Palamós, Roses, and Sant Carles de la Ràpita have concluded a successful cruise season with 50 port calls, 43,000 passengers, and an
estimated economic impact of €3 million.
The Seabourn Sojourn brought the 2014 cruise season to a close in Palamós, a year in which the 38,616 passengers reached matched
the record set in 2011 and made it the second-best season ever for the port in the Empordà region.
Cruise activity contributes to the growth of the tourism sector and the
economic development of the region. In this context, each year more cruise lines are choosing the port facilities of Palamós, Roses, and Sant Carles de la Ràpita and their unique destinations on the Costa Brava and the Terres de l'Ebre, offering cruise passengers new and exciting locations in Catalonia.
The report highlights Palamós's prominent position as a mid-sized port within the cruise market, the positive role Roses is playing in consolidating this activity, and Sant Carles de la Ràpita's entry into the sector. The 2014 cruise season for the ports of Palamós, Roses, and Sant Carles de la Ràpita concluded today with 50 port calls, approximately 43,000 passengers, and an estimated economic impact of €3 million across the region.
On the Costa Brava, the port of Palamós, which today welcomed the last cruise ship of the season, has achieved very good results with 38,616 passengers and 36 port calls, a 29% increase in passengers and a 5% decrease in port calls compared to 2013. Thus, the 38,616 cruise passengers who visited Palamós this year place the port in its second-best season ever, matching the record set in 2011 with 38,770 passengers.
For its part, the port of Roses closed a great season last October with 10 cruise ship calls and 3,700 passengers, doubling the number of calls and almost quadrupling the number of passengers, compared to last year.
In the Terres de l'Ebre region, the port of Sant Carles de la Ràpita, which debuted this summer with cruise activity, has finished the season with four cruise ship calls and half a thousand passengers.
The cruise activity of the ports of Palamós, Roses, and Sant Carles de la Ràpita and their tourist destinations is promoted in various cruise market forums through the brands Costa Brava Cruise Ports and Delta Ebre Port. These brands are the result of a joint effort between Ports de la Generalitat, the Costa Brava-Girona Tourist Board, the municipalities of Palamós and Roses, and the chambers of commerce of Palamós and Girona in the case of Costa Brava Cruise Ports, and with the Terres de l'Ebre Tourist Board, the Sant Carles de la Ràpita City Council, and the Tortosa Chamber of Commerce in the case of Delta Ebre Port.
The Seabourn Sojourn closes the 2014 season
The Seabourn Sojourn cruise ship arrived today at 7:30 a.m. from the French port of Marseille and is scheduled to depart at 5:30 p.m. for Palma de Mallorca. The ship has 438 passengers on board, mostly from the United States and the United Kingdom, and 341 crew members. The cruise ship has made six stops in Palamós this season.
Balance in Palamós
Palamós started the season in April and finished it in November, confirming once again the deseasonalization of cruise activity.
Regarding the profile of cruise tourists, almost half have been British (49%), followed by the French (32%), Americans (9%), Irish (2%), Australians (2%), Belgians (1%) and Canadians (1%), among others.
Regarding the excursions undertaken by cruise passengers, 31% took part in day trips, while the remaining 69% chose to stay on board. The most popular tourist destinations were Girona; Figueres and Púbol; Tossa de Mar and Lloret de Mar; Pals, Peratallada, and La Bisbal d'Empordà; Castelló d'Empúries; Platja d'Aro; Begur; and Barcelona.
During 2014, the port of Palamós welcomed the Zenith, MSC Sinfonia, and Star Flyer cruise ships for the first time. The luxury cruise line Paul Gauguin Cruises also visited the port with its ship, the Tere Moana.
It is worth highlighting the commitment of companies that continue to visit Palamós such as: Pullmantur, Thomson Cruises, Seabourn Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Azamara Cruises, MSC and Star Clippers.
