise lines to return to the region.
Owing to the group’s and ports’ efforts, Aegean Experience Maritime Co’s Aegean Odyssey and Pheonix Reisen’s Amera will call at the port of Odessa in Ukraine this year. The port is also scheduled to welcome 12 cruise ships in 2020, including vessels from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, Azamara Club Cruises and Phoenix Reisen. Azamara will also call at the Ukrainian port in 2021, alongside Crystal Cruises.