MOBILE, Alabama -- When Carnival’s Elation leaves the Alabama Cruise Terminal today, on the way to its new home in New Orleans, it will leave in its wake an economic impact in the millions of dollars.

The most obvious victim is the city of Mobile. The city owns the cruise terminal and uses proceeds from passenger parking to pay $2 million a year in debt service.

Hotels will also feel an immediate impact. Cruise passengers booked 15,000 room nights a year, according to tourism officials.

Some passengers and crew members also ate at restaurants, shopped at stores and visited attractions in Mobile, but how much money they spent is harder to know.

Elation will head to New Orleans, where it replaces a sister ship, Ecstasy, that Carnival will move to Port Canaveral on Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

Carnival announced in March that it would leave the Mobile market, saying fuel costs for Gulf of Mexico cruises were more expensive than for Caribbean cruises and that trips from Mobile commanded below-average rates compared to other Gulf ports.

Alabama Real Estate Holdings, an arm of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, borrowed $20 million to build the cruise terminal south of downtown Mobile in 2004 after Carnival announced it would home port a ship here.

In 2008, the city borrowed $18.6 million to buy the terminal, then the next year paid $2.6 million to build a new gangway for the terminal to allow a larger ship to dock there. Last year it paid $970,000 for a pie-shaped parcel of land, about the size of a football field, at the corner of Government and Water streets for overflow parking from cruises.

City spokeswoman Barbara Drummond said the city will slash operating costs at the terminal when the cruise ship leaves, only spending as much as necessary to maintain the facility.

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones has lobbied other cruise companies to use the terminal, but so far has had no success. Drummond said that until another cruise ship comes to Mobile, the city may try to lease parking space to downtown businesses or use it for big events like Mardi Gras.

Parking revenue from the past year will cover the debt payment this fiscal year, she said. But if the city can’t find new revenue streams from the terminal before next October, she said, it will have to dip into its general fund to pay off the building.

"It’s 2013 when we’ll be impacted financially," she said.

The impact will be more sudden for area hotels. David Randel, president of the Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, said 15 hotels offer a stay-and-cruise package that lets customers leave their cars at the hotel during the cruise provided they stay the night before. The package gets about 15,000 takers a year, he said, and it was gaining in popularity.

"That’s what personally hurts me the most," he said. "People were coming in a day early and starting to enjoy this great city."

Randel said many of the 900 crew members on board the ship also ventured into the city on the five-hour breaks they had between trips. Most of them took a bus out to Bel Air Mall, he said.

"They’d come back filled with packages," he said.

David Rasp, who owns the Royal Scam, the restaurant closest to the Cruise Terminal, said cruise customers had only a modest impact on his business.

"I’m not saying it’s not going to have an effect," he said of the cruise ship departing, "I just don’t know how measurable it’s going to be."

The impact on other local attractions is similarly murky. According to data from University of South Alabama economics professor Semoon Chang, attendance is up by nearly 3,000 a month at the Gulf Coast Exploreum since Carnival arrived in October 2004, but it has dropped at both the USS Alabama Battleship Park and at Bellingrath Gardens.

Gretchen Faust Jaspering, who took over as executive director at the Exploreum earlier this month, said she hadn’t been there long enough to have a definitive view on the cruise ship’s impact.

She did note, though, that when the Exploreum opened its Kangaroo Kraze exhibit last week, a few of the cruise ship employees decided to check it out.

"A couple of Australian dancers came over to get a taste of their home," she said.

In a major boost for the tourism industry, the world’s largest cruise line – Carnival Cruise Lines – has announced that it will base one of its cruise ships fulltime in Australia.

The 88,500 tonne Carnival Spirit will be the largest cruise ship ever to sail year round from Australia when she arrives in Sydney in October 2012 to operate a schedule of 8-12 day voyages to the Pacific Islands.

The move – announced globally in Sydney today – represents the first time Carnival Cruise Lines has ever ventured into Australian waters and reflects growing confidence in cruising in the region.

Carrying 2,667 passengers, Carnival Spirit will be the first ship to be based in Sydney year round that is too tall to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Rising nearly 53 metres above the waterline, Carnival Spirit is more than three metres taller than the specified clearance height for ships passing under the Bridge. Because of its height, Carnival Spirit will be based at the only cruise facility east of the Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay’s Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Founded in 1972 and based in Miami, Carnival Cruise Lines is the best known cruise brand in North America and is expected to carry more than four million passengers this year – the most in the global cruise industry.

As the largest cruise ship sailing from Australia year round, Carnival Spirit offers a wide range of onboard facilities and features, with approximately two-thirds of its cabins featuring private balconies – the most of any Australian-based ship.

Aimed at fun-loving Australians seeking vibrant, active holidays with a broad diversity of on-board choices, Carnival Spirit offers a host of areas for outdoor fun, including a 22 metre corkscrew water slide, four swimming pools, a miniature golf course, jogging track and a sport court. Guests have their choice of 16 lounges and bars, including a 1,170-seat three-deck-high theatre. In addition to a two-level main dining room, Carnival Spirit features a reservations-only steakhouse and an expansive casual poolside restaurant. The ship also houses a two-level health spa with wrap-around ocean views and an Internet café.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which represents Carnival Cruise Lines’ Australian deployment locally, said the cruise line’s move into Australia was testament to both the recent growth and the ongoing potential of the local cruise industry.

“Cruising is booming in this country because it offers passengers a great value holiday that includes accommodation, top quality food and loads of entertainment that appeal to all age groups,” Ms Sherry said.

Gerry Cahill, Carnival Cruise Lines’ President and CEO, said the cruise line was looking forward to introducing its unique style of cruising to the Australian market.

“Carnival has become the most popular cruise choice among North Americans by offering an experience that is casual, friendly and fun with a wide variety of activities for guests of all ages, including a huge array of options on our expansive outdoor decks,” Mr Cahill said.

Carnival Spirit will offer a year round schedule of 8 to 12-day cruises to the Pacific Islands and a selection of 13-day sailings to New Zealand beginning October 25, 2012, with the program expected to go on sale by the middle of this year. The shipboard experience will be tailored to the Australian market with onboard spending in Australian dollars and no tipping required.

Ms Sherry said while the primary market would be Australians and New Zealanders, Carnival’s strong brand recognition in the United States would play a role in attracting more US tourists to Australia.

Carnival Spirit’s deployment meant there would be seven Carnival Corporation & plc ships cruising fulltime from Australia by the end of 2012, ensuring the industry was well on its way to reaching its target of one million passengers by 2020, if not sooner, she said. Other Carnival Corporation & plc brands operating fulltime in Australia include P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises.

“It is amazing growth considering there were just two ships based in Australia year round in 2007,” Ms Sherry said.

“This really underscores Sydney’s position on the world cruise map and our resolve to keep growing the market with multiple brands that appeal to customers.”

For more information visit www.CarnivalCruise.com.au.

The Panama Canal cruise-line season officially starts, Wednesday, October 5, and runs through the middle of next year. More than 200 transits of these passenger vessels are expected. The transit of Princess Cruises Island Princess will mark the beginning of the season, traveling for 14 days from Los Angeles, California, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

According to Jaime Castillo, international trade specialist from the Panama Canal Research and Market Analysis office, at least 205 transits are expected this season.

Among the major companies that are considering Panama and the Canal experience as a destination are Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line.

The arrival of smaller cruise ships, such as the Wind Star and Le Levant, also are expected to transit the Canal. These cruises typically travel between the Caribbean Islands and the East and West Coasts of Central America.

Two Carnival cruise ships, the Carnival Inspiration, located in Tampa, Florida, and the Carnival Paradise, ,which operates from Long Beach, California, are scheduled to reposition to their new homeport soon, offering very attractive 14-day trips that include the experience of transiting the Panama Canal.

The Carnival Paradise cruise will sail from Long Beach to Tampa beginning on November 28, 2011, while the Carnival Inspiration will depart on December 3, 2011, operating from Tampa to Long Beach.

With regard to inaugural transits, Norwegian Jewel, with its 2,376-passenger capacity, will sail from New York to Los Angeles in late April 2012. This cruise has a reservation to transit the Panama Canal on May 5, 2012.

On Wednesday the Northern Harbour in Malmö, the biggest port investment in Sweden in recent decades, was officially declared open.

This marks the conclusion of the first phase in the creation of an efficient, sustainable transport hub covering 1.5 million square metres. During the ceremony, emphasis was placed on Malmö’s potential as a leading transport and logistical hub.

The opening ceremony in the Northern Harbour was preceded by a boat trip around the harbour area for specially invited guests. Those involved included Ilmar Reepalu, Chairman of the Municipal Executive Board in Malmö, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen Frank Jensen and Johan Röstin, CEO of Copenhagen Malmö Ports (CMP).

Since 2001, the ports of Malmö and Copenhagen have been run by CMP, Copenhagen Malmö Port AB. CMP is owned jointly by the development company By & Havn, the City of Malmö and around twenty private investors.

In his address during the ceremony, Ilmar Reepalu emphasised what a significant investment for the future the new harbour area represents:

“With the construction of the Northern Harbour, Malmö’s role as a vital hub for commerce and transport in the Baltic region is now being reinforced.”

Ilmar Reepalu also highlighted the move to the Northern Harbour as a major environmental initiative:

“The concentration on the Northern Harbour creates sustainable development of the port and industry, while at the same time space is freed up in the centre of Malmö and in Limhamn for homes, offices and recreation. This in turn means that heavy goods traffic will move away from the city centre, which is of course an important part of our environmental work in the city. At least as important is the fact that crossing times for ferries and ships are now fifteen minutes shorter and it takes trucks ten minutes less to reach the motorway system. This brings, of course, positive effects in terms of both cost and the environment.”

The City of Malmö has invested one million Swedish kronor in the new port facilities and terminals.

“Bearing in mind the increase in international freight traffic, new transport flows and Malmö’s strategic location in the Baltic region, the investment in the Northern Harbour is incredibly significant,” says Johan Röstin, CEO of CMP.

At present only a small part of the 1.5 million square metres of available space has been developed. The City of Malmö and CMP will be using half of the area to create a new logistics centre where, for example, transport and logistics companies can set up operations.

“Customers that become established in the logistics centre will be offered efficient, modern and sustainable solutions in which freight can be easily transferred between train, ship and truck,” said Röstin.

The port of Barcelona has recorded nearly one million cruise ship passengers in the first half of 2011 (January to June). Barcelona is already the biggest mediterranean port when it comes to cruise ship traffic, reaching levels of the major cruise ports in the caribbean.

For years Barcelona has bet on becoming the Miami of the med, and because of its location and attractions as a tourist destination, Barcelona just needed the adequate facilities and time to get there. The conversion of its recreational and commercial port in the early 90s allowed the smaller terminals located near the centre of the city to hold small luxury cruise ships.

The transformation of Barcelona dock into the world trade center expanded port capacity for medium-sized cruises. And more recently the construction of additional terminals in the docks provided the size needed for larger cruise ships.

Of the 2.5 million cruise passengers that will pass through Barcelona this year, more than half started or ended their journey in Barcelona. These visitors often spend several days in town before or after boarding, and demand a wide range of accommodation that fits their tourism profile. Barcelona offers this variety not only in hotels but also in 3 bedroom apartments. Families on a cruise vacation can plan the perfect break and opt for a large, well equipped apartment, with a much lower cost than a hotel, with thoughtful extras like a washer and dryer, much needed after a week on board a ship. And those who choose a luxury boat trip enjoy an experience of exclusivity and distinction, a full service apartment in Barcelona can be truly luxurious, with large spaces, designer furniture, works of art, fresh flowers and continuing personal attention.

The St. Lawrence River is trying to build its cruise business, just like Alaska's Inside Passage. It's a bold and ambitious plan, considering that last year only 150,000 people went cruising on the St. Lawrence, compared to the 1.5 million who sailed Alaskan waters.

But the St. Lawrence has plenty to offer: 12 species of whales, fjords (the Saguenay Fjord is 100 miles long), hundreds of miles of beaches and scenery so spectacular that when you see photos such as the lighthouse in Îles de la Madeleine, you want to put yourself right there, right now. Add in French-Canadian culture and cuisine, the Innu community in Sept-Îles and the history of one of North America's great commercial arteries (the First Nations called the St. Lawrence "the way that walks"), and you've got one compelling itinerary for great cruise.

Canada, Quebec and local communities are investing $156 million in making the St. Lawrence one of North America's premier international cruise destinations.

To make sure local infrastructure can deliver a world-class cruise experience, the Canadian government has put its money where its mouth is. Canada, Quebec and local communities are investing $156 million in making the St. Lawrence one of North America's premier international cruise destinations. The result is there's more to cruising the St. Lawrence than calling in Montreal, Trois-Rivieres and Quebec. Now Saguenay, Baie-Comeau, Sept-Îles, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Gaspesie and Iles de la Madeleine all have top-notch port facilities thanks to investments made over the last three years. This means the St. Lawrence now has nine ports of call that can handle the industry's largest cruise ships. Some ports have entirely new docks and others have modernized their terminals so that they can handle even the biggest cruise ships.

The roots of this initiative date back to 2008, when the governments of Canada and Quebec unveiled a strategy to develop international cruising on the St. Lawrence and in the Saguenay Fjord. Canada has budgeted $60 million to provide berths for high-tonnage ships. Quebec has invested $52 million and local communities have also contributed. About $104 million has already been spent and the entire project should be complete by 2013. The plan includes marketing and advertising to promote cruises on the St. Lawrence, particularly the six new ports.

The St. Lawrence offers a varied cruise experience, one whose dozens of islands mean cruise ships can vary routes to deliver distinct experiences.

The St. Lawrence offers a varied cruise experience, one whose dozens of islands mean cruise ships can vary routes to deliver distinct experiences. The river has ruggedly steep, seaside bluffs, otherworldly rock formations (one that is the result of a meteorite crater in Baie-Comeau), small fishing villages and cities (not just Montreal and Quebec City but the Saguenay region as well). Most cruise departures for the St. Lawrence are from New York and Boston and last seven to 10 days. Activities include whale watching, sea kayaking, salmon fishing in the Atlantic, hydroplane and helicopter tours, to name just a few.

Holland America Line's Maasdam has been a stalwart on this route, but other ships now sailing the St. Lawrence include Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth, making its inaugural stopover Sept. 26 and 27, Silversea Cruises' Silver Explorer and Seabourn Cruise Line's Sojourn. Other cruise lines active on the St. Lawrence between 2010 and 2012 include Crystal Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruises, Hapag Lloyd Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and several others. For more information, visit Cruise the Saint Lawrence's website.

According to the Cruise the Saint Lawrence Association and Martin Lachance, product manager, Greater Quebec Tourism Bureau, Quebec City will have welcomed 85,000 cruise passengers by the end of 2011.

Almost half of those passengers are from turnarounds, and for 2012, Quebec City is expecting 100,000 passengers.

“But, we are aiming for more,” Lachance noted, who also said his goal is to boost cruise operations in Quebec, which only accounts for a small piece of the global cruise market.

Quebec City will host the 2012 Cruise Canada New England Symposium, June 12-14, 2012.

Local authorities, including the Greater Québec Tourism Bureau and members have agreed to commit a combination of enhanced efforts and increased funding. The investment, at $1.9 million, will make it possible to spur regional marketing initiatives over a period of three years.

Funds will be used to improve marketing, boost the tourist supply and promote local buying.

With 142 cruise visits completed this season, more than 200 000 cruise guests have visited Oslo so far this year, according to the latest Oslo Cruise Network Newsletter.

It said that shore excursions within the city have been popular, and boat trips to the museums at Bygdoy continue to be a favorite.

ICEBAR has doubled its visitors from 2010 to 2011 in the period May-August. Hard Rock Cafe and Oslo Sweater Shop at the Cruise terminal have been the most popular shops for souvenirs.

Thirty-two ships are yet to call this year, and the outlook for 2012 was described as "very promising."

Costa Rica’s cruise season began earlier this month when the Dawn Princess arrived at the Port of Puntarenas on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast. The cruise industry accounts for 18 percent of the 2.1 million visitors the country receives annually, with major cruise liners arriving at Puntarenas and the Port of Limón on the country’s Caribbean coast.

During the 2009-2010 season, a total of 264 ships docked in Costa Rica, bringing a total of 385,363 visitors, a record figure for the past 15 years and a 5.4 percent increase on the previous season. In addition, the Costa Rica Tourism Board is working with other Central American countries to identify new opportunities for ports in the region and collaboratively develop new cruise itineraries highlighting the region’s key tourist offerings and destinations.

Royal Caribbean is planning on sending more ships to Australia, but the company has concerns that the Australian ports could become overwhelmed by demand in the very near future.

Royal Caribbean feels that if a new terminal in Sydney, Australia isn't built soon, the port will reach capacity in 2013. Australia is enjoying increasing demand and the market for cruises is expanding so quickly that the facilities in place today will not be able to keep up with the increasing number of large cruise ships entering Sydney harbor.

Royal Caribbean's Australian managing director Gavin Smith released a statement that covers the growing concern, "We have a good situation that needs attention before becoming a problem."

Royal Caribbean wants the New South Wales government to reconsider the $60 million allocated by the previous Labor government to build a new terminal in White Bay, in Sydney's inner west.

Smith continued, "Our view is $60 million is a considerable amount of money to invest in a permanent terminal west of the Harbour Bridge that most ships calling into Sydney in the future won't be able to use. It would be more prudent and viable to redeploy a large part of the funding towards a terminal (east of the bridge) the whole industry can use"

Royal Caribbean has a good reason to be concerned, given their announcement that they will quadruple the amount of guests they will handle over the next few cruise seasons.

Senator Ricky Skerritt, Minister of Tourism & International Transport, has announced that cruise visitor arrivals to St. Kitts are expected to increase by more than 20 percent in the upcoming October 2011 - September 2012 cruise ship season. This announcement was madeat a local cruise stakeholders’ unveiling of the island’s 2011-2012 cruise ship schedule on Tuesday.

“It is a significant achievement for St. Kitts to be able to forecast a fifth consecutive year of growth in cruise arrivals for the upcoming season,” said Minister Skerritt. “Based on the bookings we have so far, we have projected that more than 650,000 cruise passengers will arrive to St. Kitts by September 2012 and we will strive to ensure that each and every one of those visitors enjoys a high quality experience of our island.”

Most of the major cruise companies operating in the Caribbean now call at St. Kitts. The lines that are scheduled to make calls to St. Kitts in the 2011-2012 cruise ship season include Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess, P & O, Cunard, Azamara, Seabourn, Silver Sea, Star Clipper, Windstar, Fred Olson, Saga, Thompson and TUI Cruises.

In the 2009-2010 cruise season, St. Kitts passed the half million passenger arrival mark for the first time in its history. For the past three consecutive years, cruise berth arrivals have exceeded average regional levels. In addition, St. Kitts now has two ships making year round calls to Port Zante, bringing an estimated 88,000 passengers to St. Kitts in the off-season. Year round calls first began in St Kitts in 2008. Further development of onshore attractions and the prospect of a second cruise pier at Port Zante are expected to continue to fuel the development of cruise tourism for the island.

A heavily pedestrianized commercial development of the land side of Port Zante over the past 6 years, including a world class duty free shopping area, has added to the beauty of the historic capital city of Basseterre and has been key to establishing St. Kitts as a leading Caribbean cruise destination. The construction of the pier at Port Zante measuring1,434 feet in length and with sufficient draught, or depth, has allowed the island to accommodate any of today’s largest ships including “Oasis” class vessels, with the ‘Allure of the Seas’ scheduled to make its inaugural call at Port Zante on December 30, 2011.

Over the past months, St. Kitts was named a top destination for 2011 by both AOL Travel and British Airways. Located in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, it offers a diverse tourism product developed from the destination’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and rich history. The island’s stunning variety of tourism attractions include hiking through the tropical rainforest, riding the scenic railway that connects the island’s former sugar plantations, visiting the Caribelle Batik factory, touring Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, the only man-made UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Eastern Caribbean, and more traditional vacation pastimes such as watersports, golf, shopping, tennis, gourmet dining, gaming at St. Kitts’ exclusive casino or simply relaxing on one of the island’s sandy beaches. Accommodations range from intimate plantation inns to larger hotels and resorts.

Carnival Magic is in the midst of a highly successful inaugural season sailing the Mediterranean.

One of the most popular ports is Monaco, which is featured on the ship’s nine- and 12-day voyages. During the 11-hour call, guests can visit the world-famous casino in Monte Carlo, soak up the sun on gorgeous beaches, enjoy a diversity of dining opportunities and explore upscale shops and boutiques.

Carnival Magic will continue its Mediterranean cruises through October then reposition to Galveston, Texas in November for year-round seven-day Caribbean sailings.

La Romana Cruise Ship Terminal is expecting more tourists for next season, with ships arriving from January 2012 through 16 October, such as Carnival's Valor, Freedom and Miracle.

Two Costa Cruises ships will regularly arrive in La Romana, including the new 3,570-passenger Luminosa with 21 calls to La Romana and Catalina Island. Costa is also sending 2,680-passenger Costa Mediterranea.

La Romana will also serve as homeport next winter season to the 1,914-passenger TUI Men Schiff 2, and the 2,100-passenger Aida Luna and 1,300-passenger Aida Aura.

The arrival of these three ships from the two largest German tour operators will make La Romana the premier Caribbean port for the German travel market.

Dominican Republic Tourism has announced the construction of a new $65 million cruise terminal in Maimon.

Carnival Corporation will be an investor, according to media reports. Plans call for the terminal to berth two vessels and accommodate around 4,000 passengers at once.

The facility will take up 50,000 square meters at Maimon Bay, and is expected to open by the winter 2013/2014 season.

The Aruba Ports Authority will welcome 85 calls from Princess Cruises for the 2011/2012 season. Those 85 calls make Princess Aruba’s biggest cruise customer, representing 34 percent of business, according to the port.

Princess will account for 200,000 passengers and 80,000 crew members over the course of the season.

The Port Authority has also launched a new “client-focused” website, located at www.arubaports.com. The new site is designed to provide information about the port to both cruise lines and passengers.

A daily ship arrival schedule, up to the date cruise and cargo statistics, weather updates and more are also on the new portal.

OLA Cruises’ Ola Esmeralda, a 450-passenger vessel will make its first call in Aruba on August 23. The ship is the former Black Prince and was purchased by Servicios Acuaticos de Venezuela in 2009, and has mainly operated in Venezuelan waters.

A total of four calls are scheduled for the Ola Esmeralda through April.

Vancouver serves as an ideal port to begin or end an Alaskan adventure. As homeport to Alaska through Canada’s majestic Inside Passage, passengers on more than 200 sailings will depart Vancouver to enjoy the splendor of the glaciers, the vast wilderness and fascinating culture of Alaska.

Ranked as a top city in the Americas: A vibrant and exciting city that is like no other, Vancouver is renowned for its blend of cultures, international cuisine, fabulous festivals, shopping and attractions.

World-class facilities and operations: The Port’s two cruise terminals, Canada Place and Ballantyne, offer passengers all the modern conveniences and services for a positive and safe cruise experience. Port Metro Vancouver consistently receives high passenger satisfaction survey scores and top marks for user friendliness and luggage handling.

Easy to get to Vancouver from practically anywhere: Visitors can choose from numerous transportation alternatives including ground, rail and air options from neighboring cities. When in Vancouver the Port’s two terminals are conveniently located, accessible and only 30 minutes from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) by car, taxi, or rapid transit.

The only Alaskan homeport offering one-way trips through the Inside Passage: Vancouver offers a variety of itineraries, including the choice of round-trips or one-way trips through the scenic Inside Passage. The shorter travel distance to Alaska also allows more time to spend in Alaskan ports.

Environmental stewardship: Port Metro Vancouver is committed to environmental sustainability and is focused on air quality through emission reduction initiatives like shore power at Canada Place. Shore power allows cruise ships to shut down their diesel engines and connect to a land-based electrical grid. The installation - the first of its kind in Canada and third in the world, at the time - reduces up to 3,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

The Costa Mediterranea is in Alanya today with 2,661 passengers onboard, breaking the previous record of 2,627 set in June.The Turkish port of Alanya will have 40 calls this year and is forecasting 60 for 2012, according to Haluk Sayman, marketing manager for Alanya Cruise Port. By comparison, there were 30 calls and 22,000 passengers in 2010. The dip that year was largely due to the withdrawal of Israeli ships that used to call two to four times a week.

This year, Thomson Cruises’ Celebration and Island Escape account for 20 of the calls. In addition, the Costa Mediterranea is calling six times, as well as the Norwegian Jade.

The Costa Mediterranea is in Alanya today with 2,661 passengers onboard, breaking the previous record of 2,627 set in June. The Jade will be calling in October.

“We can handle up to 5,000 passengers at a time,” said Sayman, “but with a three-hour interval between arrivals if there are two ships.”

Also, in related news, the port has acquired a 30 ton bollard tug boat. Sayman said the tugboat is on standby in case of adverse winds or currents.

Described as a hang-out for Queen Cleopatra, Thomson notes two sides of Alanya – the ancient Seljuk city and the modern beach resort. According to legend, Mark Antony presented the town as a present to his girlfriend in 44 BC.

Thomson list certain shore excursions on its website, including a castle, cave and city tour, with a visit to the 13th century Sultan of Seljuk castle, built on top of earlier Byzantine and Roman fortifications, with some 150 towers, chapels, mosques and covered markets.

There is also a stop at the Dalmatas cave with calcite formations and Turks have been coming there for its rumored healing properties. The tour concludes with some free time in the city center.

A second tour calls at Perge, the ancient capital of the Pamphylia region, where St .Paul is said to have preached his first sermon when he began his missionary journeys. Afterwards, passengers visit Aspendos, which is described as “probably the best-preserved theater of antiquity.” Big enough to hold thousands of spectators, it’s still used today for performances and festivals.

The third tour is to the waterfall at Manavgat with a visit to the Side and the ruins of its ancient amphitheater.

In addition are other excursions to the Dim River and Cave, according to Sayman, plus a jeep safari in the Taurus Mountains, and rafting in the Koprulu Caynon, as well as visits to traditional Turkish Baths.

Sayman commented that in his opinion the Turkish Riviera is no less rich in cultural and historical heritage than, for instance, Dubrovnik or the Croatian coast as described in TUI’s 2010 sustainable development report.

Local interests in Alanya are focused on promoting the town for international fairs and exhibitions year-round, including the Alanya municipality; the chamber of commerce, the tourism promotion foundation, the hoteliers’ association and the cruise port. Local interests are also very supportive of cruise tourism, according to Sayman, who added: “We are prepared for year-round calls in terms of our terminal facilities. The sites and attraction are open during the winter too.

For those seeking a luxury holiday then Dover Cruise Port can boast a series of round Britain cruises booked to depart from the world famous port in summer 2012.

With the growth in the popularity of "staycations", round Britain cruises will undoubtedly satisfy the increasing demand whilst adding a touch of class to those seeking out interesting destinations. Cruise companies, Fred Olsen, Saga, Princess Cruises and Crystal will be operating round Britain cruises throughout summer 2012.

Starting the season in May 2012, Fred Olsen is offering a 10-day cruise around Britain and Ireland. Saga's 14-day "Treasures of Britain and Ireland Cruise" takes in Guernsey, Ireland, Isle of Man and Amsterdam, amongst other destinations. Saga's 12-day "Britain's Hidden Heritage Cruise" departing in July is followed by a third "Around Britain" cruise in August stopping at an impressive 21 locations.

Oceania's "British Isles Legends Cruise" is scheduled for June calls at key locations in Scotland and Ireland. Princess Cruises join the UK cruise trend with an 8-day Ireland and Scotland "Interlude Roundtrip" departing 2nd August, visiting Guernsey, Waterford, Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Finally a 12-day "British Isles Brilliance Cruise" departs in August taking in sights around Scotland, Ireland and Guernsey. Kate O'Hara, Head of Commercial & Marketing at the Port of Dover said, "As the gateway to England and with the famous White Cliffs of Dover behind it, Dover Cruise Port offers the perfect start to passengers looking for an extensive choice of cruises which explore Britain's treasures. At a time when many families have to consider their budget this niche market offers value for money whilst affording an opportunity to experience the elegance and charm of a cruise."

A groundbreaking ceremony was held late last week for a new $3 million Grand Turk Welcome Center featuring a variety of retail establishments within the island's historic downtown.

Over a year in development, the project is being funded by Carnival Corporation & plc and is believed to be the largest single private investment in the downtown area.

Located at the southeast corner of Front Street and Market Street in downtown Grand Turk, the new Welcome Center will encompass a cluster of buildings totaling more than 23,000 square feet of air-conditioned space, including a restaurant/lounge, various shopping outlets and a tourist information office. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Buildings will include design elements patterned after the island's distinctive architectural style with large picture windows framed by cantilevered wood shutters, ornate ironwork, covered walkways and entrances, a wraparound balcony, and a courtyard that joins the two structures. A large reproduction of a cactus – a signature feature closely associated with Grand Turk – rests atop a red triangular roof of one of the buildings.

Designed by Providenciales-based Projectech Construction Management & Services, Ltd., the Welcome Center is expected to be a popular spot with locals and cruise ship guests arriving on the island via the Grand Turk Cruise Center, which is operated by Carnival Corporation & plc.

The $60 million facility opened in February 2006 and serves as a gateway to the island, encompassing a two-ship pier, a 14-acre complex offering a variety of shops and restaurants, a 800-foot-long private beach, private cabanas, and a FlowRider simulated surfing attraction. In January, the center unveiled Splashdown: Grand Turk, a 3,500-square-foot attraction commemorating the 1962 splashdown of the NASA's Friendship 7 Mercury space capsule off the island's coast.

This year, the Grand Turk Cruise Center expects to host some 300 cruise ship calls from 16 different cruise brands totaling nearly 640,000 passengers.

The Port of New Orleans has been authorized to enter into a berthing agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises for the Voyager of the Seas for two six-month seasons, plus options for three additional six-month seasons, in a resolution by the board of commissioners today.

The resolution calls for Royal Caribbean to pay a negotiated dockage and wharfage fee and other operating costs, with an escalation not to exceed 3 percent per year.

If a minimum number of sailings is not completed each year, a penalty provision will require Royal Caribbean to pay the rate it would have paid if it had completed the full number of sailings based on 100 percent occupancy.

The Voyager of the Seas is scheduled to launch service from New Orleans in November and sail from the port’s newly renovated Julia Street Cruise Terminal.