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Cruise: Halifax, New Orleans, Tampa Bay

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Halifax Port Authority Releases Final Cruise Numbers For 2014

The Port of Halifax received 134 vessel calls with 217,305 passengers during the cruise season that began May 6 and ended November 15, 2014.The busiest day was October 7, when the port welcomed approximately 9,200 passengers.This year also saw the completion of a shore power system that allows suitably equipped vessels to turn off their auxiliary diesel engines while berthed in Halifax (Advisory, November 4, 2014).

"It was a busy year for cruise in Halifax," said Cathy McGrail, PPM®, the port authority’s director of cruise development and corporate affairs. "In addition to our regular cruise traffic, our engineering and operations departments worked tirelessly to install the shore power system for cruise ships.The system is now fully operational and we are looking forward to putting it to use for a full season starting next year."

Each year, the Halifax cruise industry contributes approximately C$50 million in economic benefit for the local economy. 

"Halifax cruise passengers have access to an evolving roster of shore excursions, restaurants, museums, attractions, shopping and galleries," said Lynn Ledwidge, director of marketing for Destination Halifax. "These experiences and attractions give cruise guests an idea of what a longer visit to Nova Scotia would be like, and whet their appetite to return to Halifax."

The 2015 cruise season will begin in April.


Cruise ships visiting Halifax on October 6 – from left: P&O’s Arcadia, NCL’s Norwegian Gem, and Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas.  
Photo/Halifax Port Authority 

New Orleans: Port Named ‘Best North American Homeport’ by Cruise Critic 

The Port of New Orleans was named "Best North American Homeport" by Cruise Critic as part of its 2014 U.S. Editors’ Picks. 

In bestowing the honor, the editors said: "The party rarely stops in the Crescent City, which is why this historic port along the Mississippi River is the perfect spot to start your vacation. There’s world-class music, food and shopping; in 2014 the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk opened adjacent to the terminal giving passengers even more incentive to let the good times roll."

The port was bustling last week, as approximately 33,000 cruise passengers embarked and disembarked on cruises from New Orleans. Cruise terminals handled six ship calls in five days, including NCL’s Norwegian Dawn and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Serenade of the Seas. In addition, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Elation and Carnival Dream continue to sail year-round seven-day itineraries from the Erato Street Cruise Terminal.

On November 20, the port commissioners approved the final design for New Orleans’ third cruise facility.



Carnival Dream prepares to sail from New Orleans' Erato Street Cruise Terminal on a recent seven-day western Caribbean cruise.
Photo/Port of New Orleans


Royal Caribbean International Homeports a Second Ship at Tampa Bay

Vision of the Seas has joined Brilliance of the Seas as the second of two Royal Caribbean International (RCI) cruise vessels that will sail from Port Tampa Bay during the 2014-2015 cruise season. Royal Caribbean has deployed a single Tampa-homeported ship during winter cruise seasons since January 2002.  

"It is extremely exciting to see Royal Caribbean International’s continued support of the Tampa cruise market by adding an additional vessel to our thriving home port," said Port President Paul Anderson. "Royal Caribbean is a very important partner, offering a quality cruise experience to their guests and significant economic value to the port and our region." 

Vision of the Seas now sails every Saturday from Tampa to destinations in the Western Caribbean, including Grand Cayman, Cozumel (Mexico), Costa Maya (Mexico), Roatán (Honduras) or Belize. The 915-foot ship has a capacity of 2,000 guests, double occupancy, and a crew of 742. Previously announced, Brilliance of the Seas sails from Tampa on four-night cruises to Cozumel and five-night Cozumel itineraries, which additionally call at Grand Cayman or Key West.

A total of six cruise ships are now homeported in Tampa. Counting port of call visits, port officials are expecting 2014/15 will be Tampa Bay’s busiest winter cruise season ever.



Vision of the Seas docked at Port Tampa Bay’s Cruise Terminal 2 on November 22.
Photo/Andy Fobes, Port Tampa Bay. 

 

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