Issue One | £4.50 / €5.00 | November 2020 1 PORTS

VISIT MALAGA.COM/PORTS FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS

1MALAGA

EXPLORE WITH REGENT: IT’S ALL INCLUDED!

PORTS & D E S T I NAT I O N S ESSENTIAL PLANNING INFORMATION FOR AGENTS

Issue One | £4.50 / €5.00 | November 2020

StowawayMedia.com

FOCUS ON: THE MEDITERRANEAN

EMERALD AZZURRA

HEADS TO THEMED IN 2021

PORTS & DESTINATIONS

3CONTENTS

We’re here to inspire you

Welcome to the first issue of Ports and Destinations, a new magazine that focuses on the wonderful places your clients can visit on a cruise holiday.

Time and again, polls show that destination is the number one driver when it comes to choosing a cruise. But how many people, I wonder, consider all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to provide the ports and excursions that make going ashore so easy. That’s what this new magazine is all about.

We’ve launched with a special look at the Mediterranean, a vast sea separating two continents that harbours everything from A-list cities and sun-kissed islands to ancient Greek and Roman history. Future issues will focus on other favourite cruise regions around the world.

We’ve also got a special report on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ all-inclusive shore-ex programme, look at what makes Azamara the cruise-cum-destination specialist, and highlight some of region’s favourite ports, providing useful information that agents can use to inspire their clients.

Enjoy!

Keith Ellis, Publisher, Stowaway Media

4 NEWS

6 CLIA COMMENT

8 FOCUS ON AZAMARA

11 CRUISING THE MED

14 FOCUS ON REGENT SEVEN

SEAS CRUISES

16 TAKE THREE PORTS (MARSEILLE/TOULON/NICE)

18 PROFILE: BODRUM

20 PROFILE: CARTAGENA

22 PROFILE: GIBRALTAR

24 PROFILE: LIVORNO

26 PROFILE: BARCELONA

28 INTRODUCING MEDCRUISE

30 PORT LISTINGS

Published by ..............Stowaway Publications 10 Tadorne Road, Tadworth KT20 5TD Surrey +44 (0)1737 81 2411, [email protected]

Written and Edited by: ................ Jane Archer [email protected]

Creative .... Andrew Reeves, Oddsock Design [email protected]

Front cover image: Emerald Azzurra

* All cruise information is correct at the time of going to press. Contact individual cruise lines for the most up-to-date itineraries and schedules.

To arrive at Cartagena is to enter Spain fully... to enjoy the best of an entire country, without ever leaving this region where the sun -and time itself- have mellowed each little corner into a unique treasure

Vestiges of a thousand-year-old culture, gastronomy that prides itself on excellence in every dish, the best beaches for enjoying water sports all year round, a different form of leisure living, popular and religious festivals... No place offers more Spain than this unique port: the Port of Cartagena

Brought to you by the MediterraneanPowered by Spain

4 NEWS

AUTUMN ISSUE | STOWAWAY MEDIA PORTS & DESTINATIONS

5NEWS

Sky-high monasteries a highlightas Celestyal adds Volos callsThe Greek city of Thessaloniki and an excursion to the spectacular ‘hanging monasteries’ of Meteora feature in a new Eclectic Aegean voyage launched by Celestyal Cruises.

The seven-night sailings, departing in October and November 2021 on new ship Celestyal Experience, operate round-trip from Piraeus, the port for Athens, with embarkation also available in Thessaloniki to attract the self-drive market from eastern European countries.

The vessel joined the Celestyal fleet this summer after previously sailing as Costa neoRomantica for Costa Cruises.

The itinerary includes a night in Istanbul, where Celestyal is including a free boat trip on the Bosphorus and trip to the spice market, and visits the Turkish port of Canakkale for tours to the remains of ancient Troy and Gallipoli battlefields. The monasteries (six remaining of the original 24) are perched 400 metres in the air on pillar-like rocks in Meteora and reached on a day trip from the Greek town of Volos.

Celestyal Experience enters service in March 2021 with a Three Continents cruise visiting Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cyprus before switching to a summer Idyllic Aegean itinerary calling into Rhodes, Santorini, Milos, Mykonos, Kusadasi and the new port of Agios Nikolaos in Crete.

Tallinn embarks on a green futureThe Estonian port of Tallinn is building an eco-friendly cruise terminal that uses sea power and solar panels for its heating and energy.

Port authorities are also working with city officials to create a walkway from the quay into the old town. They hope this will encourage guides to ditch bus transfers and instead walk groups from the port to the town, which takes just 10-15 minutes.

In keeping with its green image, the new terminal, slated to open in July 2021, has been designed specially to meet the needs of both the cruise industry and the local community. A rooftop promenade will be open to all and the facility will be used for concerts and conferences out of season (cruise ships only sail in the Baltic between late April and mid October).

Tallinn is a favourite stop for cruise passengers on account of its medieval walled old town. Some 338 vessels called in 2019, making it the second busiest Baltic port after Copenhagen, and that is expected to rise to 375 in 2021.

Glacier Bay stars on ACL’s Alaska newbieAmerican Cruise Lines’ 175-passenger American Constellation will be spending two days in Alaska’s Glacier Bay on a new 11-day Alaskan Explorers’ cruise round-trip from Juneau launching in 2021. The cruise line has also lined up new itineraries along the US East Coast and on the Mississippi River between Memphis and Nashville, and a selection of pre-cruise land packages, including a two-night VIP stay at the Guest House Hotel in Memphis and tour of Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland.

Brisbane eyes year-end opening for new terminal

The Australian port of Brisbane is due to open a new cruise terminal at the end of the year. The A$177m facility, on the outskirts of the city, will enable the port to handle the world’s biggest cruise ships. Some 150 cruise calls and turnarounds are due to call into Brisbane in 2021 with city tours, a river cruise and trips to a koala sanctuary among excursions on offer. The terminal was scheduled to open in October but was delayed because of the Australian ban on cruising caused by the Covid pandemic.

Down Mexico wayThe Mexican port of Cabo San Lucas, the gateway to the Sea of Cortez in Baha California, is among highlights of a programme of new cruises from Los Angeles from Princess Cruises. The port call features in a selection of five-night cruises round-trip from LA next summer, as well as a six one-week Mexican Riviera voyages that also call into Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.

IN BRIEF

Dover employs ECO-robot to clean ships’ hullsCruise ships visiting Dover port can now enjoy a hull spring clean thanks to a new machine developed by Norwegian cleantech company ECOsubsea.

The machine uses a robot-like ‘vehicle’ to remove debris from a ship’s hull and pump it ashore, which helps to protect the ocean and marine life.

The machine also minimises the spread of alien invasive species between continents and enables vessels to operate more efficiently because, once cleaned, they use less fuel and therefore generate lower emissions.

Sonia Limbrick, head of cruise at Dover port, said they are always looking for ways to implement good environmental practices. “I am sure this intense cleaning regime will have a positive impact on our port and wider environment,” she added.

Disney Cruise Lines’ Disney Magic was the first vessel to get an ECO hull clean while in Dover this summer. The machine will be available to all other visiting cruise ships.

Windstar spreads its wings for 2021A helicopter flight over the hill-top palace of Masada followed by a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem awaits clients as Windstar Cruises returns to Israel next summer after several years away.

Star Legend will be sailing a new itinerary round-trip from Piraeus (Athens) that calls into Ashdod and Haifa in Israel, and Alexandria and Port Said in Egypt, from where there is an excursion to Cairo and the pyramids. An alternative cruise round-trip from Piraeus transits the Corinth Canal and overnights in Istanbul, where tours visit bazaars, cruise the Bosphorus and take in a Whirling Dervish show.

The two voyages are among a host of new itineraries in the Mediterranean, Alaska, Baha California and Iceland that Windstar has lined up for 2021. There are also new Caribbean and Central America cruises from Miami that stop off in Key West for a visit to Ernest Hemmingway’s former home, now a museum.

In August, a 14-day cruise from Reykjavik in Iceland to Montreal in Canada takes passengers through the icy waters and scenic fjords of the North Atlantic.

SeaDream spices up its Grenadines cruisesThe spice island of Grenada features on a new series of voyages in the Caribbean that SeaDream Yacht Club is starting in November.

The one-week cruises, on the 112-passenger SeaDream I, also call into the islands of St Vincent, Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, Union and Tobago Keys on the Grenadines. The vessel is the first cruise ship to operate in the West Indies since Covid-19 caused the global cruising industry to come to a halt.

The voyages, running from November 2020 until April 2021, are round-trip from Bridgetown in Barbados, which, at the time of writing, the British are allowed to visit provided they have a negative Covid test within 72 hours of flying and again on arrival.

Grenada is popular for its pretty capital of St George’s, its sandy beaches and the array of spices – everything from nutmeg to ginger - that grow there. Excursion options will take passengers river tubing, kayaking or on an island tour to learn about nutmeg, cocoa and chocolate production.

The Grenadines are all about sun, sea, sand and snorkelling. SeaDream’s signature Champagne and Caviar Splash takes place in Mayreau.

Celebrity Cruises will be visiting Thessaloniki for the first time next summer on a series of 12-night Turkey and the Best of Greek Islands cruises round-trip from Venice. The itinerary also includes a call into Hydra, a pretty Greek island where cars, scooters and even bicycles are banned.

Marella Cruises has revised its Taste of the Tropics voyages round-trip from Barbados to include calls into Charlotte Amalie and Frederiksted in the US Virgin Islands, where swimming, snorkelling and catamaran trips are among attractions. The islands of Puerto Rico, Guadaloupe and St Vincent round off the itinerary.

Trains, boats and gushing waterfalls are among highlights ashore as Holland America Line’s new ship Rotterdam makes its debut in Northern Europe next summer. Passengers can feel the heat in the warm waters of the Blue Lagoon in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik and get their chills in an ice bar in Bergen, the gateway to the Norwegian fjords.

Intimate Experiences • Exotic Destinations

Award-winning river cruise line Emerald Waterways introduces Emerald Yacht Cruises and

the brand-new, innovative super yacht, Emerald Azzurra. Custom-designed to allow unique

access to the fascinating ports and harbours only small yachts can reach.

For more information and to request a brochure

call 0808 296 3399 or visit emeraldyachtcruises.co.uk

INAUGURAL SEASON

LIMITED EARLYBIRD FARES AVAILABLE

DECEMBER 2021 - DECEMBER 2022

INTRODUCING EMERALD AZZURRA

ADRIATIC COAST • RED SEA • MEDITERRANEAN

Terms & conditions: Earlybird fares are limited in number and once sold out the full fare will apply.

ABTA No.Y6328

E2523 TRADE Ports & Destinations Advert.indd 1E2523 TRADE Ports & Destinations Advert.indd 1 15/10/2020 11:1815/10/2020 11:18

6 CLIA COMMENT

AUTUMN ISSUE | STOWAWAY MEDIA

As all the statistics compiled by CLIA UK & Ireland over the past couple of decades show, cruise has consistently been the fastest-growing sector of the travel industry.

There are many reasons for this. There are ships to suit everyone, whether families, adventurous couples or luxury lovers. There’s wonderful food, world-class entertainment and fun activities.

And then there are all those spectacular places that cruise ships visit in every corner of the world. Great cities, historical towns, island nations, icy landscapes. Cruise guests can go wildlife watching in the Galapagos and South Africa, have beach time in the Caribbean, get close to glaciers in Chile and so much more.

They might visit three, four, five or more countries on just one holiday, daily ticking off unforgettable sights and experiences yet only have to unpack once. The ease of a cruise holiday cannot be overstated.

It starts with youBut getting guests to those destinations by ship is just one part of a huge jigsaw in which various parts fit together seamlessly.

There’s you, the agents, on whom the cruise lines rely to sell their holidays. There’s the port authorities around the world, on which cruise lines rely to provide the facilities that enable them to dock their ships. Between them, these ports are investing millions of pounds in new, more efficient terminals and larger docks to make sure they offer the best experience for their visitors and can also welcome the world’s biggest vessels.

And then there are the local tour companies in each destination, on which the cruise lines rely to provide world-class excursions led by

expert guides so their guests have wonderful days ashore.

As we have heard many times at CLIA UK & Ireland conferences, the choice of tours is immense, and growing all the time to meet changing expectations. Discovering the highlights of cities such as Rome or New York, or snorkelling trips in the Caribbean, are always popular, but these days your clients can alternatively visit yoga retreats, learn to cook with local chefs, join bike rides, go hiking and so much more.

Playing matchmakerAs with picking the right ship, it is vital that agents listen carefully to their cruise customers and suggest itineraries that match their requirements. It might be a cruise that coincides with the French grape harvest, going whale-watching in Antarctica, seeing the Northern Lights in Norway, wanting an itinerary that visits Rome, Florence and has an overnight in Venice.

It’s a huge amount for agents to know but all the resources of CLIA UK & Ireland are available to help our members so they in turn can be sure of offering the best possible service to their clients. And the cruise lines themselves are of course always on hand to offer advice and guidance.

It is, after all, in everyone’s interest to make sure we look after all our customers so they return year after year for another cruise.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK and Ireland director

The cruise jigsaw is no puzzleNew York is always a popular destination for British cruisers.

Andy Harmer, CLIA UK and Ireland director.

8 FOCUS ON AZAMARA


9FOCUS ON AZAMARA

Land ahoy AzAmazing journeys

Small group once-in-a-lifetime-style tours of between three and six days that take in local cultures with the help of historians, professors and connoisseurs. Accommodation is in everything from five-star hotels and castles to boutique lodges and even some glamping. Examples include:

A five-night tour taking in Machu Picchu, Cusco and Belmond’s Hiram Bingham train ahead of a 10-night voyage from Lima in Peru to Santiago in Chile departing January 23 2022. Cruise tour from £6,899pp excluding international flights.

A five-night tour of the Andalucian towns of Seville, Cordoba and Grenada in Spain ahead of a seven-night France Intensive cruise from Barcelona to Nice departing April 17 2021. Cruise tour from £4,705pp excluding international flights.

Land journeys

Tours of three to six nights in key cities and locations close to the departure port that focus on iconic landmarks and hidden gems. Accommodation is in four and five-star hotels, boutique inns and luxury lodges. Examples include:

Three-night tour of Lisbon and the Algarve in Portugal at the end of a 10-night Spain Intensive cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon departing November 4 2021. Cruise tour from £5,451pp excluding international flights.

Six-night tour of Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger in Norway before a 12-night Baltic cruise from Stockholm to Amsterdam departing July 23 2021. Cruise tour from £7,644pp excluding international flights.

Overnight stays

Overnight stays during a voyage give passengers longer to enjoy iconic sights or experiences. Examples include:

Two nights in Kruger National Park during a 12-night South Africa Intensive cruise round-trip from Cape Town departing January 3 2022. Cruise and safari from £4,755pp excluding international flights.

Three-night trip to Johannesburg and Victoria Falls during a 12-night South Africa Intentive cruise round-trip from Cape Town departing February 20 2022. Cruise and excursion from £6,119pp excluding international flights.

Stay local

Two or three-night pre or post-cruise city stays so clients can see the highlights and get a feel for local life. Examples include:

Two or three nights in Venice ahead of an 11-night Greece Intensive cruise from Venice to Piraeus departing April 20 2021. Cruise and two-night stay from £3,981pp excluding international flights.

Two or three nights in Singapore at the end of a 19-night India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar cruise from Dubai to Singapore departing November 18 2021. Cruise and two-night stay from £5,319pp excluding international flights.

When is a cruise not a cruise? No, it’s not the start of a joke, but a valid question given Azamara’s decision last summer to set itself up as a leading destination expert.

The moniker ‘Club Cruises’ was dropped from its name and the line’s existing selection of excursions, local experiences and night tours was enhanced with new pre and post-cruise tours, and additional day and overnight excursions in many ports (see right), all curated under a new ‘Explore Further’ tag.

They might be a few hotel nights in Athens or Rome before or after a voyage from the cities’ respective ports of Piraeus and Civitavecchia, or a four-night cultural tour of Belgium,

Luxembourg and the Netherlands before a cruise from Amsterdam. A series of cruises around South Africa in early 2021 come with everything from overnights in game reserves to pre and

post-cruise safaris paired with the winelands and Victoria Falls.

Travel companies including Abercrombie & Kent and Perry Golf have been drafted in to operate the bulk of the tours, which invariably carry the line’s AzAmazing branding.

In short, what with a portfolio of thousands of cruises on the three sister ships Azamara Journey, Azamara Quest and Azamara

Pursuit, and more than 1,700 shore programmes on offer, a holiday with Azamara is as much about seeing the world on land as it is by sea.

The strategy hasn’t happened overnight but rather has developed over the past decade under the leadership of president and chief executive officer Larry Pimentel. He joined Azamara in 2009 after a long career at the helm of cruise lines including Cunard and SeaDream Yacht Club, and set about finding a way to set the brand apart.

The answer was to ‘slow’ the itineraries, allowing ships to stay late or overnight in marquee ports so passengers could venture out after dark. “If you only visit St Tropez between 8 and 5, you have missed St Tropez,” was Pimentel’s oft-quoted mantra, and it was applied to ports around the world.

Fresh itineraries were created that tapped into festivals and events around the globe, new excursions took passengers to mix and mingle with locals by day and after dark, and one AzAmazing evening – a free concert, show or experience – was added to every cruise.

A few years ago, ‘country intensive’ cruises that focused on just one country were introduced; for 2021, they are now offered in destinations as far afield as Greece, Spain, Iceland, Japan and South Africa (see right).

Blurring the lines between land and sea with the Explore Further concept was the next logical step in Azamara’s quest to be the destination expert and it will continue to evolve, was the key message from Pimentel when the new model was launched in June 2019. He resigned from Azamara in April this year but if the range of options in the 2021-22 programme is anything to go by, his vision of destination immersion continues to reign supreme.

VICTORIA FALLS

No Azamara cruise is complete if you haven’t spent plenty of time ashore seeing the sights and mixing with the locals

PORTS & DESTINATIONS

11FOCUS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN

No matter your age, interest or budget, there’s a cruise to suit in the Mediterranean If you had to design the perfect place for a cruise holiday it would look a lot like the Mediterranean. Centuries of history, fascinating cultures, A-list cities, some of the most gorgeous food and wine in the world, blue skies, gorgeous beaches. In short, something for everyone and all ages. No wonder British cruisers flock there in their thousands every summer.

In Italy, France, Spain and Croatia alone you find some of the world’s most sought-after cities –Venice, Barcelona, Naples, Seville, Dubrovnik – on the sea, while Rome and Florence are just a 60 and 90-minute transfer respectively from the ports of Civitavecchia and Livorno.

Been there, done that? There are plenty of other wonderful (if less famous) cities to discover – the likes of Pisa, Nice, Marseille, Istanbul and Cadiz – as well as the landscapes of Provence, Andalusia and Tuscany to captivate and the islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Elba and Majorca to explore. All can also be visited on a cruise.

The destination that has it all

12 FOCUS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN


13FOCUS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN

Time to tourAll cruise lines offer a multitude of guided excursions that cater for all interests and provide an easy way for passengers to get out and see the top sights, learn about the history and get a taste of local life.

It might be a tour around Pompeii from Naples or Rome from Civitavecchia, a trip to a winery in Tuscany or following in the footsteps of Emperor Napoleon on the islands of Elbe and Corsica.

Foodie tours that encourage participants to cook like a local and health-themed excursions – for instance to a yoga retreat - are increasingly popular, while active sorts will find guided bike rides and walking with Marella Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

‘On your own’ tours that provide a transfer to Rome or Florence and then leave folk to explore alone are favourites with those feeling more adventurous, and of course everyone is free to wander off and do their own thing anyway once their ship has docked – always making a note of the all-aboard time first so they don’t get left behind.

The region is compact, allowing cruisers to tick off four countries in just seven days, all without the hassle of unpacking. Choose the Western Mediterranean and you’ll find France, Spain, Italy, Malta and Tunisia on the itinerary. Head east and Greece, Turkey, Croatia and Montenegro await. Or put the two together in one spectacular two or even three-week voyage across the sea.

As a general rule, one-week cruises start with a day at sea so passengers have time to rest before a sightseeing marathon ticking off five great ports. On smaller ships, it might even be one port each day. Clients who want more time to relax should aim for a 12 or 14-night itinerary with more days at sea.

However long clients go for, a couple of hotel nights at the start or end of the cruise is always a good idea, especially for those embarking or disembarking in the must-see triumvirate of Barcelona, Venice and Rome.

All three, and also Athens, are the key embarkation ports for Mediterranean cruises, and served by the likes of British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair. For those who prefer not to fly, a combination of Eurostar and fast national rail services makes the train a viable option to ports such as Marseilles and Barcelona, while an overnight journey from London to Venice on Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at the start of a cruise is a lifetime’s ambition for many and financially well worth agents selling.

And if neither plane nor train appeal, there are plenty of round-trip cruises from the UK to the Mediterranean with Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, P&O Cruises and others, although clients will need to set aside at least two weeks for the trip because of the extra time needed to get across the Bay of Biscay.

The Romans called the Mediterranean the Mare Nos-trum, Our Sea, because it was in the middle of their Empire.

The Mediterranean is surrounded by 17 countries including France, Spain and Italy to the north, Turkey and Israel to the east and Egypt and Morocco to the south.

There are two island nations within the Mediterranean – Malta and Cyprus.

The Mediterranean is connected to the Atlantic by the Strait of Gibraltar – a channel between Spain and Morocco that narrows to just eight miles at one point.

The Peloponnese was separated from the Greek mainland when the Corinth Canal was dug in the early 1890s.

Monaco is smaller than New York’s Central Park and home to one of the most expensive streets for real estate in the world.

Game of Thrones’ fans can join GoT tours around Dubrovnik, where parts of the hit TV series were filmed.

Syracuse in Sicily might be Italian now but it was once the largest ancient Greek city in the world.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT’S NEW in the Mediterranean

Ultra-luxury line Silversea has combined five cruises in to an epic Grand Voyage around the Mediterranean next autumn. Departing September 8 2021, the 59-day cruise, from Venice to Lisbon on the recently-refurbished Silver Shadow, calls into 45 ports in 17 countries including Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Russia, Malta, Italy, France and Spain. Prices from £26,500 per person including flights, transfers, Wi-Fi, drinks, tips, laundry and $1,000 per person on-board credit.

MSC Cruises’ flagship MSC Grandiosa will be taking over the company’s signature cruises around the western Med next summer. The seven-night voyage calls into Marseille in France, Genoa, Civitavecchia (for Rome) and Palermo in Italy, Valetta in Malta and Barcelona in Spain.

Royal Caribbean International’s Odyssey of the Seas is making its debut in the Mediterranean next April. The new Quantum Ultra ship will be sailing seven and nine-night cruises to Greece, Italy and Turkey from Civitavecchia ( Rome), as well as 12-night voyages that add calls into Ashdod and Haifa in Israel. Adventure of the Seas, which was planned to cruise the Baltic, will now be sailing new four and five-night Med cruises from Barcelona.

Forts, towers and plenty of tapas await as Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ new ship Bolette explores some of Spain’s lesser-known ports (Motril anyone?) on a 14-night voyage round-trip from Dover next September. The vessel is one of two ships Fred Olsen acquired from Holland America Line this summer and replaces Boudicca, which has been retired from the Fred fleet.

The seventh Holland America Line ship to bear the name Rotterdam will make its debut in the Mediterranean in July 2021 with a seven-day maiden voyage from Trieste in Italy to Civitavecchia (the port for Rome).

Virgin Voyages’ second ship, Valiant Lady, is due to enter service in May 2021 with a summer season of sailings round-trip from Barcelona, where it will be berthed in a prime location by the World Trade Center. Three one-week itineraries variously visit ports including Monte Carlo, Olbia in Sardinia, Toulon, Palma de Mallorca and Gibraltar, and all include a Friday overnight stay in the party town of Ibiza.

The world’s favouriteWith so much going for it – and we haven’t even mentioned the reliably hot summers, with temperatures often topping 30 degrees Centigrade - it is no surprise to find that the Mediterranean is the world’s favourite cruise destination after the Caribbean, and number one for the Brits, attracting more than 550,000 of us in 2018, according to CLIA UK & Ireland. It’s likewise no surprise that throughout the summer there is a vast choice of cruises and itineraries to choose from, ranging from just a few nights to two weeks or more.

There is also a huge range of cruise ships, from the luxury vessels operated by the likes of Seabourn and Silversea that hold a few hundred passengers to the floating resorts of Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line that have room for several thousand and are wonderful for families. If clients fancy a boutique offering, look no further than Variety Cruises; for sailing ships cast your eyes over to Windstar.

As ever, matching clients to the right cruise is imperative. Not just the size of ship, although that’s the first place to start, but the type of cruise. Do they want to strike off the modern metropolises, go island-hopping in Greece or uncover ancient Roman cities such as Ephesus in Turkey and Pompeii in Italy? Maybe they have their eye on celebrity hotspots along the French and Italian Rivieras.

For those back a second or third time, the lesser-known port such as Valletta in Malta, Palermo in Sicily and Ajaccio in Corsica might be just the ticket. Returnees might also appreciate the increasingly popular ‘slow’ itineraries that stay late or overnight in popular ports such as Barcelona, Dubrovnik and St Tropez so there is time to see more and party until late.

The Mediterranean season runs from April to October, but a handful of companies – the likes of MSC Cruises, Costa Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line - operate year-round. Winter means most tourists have gone home so sightseeing is easier, but the weather can be unpredictable, with some sunshine but also wind and rain. If the off-season is possible, April, May, September and October are best as the sun is not so toasty.

VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS

VALLETTA

14 FOCUS ON REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES


15FOCUS ON REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

The sky’s the limit

It’s been more than 10 years since the bosses at Regent Seven Seas Cruises came up with the idea of free and unlimited shore excursions for passengers as a way to kick start the cruise market as the world grappled with a deep recession. It was a brave move but so popular that it remains a key selling point in Regent’s toolbox.

The decision not only enabled Regent to stand out from the pack in the glamorous ultra-luxury cruise sector but set it on the path to becoming the world’s most inclusive line.

At the time free shore excursions were introduced, drinks, gratuities and all speciality dining were already included in the cost of a Regent cruise; shortly after, free Wi-Fi for all and pre-cruise hotels for those booking higher suite grades were added to the list of perks. With free tours as well, it is not unusual for passengers to disembark their cruise with a nil bill.

Importantly, the free excursion offering is not just a headline grabber. The bulk of

Regent’s excursions are free at the point of delivery (of course some cost is bundled into the cruise fare) and there is no limit to the number that passengers can take other than scheduling clashes and their own stamina.

It is brilliant as no one has to worry about the budget, but especially welcome in places such as Japan and China, where language is potentially a concern, and St Petersburg, where passengers need a visa to go ashore alone. It is such a hassle to get one that most people rely on the ships’ excursions but they are expensive, and with most itineraries allowing two or three days in port because there is so much to see, it’s easy to rack up quite a bill.

Alongside the complimentary excursions, Regent has always offered a selection of costly tours such as flight-seeing over Alaska, the ballet in St Petersburg and bullet trains in Japan at a subsidised price rather than free.

POMPEII

TREVI FOUNTAIN - ROME

Regent’s free excursion offering permits passengers to book as many tours as time and their stamina allows

On tour with RegentWhether clients are interested in history, music, food or art, have a tick list of world must-sees, are watching the budget or want to splash the cash, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a shore excursion to suit. Here is just a snapshot of the range of tours available.

Don’t missSt Petersburg: Guided tour of the world-famous Hermitage Museum. 3.75 hours. Free. Available as a small group tour for £31pp.Civitavecchia: Transfer to Rome with a guide and then have a day on your own to explore highlights such as the Vatican, the Colosseum, the ancient Forum, the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Spanish Steps. 10 hours. Free. Livorno: See the highlights of both Florence and Pisa, including the famous leaning tower, on one guided tour. 10.5 hours. Free. Available as a small group tour for £55pp.Sorrento: Guided tour of the ruins of the Roman city of Pompeii that was preserved in ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. 5 hours. Free. Available as a small group tour for £31pp.

Stay activeSt Lucia: Harness up and zip through the tree canopy in the heart of the island’s rainforest. A sense of adventure and head for heights a must. 4 hours. Free.Malaga: Hop on your bike and pedal around sights including the Moorish citadel, Picasso’s birthplace and the city’s cathedral. Expect to cycle up to two miles. 3.75 hours. Free.

DiscoverValencia: Learn to make an authentic paella during a hands-on class at a local farm before tucking into your handiwork with a glass of sangria. 4.5 hours. £79pp.Barcelona: Dive into the extraordinary world of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi on a visit to Park Guell and La Sagrada Familia, the as-yet unfinished Church of the Sacred Family. 8 hours. £134pp.

Splash outSt Petersburg: Take a high-speed train to Moscow and tour the capital, visiting Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin museums. A ride on the Metro is included. 18 hours. £1,296pp including business-class seats on the train, breakfast and dinner.Cozumel: Fly to the Yucatan peninsula to see the pyramids, columns and sacrificial pits in the former Mayan city of Chichen Itza. 4 hours (1.5 hours are spent on the site). £308pp.

More recently, it has built on the concept of ‘exclusivity’ to give passengers the option to pay for a small group tour (maximum 16 people). Typically these cost between £30pp and £50pp but in some cases have a price tag of £180 or more.

Many of the shore excursions are well-trod favourites – first-timers visiting Civitavecchia or Livorno would be very disappointed if there were no tours to Rome or Florence on the menu, or indeed a canal cruise for those spending the day in Amsterdam – but Regent also offers an excellent range of special-interest tours, for instance focusing on cooking, wine or art, as well as some downright unusual options (flamenco in a mine anyone?) for those who want something different.

New tours are being added all the time. No fewer than 65 were unveiled in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe this year to coincide with the February launch of new ship Seven Seas Splendor. These will be available across the fleet in 2021.

HERMITAGE, ST PETERSBURG

16 FOCUS ON FRANCE


17FOCUS ON FRANCE

Take three ports

MarseilleYou only need remember one word when visiting Marseille. Bouillabaisse. The famous fish stew was invented here so frankly there is nowhere better to find out just what makes it so appetising.

That’s lunch sorted then. But before that there’s a great city waiting to be discovered – specifically the oldest metropolis in France and the edgy face of the Cote d’Azur, home to a melting pot of other nationalities who have arrived over the centuries and lent the place an exciting vibe.

Cruise ships dock at Môle Léon Gourret, a huge basin about 4.5km outside the city that can berth up to seven large vessels at once. From there, passengers need to take a shuttle (follow the green line to the ‘bus terminal’ for the free airport bus) or taxis into town. A small berth, La Joliette, walking distance from the Vieux (Old) Port, additionally takes craft of up to 210 metres (roughly the length of Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager).

Marseille’s skyline has been transformed in recent years, with skyscrapers and shopping centres (Les Terrasses du Port, with 190 outlets, is a shopper’s dream), but the main attraction still is Vieux Port, a lively area guarded by two forts and buzzing with fishing boats, restaurants, shops and people.

This is the place to board a tourist train to Notre Dame de la Garde, a spectacular church perched high on a hill and visible all the way from the cruise port, or hop on a ferry to the island fortress of Chateau d’If, a former prison and home of Alexandre Dumas’ fictional Count of Monte Cristo. Crossing time is 20 minutes.

Le Panier, the old town, is an artsy area full of character with scruffy terraced houses and artisan studios built around narrow streets and steep steps.

Details of Marseille turnarounds p33

Whether clients want to mingle with the rich and famous, dine like a local or climb every mountain, they can on a cruise calling into the South of France

MARSEILLE

ToulonCruisers calling into Toulon next year don’t know how lucky they are. The town, roughly half way between Marseille to the east and St Tropez to the west, is one of the least-known ports on the French Riviera, but what it lacks in celebrity status (among Brits at any rate), it more than makes up for in charm.

If the delightful old town doesn’t captivate – and it really should, with its maze of narrow streets, market (not Mondays), numerous fountains and the second-largest opera house in France, second only in grandeur to the one in Paris – then the views over town and the Med from the top of Mont Faron surely will.

A cable car reaches the summit, 584 metres above sea level, in under six minutes. A museum at the top tells of the liberation of Provence by the Allies in August 1944. A ticket combining the cable car and museum is available.

Ship-spotters can take a boat tour around the harbour, which doubles as one of France’s main naval bases and is home to the giant Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier; the Musée de la Marine tells of the town’s maritime history.

Toulon has three berths for cruise ships up to 300 metres (that’s like Celebrity Cruises’ Millennium-class or similar) just steps from the town centre. Larger vessels (up to 340 metres) can dock across the bay at La Seyne sur Mer. Transfer time to Toulon is 15 or 30 minutes respectively by ferry or bus.

Toulon cruise calls 2021*

Azamara Azamara Journey

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Constellation

Celebrity Edge

Disney Cruise Line Disney Magic

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines

Borealis

Bolette

Marella Cruises Marella Explorer

Oceania Cruises Riviera Nautica

P&O Cruises Britannia

Princess Cruises Pacific Princess Enchanted Princess

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seven Seas Mariner Seven Seas Splendor

Saga Cruises Spirit of Discovery

Seabourn Seabourn Encore Seabourn Sojourn

* CLIA members on sale in the UK only

Nice cruise calls 2021*

Silversea Silver Shadow

Nice turnarounds 2021*


SeaDream Yacht Club SeaDream I

Villefranche cruise calls 2021*

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Apex Celebrity Reflection Celebrity Silhouette

Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony



Oceania Cruises Riviera

P&O Cruises Azura Britannia

Royal Caribbean International

Adventure of the Seas Anthem of the Seas


NiceShhh. Whisper it, but it was thanks to British aristos back in the late 1700s that Nice is on the tourist map for it was they who discovered the city was rather, well, nice. Just the place for a healthy escape from a chilly English winter.

By the 1800s Queen Victoria was a regular visitor; now, some 150 or so years on from her royal rendezvous, the city still has a caché about it. No wonder that every summer thousands of cruisers join the rich and famous that flock to its restaurants, bars and beaches.

The city’s port, a pleasant 30 minutes’ walk from the centre, can only take ships up to 190 metres (Azamara’s three ships are at the limit

of what can fit). Bigger ships anchor off Villefranche sur Mer and tender passengers ashore. It’s then a short taxi or train ride into Nice (respectively nine and seven minutes). The city’s hop-on, hop-off bus loops around to Villefranche as well as circling around key sights in Nice.

The beach at Nice is lovely, but there’s more to the city than sun, sand and sea, from getting a culture shot at the Musée Matisse, the Musée Marc Chagall, the Russian cathedral and Gothic Notre Dame Church to exploring the maze of streets in the old town. A 45-minute sightseeing tour by mini train (departures from the Promenade des Anglais) introduces visitors to the highlights.

To do as the Niçois, join the walkers, joggers and bikers on the Promenade, a palm-fringed pedestrian walkway around the seafront. Prefer to be a tourist? Grab a bite to eat at the nearby art-deco fronted Palais de la Mediteranée, with its open air restaurant overlooking the Baie des Anges, or a cocktail or two at the world-famous Negresco Hotel, a celebrity hangout with a roll call that includes everyone from the Beatles to Princess Grace of Monaco. Just don’t ask the price.

Cruise lines calling into Marseille in 2021*:

Azamara;

Carnival Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Holland America Line

MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

Oceania Cruises

Princess Cruises



SeaDream Yacht Club

Silversea

Virgin Voyages


Discover: The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. One of

the seven ancient wonders of the world, it was built

for King Mausolus, who reigned from 376-353BC.

Visit: The Museum of Underwater Archaeology,

located within the stout walls of the 15th-century

St Peter’s Castle.

See: Bodrum’s theatre was built in the 4th century

and in its heyday held 13,000 spectators.

Explore: The maze of alleys in the Old Town.

Shop: The modern bazaar is packed with stores

selling everything from jewellery to t-shirts.

WHAT TO DO

Go west 14 miles to explore

the winding cobbled streets

and authentic Turkish res-

taurants in the little town of

Gumusluk.

Try riding a Segway. It’s a fun

way to get around.

Forget the cultural stuff and

go to the beach. Yahsi is a fa-

vourite for its clear water and

nearby food emporiums.

Try a Turkish Hamam Bath

– it’s a steam clean for the

body.

WHY NOT?

18 PORT PROFILE


19PORT PROFILE

Bodrum

One of the Brits’ favourite sun, sand and sea destinations, Bodrum in Turkey is gaining favour with luxury cruise lines on account of its charming old town, historical sites, lively bazaars and lovely beaches. A few lines stay overnight.

The town sits on the country’s Turquoise coast, half a day by sea from Kusadasi and 20km across the water from Kos, so it fits well in cruises around Greece and Turkey.

The cruise port is just 1.5km from the city centre and was enlarged in 2011 to accommodate four small or two large vessels, including Royal Caribbean International’s giant Oasis-class ships. Eight cruise lines have around 30 scheduled in 2021.

CRUISE CALENDARCruise calls 2021

(CLIA members on sale in the UK only)

Crystal Cruises Crystal Esprit

Oceania Cruises Nautica


Seven Seas Mariner

Seabourn Seabourn Encore

Seabourn Ovation

Silversea Silver Shadow

Windstar Cruises

Star Legend

Contact: www.bodrumcruiseport.com

20 PORT PROFILE (ADVERTORIAL)


21PORT PROFILE (ADVERTORIAL)

Cartagena

If you’re thinking Columbia in South America right now, direct your thoughts several thousand miles east because this is about the ‘original’ Cartagena – the one on the south-east coast of Spain, some 380 miles south of Barcelona.

The city was founded in 221BC by the Carthaginians and over the centuries has been invaded by Phoenicians, Byzantines, Romans, Visigoths and Moors. The most-visited attraction is the Roman theatre which, with space for 6,000 spectators, was the second-biggest in Iberia. In 1888, local engineer Isaac Peral designed and built a battery-powered submarine complete with two torpedos and a periscope. It is now on show in the city’s military museum.

The cruise port is an easy stroll from the town centre and can hold up to two large cruise ships at any one time. For 2021, some 185 cruise calls from around 35 cruise lines are scheduled.



Azamara Azamara Journey Azamara Quest Azamara Pursuit

Carnival Cruise Line Carnival Legend

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Constellation Celebrity Silhouette Celebrity Reflection Celebrity Infinity

Costa Cruises Costa Fortuna Costa Fascinosa

Cunard Queen Victoria Queen Elizabeth



Braemar, Borealis Bolette, Balmoral


Westerdam Zuiderdam Nieuw Statendam


MSC Cruises MSC Preziosa


Norwegian Escape Norwegian Getaway

Oceania Cruises Riviera

P&O Cruises Ventura, Aurora Britannia, Arcadia

Ponant Le Lyrial

Princess Cruises Regal Princess

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Splendor


Anthem of the Seas Odyssey of the Seas

Saga Cruises Spirit of Adventure Spirit of Discovery

Scenic Scenic Eclipse

Seabourn Seabourn Sojourn Seabourn Encore

SeaDream Yacht Club

SeaDream II SeaDream I

Silversea Silver Moon, Dawn, Spirit

Windstar Cruises

Wind Star, Wind Surf Star Legend

Contact: www.apc.es

Visit: The Roman Theatre and museum. It was built 2,000 years ago but only discovered in 1988 beneath a bombed-out cathedral.

Walk: The Calle Mayor, a pedestrian street lined with high-end shops and cafés, and paved with blue marble tiles.

Learn: The dark days of the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) are remembered at the Refugio Museo de la Guerra Civil, in a former air raid shelter in the centre of the city.

Discover: The remains of a Moorish palace at the Castillo de la Concepcion.

WHAT TO DO

Take an excursion to Bateria de Castillitos, a medieval-looking fort built in the 1930s some 30 minutes from the city.

Get wet, wet, wet at the Terra Natura Waterpark in nearby Murcia.

Have a tapas-tasting lunch ashore.

Head out to a nearby ranch to see pure-bred Spanish horses.

WHY NOT?

Explore: The tunnels in the Rock that were turned into an underground city for troops during the Second World War.

See: The Barbary macaques (wild monkeys) that roam freely at the top of the Rock.

Discover: Monuments and memorials to Lord Nelson, the evacuation of civilians in World War Two, the British and American War Memorials and Wellington Memorial on a DIY tour of the territory.

Visit: St Michael’s Cave, some 274 metres above sea level and crammed with stalactites and stalagmites.

WHAT TO DO

Join an e-bike tour around the Rock.

Get your thrills on the Windsor Suspension Bridge and the Skywalk, some 340 metres above the Mediterranean.

Go in search of cetaceans on a dolphin-watching excursion.

WHY NOT?




Gibraltar

Gibraltar’s sunny disposition, rocky backdrop and British mien – a result of the territory being ceded to the UK in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht after the War of the Spanish Succession – have made the Rock a favourite port call for UK cruise passengers.

The territory – barely three times the size of the City of London – is on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula, guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean so it’s ideally located for cruise lines on a circuit around France, Spain and Italy, or sailing into the region from the UK.

The cruise terminal is just 15 minutes’ walk from the town and accommodates four medium sized or two large ships at any one time. In 2021, the port is expecting almost 25 cruise lines and more than 220 port calls.




Azamara Quest

Azamara Pursuit


Carnival Legend

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Infinity

Celebrity Silhouette

Costa Cruises Costa Favolosa

Costa Fascinosa

Cunard Queen Victoria

Queen Elizabeth


Balmoral

Borealis


Westerdam

Rotterdam

Nieuw Statendam


MSC Cruises MSC Poesia

MSC Splendida

Oceania Cruises Riviera, Insignia

P&O Cruises

Iona, Ventura

Aurora, Britannia

Arcadia

Princess Cruises

Enchanted Princess

Island Princess

Discovery Princess

Regal Princess


Jewel of the Seas

Anthem of the Seas

Saga CruisesSpirit of Discovery

Spirit of Adventure

SeaDream Yacht Club SeaDream I

Variety Cruises Harmony V

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

Windstar Cruises

Wind Surf

Star Legend

Contact: www.gibraltarport.com

24 PORT PROFILE


25PORT PROFILE

Livorno

The city of Livorno, on the west coast of Italy, is home to one of the biggest and busiest ports in the Mediterranean. There are some 300 calls from more than 20 cruise lines scheduled for 2021 and in all, up to 11 cruise ships can berth there at one time, including Royal Caribbean International’s giant Oasis-class vessels.

Most ships dock at the commercial port, from where passengers must take a shuttle bus or taxi to the city; from Puerto Mediceo, used by smaller vessels, it’s an easy walk into town.

Most of the thousands of passengers the ships bring go to Florence, around 60 miles up the road, and Pisa, famed for its leaning tower, or the walled city of Lucca are also popular,, but with its Renaissance architecture and pretty canals, those who linger in Livorno won’t be disappointed.




Azamara Quest

Azamara Pursuit


Carnival Legend

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Constellation

Crystal Cruises Crystal Symphony

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Magic


Borealis

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Europa 2


Westerdam

Zuiderdam

Nieuw Statendam


MSC Cruises MSC Seaside


Norwegian Dawn

Norwegian Pearl

Norwegian Epic

Norwegian Getaway

Norwegian Jade

Norwegian Escape

Oceania Cruises

Riviera, Sirena

Marina, Insignia

Nautica

P&O CruisesAzura

Britannia

Princess Cruises

Enchanted Princess

Discovery Princess

Regal Princess


Seven Seas Mariner

Seven Seas Voyager

Seven Seas Splendor

Silversea

Silver Moon

Silver Shadow

Silver Spirit

Contact: www.portolivorno2000.it

Shop: Check out the stalls in the busy Mercato Centrale market, off Piazza Cavour. Note that it is closed Sundays.

Explore: Fortezza Vecchia, the city’s old fortress.

Ride: Boats offer tours along the canals of the Quartiere Venezia (Venice Quarter).

Discover: Find out what lurks beneath the waves at the city aquarium.

WHAT TO DO

Try a bowl of Il Cacciucco – an authentic Livorno fish soup.

Take the train to Pisa (16 min-utes) and climb the Leaning Tower.

Join a food and wine-tasting excursion into the Tuscan hills.

WHY NOT?

PORT OF LIVORNO

PISA

LUCCA

FLORENCE

FLORENCE

PORT OF BARCELONA

LA BOQUERIA MARKET

LA RAMBLA

LA RAMBLA

GAUDI’S PARK GUELL




Barcelona

It is famous for Anton Gaudi’s architecture, the buzzing La Rambla boulevard and was even immortalised in song by Freddie Mercury and Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé.

‘It’ is of course Barcelona, the most popular cruise port in the Mediterranean on account of all the ships that either call or homeport there during the summer.

The city is on Spain’s Mediterranean shore, making it a must for any cruise ships sailing the France, Spain and Italy trilogy favoured by first-timers as well as being an ideal start or end port for longer voyages to or from the eastern shores of Greece and Croatia.

More than 30 cruise lines have over 550 cruises scheduled from the port next year. There are two piers for small vessels next to the World Trade Centre at the bottom of La Rambla; the main harbour, Moll Adossat, 10 minutes by shuttle bus from the city, accommodates up to five big ships at one time.

CRUISE CALENDARCruise ship turnarounds, 2021


Azamara Azamara JourneyAzamara Quest


Carnival Legend

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity ApexCelebrity SilhouetteCelebrity ConstellationCelebrity Infinity

Costa Cruises Costa SmereldaCosta FortunaCosta PacificaCosta LuminosaCosta DiademaCosta FavolosaCosta Fascinosa

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Magic

MSC Cruises MSC GrandiosaMSC VirtuosaMSC MagnificaMSC Seaside MSC Seashore MSC Fantasia MSC Preziosa MSC Splendida MSC Poesia


Norwegian EpicNorwegian SpiritNorwegian Jade

Oceania Cruises Riviera, Marina, Insignia, Nautica, Sirena

Ponant Le LyrialLe Dumont d’Urville

Princess CruisesEnchanted PrincessDiscovery Princess


Seven Seas SplendorSeven Seas VoyagerSeven Seas Mariner


Jewel of the SeasHarmony of the Seas Adventure of the Seas

SeabournSeabourn EncoreSeabourn Sojourn

Silversea

Silver ShadowSilver MoonSilver SpiritSilver Dawn

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

Contact: www.portdebarcelona.cat

Marvel: At the unique architecture and 2,000 years of heritage at St Pau Hospital or Park Güell.

Walk: By Mount Montserrat Natural Park and Benedictine Abbey.

Explore: The wine region of Penedés, with more than 300 wineries, or the village of Sitges, the perfect combination of modernism and bohemian life.

Lunch: Discover Catalan gastronomy and become a true chef.

WHAT TO DO

Head up to Montjuic and take the cable car back down to the port.

Have a day on the beach. It’s right there in the city so you can’t miss it.

Tantalise the taste buds at La Boqueria market, half-way up La Rambla.

Join an excursion to Camp Nou. Footie fans will not need asking twice.

WHY NOT?

Gibraltar Port AuthorityNorth Mole, Gibraltar, Tel: +350 20046254, Fax: +350 20051513

[email protected] www.gibraltarport.com

PORT OF

GIBRALTAR#VISITGIBRALTAR

• Broad spectrum of marine services

• A wide choice of shore excursions

• Excellent international communications

• Competitively priced bunkers delivered by quality operators

• Established, quality cruise facilitiesTHE IDEAL CRUISE SHIP

PORT OF CALL

28 BROUGHT TO YOU BY MEDCRUISE

AUTUMN ISSUE | STOWAWAY MEDIA

Cadiz, Haifa and Vendres, respectively in Spain, Israel and France, are the latest members to sign up to MedCruise, an ever-growing association that brings together ports from countries across the Mediterranean.

It’s just the latest instalment in what has been a impressive success story for MedCruise since it started with just 12 members in 1996. Today it has 75 members across 21 countries that between them operate 140 cruise ports that handle more than 30 million passenger movements each year. Most are in summer, but a few cruise lines operate year-round, taking advantage of the mild weather and excellent sightseeing opportunities once most tourists have gone home.

MedCruise membership is not confined to ports either. Tourist boards and shipping companies that provide shoreside operations such as food and beverage provision, refuelling and repairs are among a plethora of associate members that are vital for the smooth running of all port operations.

The variety of MedCruise member

ports is vast, ranging from large facilities that can dock numerous vessels at once, including the world’s biggest ships, to small harbours that only luxury and boutique craft can use. Ships might be berthed within easy distance of one of Europe’s great cities, providing passengers with a gateway to glamorous attractions, high-end shops and a wide choice of dining, or on the edge of unspoilt villages and countryside – the places to top up on authentic souvenirs and try local cuisine in family-run restaurants.

The variety of experiences these ports offer passengers is equally vast. It might be a chance to visit world-class art galleries, sip wine with a vintner in his own vineyard, tour some of the greatest ancient Greek or Roman cities or uncover architectural gems from the Renaissance. Cruisers can climb volcanoes, laze on sun-kissed beaches, try their hand at cooking like a local.

In short, MedCruise’s wide reach means its port members can satisfy every customers’ interests. And the options keep on growing each year as those members help to develop

more attractions to meet the ever-changing expectations of today’s travellers.

Agents can keep up with all the new developments through MedCruises’ social media sites, which detail information about ship departures, new shoreside attractions, upcoming cultural and sporting events that they can sell into, as well as excursion opportunities and other hot news.

These sites are also a valuable resource for the cruise lines’ itinerary planners, who need to keep up to date with what is happening in the various destinations their ships visit as well as seeking inspiration for new tours and excursions that will lure back past passengers and enthuse the all-important new-to-cruise customer.

There is no doubt that MedCruise has been a fantastic partner for the cruise industry over the past 24 years. Here’s to the next 24!

Bringing the Med togetherCadiz city centre is just a short walk from the cruise port.

30 MEDITERRANEAN TURNAROUND PORTS


31MEDITERRANEAN TURNAROUND PORTS

Ports of the Mediterranean

Marseille

Vendres




MarseilleMarseille is not only the second-largest city in France but the country’s busiest cruise port, popular with MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises for embarkations and numerous other lines as a port of call for the city’s home-spun attractions and as a gateway for excursions to the Camargue, Aix en Provence and other delights. The port is on the edge of the city, which sits on the Cote d’Azur.

MonacoGiven Monaco is just 2.1 square km (smaller than the City of London), its port, which can berth ships up to 300 metres long, punches above its weight in terms of turnarounds and cruise calls. The principality is tucked into a corner of the French Riviera, and famous for its glitzy casino. Cruisers can wander into town from the port (elevators avoid steep climbs to the palace and casino) and explore alone; excursions pair Nice with the cute hill-top village of Eze.

BarcelonaOn Spain’s east coast, Barcelona is the busiest port in the Mediterranean, popular as a turnaround port because of its excellent global flight connections and as a port of call for its ease of access - the city is just 10 minutes by shuttle bus from the main cruise port - and attractions that range from quirky architecture to one of Europe’s top football clubs. Up to seven ships can berth there simultaneously.

Civitavecchia (Rome)On the west coast of Italy, the town of Civitavecchia is one of the main turnaround ports in the Mediterranean on account of its proximity to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, some 43 miles away, and to Rome itself (passengers can be in the city in an hour by road or 90 minutes by train). The cruise port has six terminals and no limit on the size of ship that can dock.

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Barcelona in 2021:

Azamara

Celebrity Cruises

Costa Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Disney Cruise Line

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises


MSC Cruises


Oceania Cruises

Ponant

Princess Cruises


SeaDream Yacht Club

Scenic

Virgin Voyages

Windstar Cruises

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Marseille in 2021:

Crystal Cruises

Costa Cruises

MSC Cruises


SeaDream Yacht Club

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Monaco in 2021:

Crystal Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

Oceania Cruises


SeaDream Yacht Club

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Civitavecchia in 2021:

Azamara


Celebrity Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Costa Cruises

Disney Cruise Line

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises


MSC Cruises


Oceania Cruises

Ponant

Princess Cruises



Seabourn

SeaDream Yacht Club

Silversea

Windstar Cruises




Piraeus (Athens)The town of Piraeus is home to one of the busiest turnaround ports in the Mediterranean and certainly the busiest in Greece. It is just a few miles outside Athens and an hour’s drive from the city’s international airport, which is well served with flights from Europe and around the world. The port has three terminals and can berth up to 12 cruise ships simultaneously, including the very largest vessels. Variety Cruises’ ships sail from nearby Marina Zea.

VeniceCruise ships entering and leaving Venice port sail along the Giudecca Canal, passing St Mark’s Square and the entrance to the Grand Canal, making it a leading contender for the title ‘world’s best sailaway’. The port has six berths; and there is additional docking space for small vessels and river ships on the Giudecca Canal. It is pleasant to wander the canals and bridges into the city; there are alternatively water taxis from the main terminal area.

DubrovnikThere are few cities in the world still enclosed by the stout medieval walls our forebears built, but Dubrovnik in Croatia is one. The city occupies an enviable location in the Adriatic and is hugely popular for port calls – so much so that restrictions were put on numbers last year to stop the city being overwhelmed – but not so big when it comes to turnarounds. The port is about 30 minutes’ walk from the old city; buses and taxis will whisk people from one to the other in about 10 minutes. Walking the city walls and Game of Thrones-themed tours are among highlights.

Palma de MallorcaThe busy capital of Mallorca is also the Balearic Islands’ biggest cruise port. Ships dock mainly at the Estació Maritima, across the bay from the city’s landmark cathedral, about 20 minutes from the airport and a 40-minute walk to the centre of town. The city can hold up to 10 cruise ships including the very biggest vessels.

IstanbulIstanbul is back on the cruise radar after several years on the no-go list due to fears of terrorism. Its return is excellent news for cruisers, who are advised to arrive a day or two early before they are due to sail so there is time to visit the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and other attractions. The port, at Karakoy is a short walk across the Galata Bridge from the tourist area and can berth up to three ships at once.

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Piraeus in 2021:

Azamara

Celestyal Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises


MSC Cruises


Oceania Cruises

Ponant

Princess Cruises


Seabourn

SeaDream Yacht Club

Silversea

Variety Cruises (from Marina Zea)

Windstar CruisesCruise lines offering turnarounds in Dubrovnik in 2021:

Emerald Waterways

Marella Cruises

SeaDream Yacht Club

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Istanbul in 2021:


Oceania Cruises

Ponant


Seabourn

SeaDream Yacht Club

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Palma de Mallorca in 2021:

Costa Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

MSC Cruises

Marella Cruises

Cruise lines offering turnarounds in Venice in 2021:

Azamara

Celebrity Cruises

Costa Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises


MSC Cruises


Oceania Cruises

Ponant

Princess Cruises


Seabourn

SeaDream Yacht Club

Silversea

Windstar Cruises

The leading cruise port in the Mediterranean

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

2020_AD_PBCN_CRUISE•PORT_DESTINATIONS_A4.pdf 5 7/9/20 8:56

Documents

Issue One | £4.50 / €5.00 | November 2020 1 PORTS