2 0 5 Mars. Malta was quick to welcome cruise calls when ships restarted operations and this ceremony felt like a message of thanks from Viking – one that echoes around the industry to so many who stepped forward when they were needed the most. DP World Limassol envisages a bright future for the Cypriot port. While capacities are still lower than pre-pandemic volumes, the company is experiencing a higher number of calls than 2019, and 2022 will be a longer season, with the first call taking place in May and the final call currently expected in November. Sustainable operations are a high priority across DP World’s portfolio, so investigations into the use of shore power are underway in Limassol. It already uses solar power and electric vehicles in the port. Port of Thessaloniki in Greece is enjoying something of a revival. Port of Thessaloniki in Greece is enjoying something of a revival. After four years of single digit calls since 2017, it welcomed 17 in 2021 and is set to host 60 in 2022 with Celestyal Cruises, Azamara, Viking and Silversea Cruises among the lines contributing to this total. The port is often cited as a best-practice example of how to effectively engage stakeholders, an approach that is now reaping dividends. Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency has expressed a commitment to contributing to the development of cruise tourism, currently focused on supporting the five Mediterranean member ports of Istanbul, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Antalya and Alanya as they seek to grow cruise traffic. Trabzon, the sixth Turkish MedCruise member, lies in the Black Sea and so sadly will have to wait before it can capitalise on this support. Haifa Port in Israel is undergoing a transformational regeneration project, and the supporting rail and air infrastructure improvements will significantly enhance ship turnaround performance. The focus is on enhancing the waterfront to create a more engaging transition from sea to land for passengers. Despite building challenges, the port’s planned terminal improvements were completed just in time for the current season and further development is expected. > resilience and a capacity to overcome any challenge.” Meanwhile, Aleksander Bieniek, vice president of marine operations at Star Clippers, underlined the next big challenge, stating that “environmental awareness (and action) is a must.” Daniela Sordi, senior manager of destinations management at Swan Hellenic, highlighted the expedition opportunity. “Many trends have moved in favour of expedition cruising – high passenger-to-space ratios and a focus on outside space and sustainability.” Sordi also observed that “from an itinerary development point of view we definitely learned that we need a contingency plan in the event a port becomes unavailable.” And Sordi identified a potential future opportunity. “I think we might have a new type of cruise guest – the digital nomad. (They) would require high tech onboard, a focus on wellness and a shared working area.” Meanwhile, Emilio Freeman, vice president of itineraries and destinations at SeaDream Yacht Club, observed that “there’s been a splitting of the industry, a bifurcation into big ships and small ships.” This led Lamy to predict: “I wouldn’t be surprised if we started to see more 800- to 2,200-passenger ships (in the future).” MedCruise delivered another celebrated forum for industry dialogue. Action must follow to conquer the challenges and seize the opportunities the lie ahead. CFR Cabo Verde and Egypt are popular destinations for Mediterranean itineraries MEDITERRANEAN: REPORT
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