Cruise: Halifax, New York City, Port Everglades

Print this Article | Send to Colleague

The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) reports construction is underway on a shore power system for cruise vessels and will be completed in time for the 2014 cruise season. New York City's cruise industry generated a total economic impact of nearly $230 million in 2013, according to a study released March 11 by the New York City Economic Development Commission. Port Everglades premiered a video promoting its cruise business during last week's Cruise Shipping Miami trade show.

Halifax Begins Construction of Cruise Vessel Shore Power System

The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) reports construction is underway on a shore power system for cruise vessels and will be completed in time for the 2014 cruise season.

"Shore power is a highly effective way to reduce marine diesel air emissions by enabling ships to shut down their auxiliary engines and connect to the electrical grid in order to provide necessary power while docked," said Cathy McGrail, the port authority's cruise development manager. "Once installed, shore power at the Port of Halifax will have immediate benefits by decreasing cruise ship idling and will contribute to improved air quality."

According to the HPA, cruise vessels typically spend approximately nine hours in port. If connected to shore power, a ship's auxiliary engines would emit no carbon dioxide, mono nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides or particulate matter. Shore power will also help safeguard an industry that pumps millions of dollars into the local economy annually. This year, the port is expecting a record 137 cruise vessel calls carrying approximately 230,000 passengers as well as crew.

The shore power project at the Port of Halifax was first announced in January of 2013. The tariff was developed in partnership with Nova Scotia Power. Funding includes contributions of $5.0 million from Transport Canada's Shore Power Technology for Ports Program and $2.5 million each from the port authority and the Province of Nova Scotia.

New York City Cruise Industry Generated $229.5 Million Economic Impact of in 2013

New York City's cruise industry generated a total economic impact of nearly $230 million in 2013, according to a study released March 11 by the New York City Economic Development Commission (NYEDC), which owns and oversees the city's Manhattan and Brooklyn cruise terminals.

The 2013 Economic Impact Study reports the city received 620,265 cruise passenger arrivals in 2013, up from 587,727 in 2012 and 445,718 in 2009, the year when the city began analyzing industry data. These passengers, along with crew, spent more than $141.2 million in New York City last year, a 16 percent increase from 2012, and 51 percent more than in 2009.

Spending was broken out into three categories: embarking passengers, who began their cruise in New York City; transit passengers, who took cruises that stopped in the city; and crew. Embarking passengers were the largest spenders with $118.9 million in direct spending, followed by on-shore crew spending at $18.7 million, and transit passengers spending at $3.6 million. The largest spending categories for embarking passengers were hotel accommodations at over $49 million and food and beverages at nearly $24 million.

The majority of cruise passengers continue to come from outside New York City. These passengers often arrange stays at a New York City hotel prior to or following their cruise, leading to an average spending per passenger of $437 during a two-night stay. Additionally, an increasing number of passengers come from outside the United States. In 2013, 98 percent more international passengers embarked on cruises out of New York City than in 2012. In 2012, NYC & Company launched a cruise microsite at www.nycgo.com/cruisenyc that includes information for consumers on the city's cruise terminals as well as local events and suggested pre-cruise and post-cruise itineraries.

The Manhattan Cruise Terminal underwent a $200 million renovation in late 2008; the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which opened in April 2006, cost $50 million to build. These investments, says NYCEDC, have helped generate billions of dollars from the cruise sector and have attracted state-of-the-art vessels, including Norwegian Cruise Line's 4,000-passenger, New York City-themed Norwegian Breakaway, which has been homeported here since its christening in May 2013.

"The cruise industry plays a critical role in New York City's economy, supporting thousands of jobs and contributing to the City's robust tourism and hospitality industry, which generates $59 billion in economic impact per year," said NYCEDC President Kyle Kimball. "The jobs and economic activity produced by the cruise industry are an important part of New York City's continued economic growth and diversification, and we look forward to promoting development of the sector."

Port Everglades Debuts Video Release at Cruise Shipping Miami

Port Everglades premiered a video highlighting its cruise business during last week's Cruise Shipping Miami trade show.

The video incorporates the port's "splash" theme with animated water droplets and cresting waves introducing different segments of the three-minute video. Each segment features the advantages of cruising from Port Everglades – location, speed, service, flexibility and Greater Fort Lauderdale as a vibrant, sunny vacation destination.

A remote-control aerial camera captures sweeping images of the port's cruise terminals, parking garages and other facilities, while time-lapse and aerial footage capture the expanse of the 2,100-acre seaport and its nine cruise terminals.

A screenshot of Port Everglades' new video highlighting its cruise business.