Cruise & Ferry Review - Autumn/Winter 2021

2 5 Taiwan International Ports improves cruise facilities Taiwan International Ports Corporation is carrying out a series of developments in the ports of Keelung and Kaohsiung, including building new cruise terminals and renovating older facilities. The E2 Terminal at the Port of Keelung will be renovated with a glass corridor connecting the check-in hall and waiting rooms onboard ships, as well as other new features, by the third quarter of 2021. A new terminal is then set to be completed by the first quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, the new Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. The terminal will have 17 floors, with a design that is intended to evoke the appearance of waves. The wharf will be 726 metres long and have a depth of 10.5 metres, allowing it to accommodate ships currently stopping at piers eight, nine and ten at the port. Cruise operations restarted in Hong Kong with the departure of Dream Cruises’ Genting Dream from Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. Genting Dream will sail three ‘Super Seacation’ itineraries round trips from the port weekly. “With the increase in the rate of vaccinations in the city, we are confident that our Super Seacation cruises will become one of the most popular vacation options for the residents of Hong Kong in the near future,” said Kent Zhu, president of Dream Cruises’ parent company Genting Cruise Lines. Cruising restarts in Hong Kong Phoenix Reisen’s Artania was the first cruise ship to call at the Port of Riga in Latvia in almost 18 months after the pause caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The ship arrived in Riga with 560 passengers from eight counties onboard, all of whom were fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Further cruise calls to the port have been scheduled for the current season, dependent upon the health crisis continuing to improve. All cruise ships arriving in Riga will be required to comply with the Management Plan to Mitigate Covid-19 Risk plan developed by the port and local authorities. Artanian become first cruise ship to visit Riga in 18 months