The Port Authority has prepared a special plan to ensure that the day runs smoothly.
The Ryndam, from Holland America Line, was the first ship to dock at La Curra pier, carrying 1,300 cruise passengers. It was followed by the Britannia, from P&O Cruises, arriving at San Pedro pier with 3,600 passengers.
The last to arrive was the Norwegian Epic, the largest of the three ships, belonging to the Norwegian Cruise Line, with a capacity for 4,200 passengers. It has docked at the cruise terminal, and this will be its first stop in the port.
As on previous occasions, the Cartagena Port Authority has provided passengers of the first two ships with a fleet of 16 buses to transport them comfortably from their berths to the Plaza de Héroes de Cavite throughout the duration of the port call. Traffic will also be regulated at the Alfonso XII dock, the Plaza de Héroes de Cavite, and the roundabout leading to the Cruise Terminal.
Due to this significant influx of visitors, the archaeological sites and monuments of Puerto de Culturas, which are usually closed on Mondays, remain open throughout the day so that cruise passengers can enjoy the city's attractions.
Thus, the Punic Wall, the Roman Theatre, the Panoramic Elevator, the Castle of the Conception, the House of Fortune and the Roman Forum Quarter are open on a special schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and the tourist bus will also operate on that schedule.
The tourism consortium has also strengthened its customer service and guided tour services to be able to adequately handle the large volume of visitors and avoid gridlock.
The triple stop also coincides with the local Carthaginian and Roman festivals, so tourists can visit the festival encampment and learn firsthand about the history of the Roman conquest of the Punic city of QuartHadast.
Throughout 2015, six triple port calls are planned, this being the third and the most significant in terms of visitor numbers. The previous calls took place in May and August, and the next two will be in October, on the 24th and 28th; the final call is scheduled for November 1st. November, along with April, is the month with the most port calls, totaling 18.
Speaking to the media, the President of the Port Authority emphasized the importance of "all of us aligning with President Sánchez's directive to stimulate economic activity in order to generate wealth and create jobs." He added that the Port Authority "is committed to the Region" and to bringing tourists through the Port of Cartagena.
When asked about the arrival of the AVE high-speed train to the region and its importance for cruise tourism, Antonio Sevilla expressed his conviction that the AVE is “fundamental for Cartagena and for the Region. We are committed to a strategy to attract more tourists to the port with longer stays, what we call Puerto Home, and for this we need transportation options that make it easier for tourists to reach the port.”.
