The so-called "wine cruise" returns to the Vigo docks.
The President of the Vigo Port Authority, Ignacio López-Chaves, is participating these days in Seatrade Med in Barcelona, the largest meeting of the cruise sector in the Mediterranean.
The Port of Vigo welcomed over 3,000 passengers today aboard the Celebrity Infinity, which made a stop in the city. The ship, known as the "wine cruise," docked at the Transatlantic Pier at 11:00 AM, arriving from Bilbao, and is scheduled to depart for Harwick, Great Britain, at approximately 8:00 PM.
During its stay in the Vigo docks, it brought on board a total of 2,162 passengers of 33 different nationalities, mostly British (1,449 pax.), in addition to 950 crew members.
The ship belongs to Celebrity Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean group, and is 294 meters long and 32 meters wide. The most striking feature of this ship is the opportunity it offers passengers to visit local wineries through scheduled excursions or enjoy onboard dining.
Launched in March 2001, the Celebrity Infinity belongs to Celebrity Cruises' Millennium Class, which also includes the Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Summit, and Celebrity Constellation. These four 91,000-ton ships are considered the most technologically advanced in the fleet. Ranked among the best ships in the world, the Celebrity Infinity perfectly embodies the exclusive style of Celebrity Cruises. Its specialty restaurants are particularly noteworthy, offering intimate spaces with seating for fewer than 80 people and tableside service. Meanwhile, the SS United States restaurant offers tempting cuisine served in a more upscale setting reminiscent of ocean liners of yesteryear. Passengers can also enjoy the AquaSpa, which features treatments inspired by rituals from exotic cultures. The ship also boasts, among other amenities, a conservatory overlooking the sea, The Conservatory, created by Celebrity in collaboration with renowned Parisian floral designer Emilio Robba.
After today's stop, the Celebrity Infinity will return to Vigo's docks on September 27th, undoubtedly a historic day for the Port of Vigo, as it will share the port with the world's largest cruise ship, the Oasis of the Seas. This double call will bring more than 12,000 people to our city in a single day. It will return to Vigo's waters on October 9th.
Commercial management
These stops are the result of the commercial strategy that the Vigo Port Authority has launched in recent years with the aim of reinforcing its leadership in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in cruise passenger traffic.
So much so that the President of the institution, Ignacio López-Chaves, is participating these days in Seatrade Med in Barcelona, the largest meeting of the cruise sector in the Mediterranean, which will take place in the Catalan city until next Thursday, September 18.
During this biannual meeting, the institution headed by López-Chaves will hold joint meetings with the main shipping companies in the sector to showcase the advantages of Vigo's port infrastructure, which currently boasts over 1 kilometer of berthing space distributed across two distinct areas in the heart of the city: the Transatlantic Wharf and the Commercial Wharf, both equipped for cruise ship calls. These areas, expanded thanks to the so-called Dukes of Alba docks, allow for the simultaneous berthing of up to four ships in the city center.
Setrade Med in Barcelona is undoubtedly one of the leading events in the international cruise industry, focusing on the market and activities of this sector in the Mediterranean. The event will bring together a large number of representatives from various Mediterranean ports and other parts of the world, cruise lines, and many other industry stakeholders.
The Port Authority of Vigo participates, year after year, in the Seatrade Cruise Shipping in Miami, one of the most important cruise fairs worldwide, and in the Seatrade Med in Barcelona, which has a great international impact on the cruise sector, since the Mediterranean is, after the Caribbean, the most important destination, as well as in the International Cruise Summit Congress, considered as one of the most important knowledge forums on the sector in the world.
