A Coruña, September 6, 2017.The Port of A Coruña received three cruise ships today, bringing more than 9,000 people to the city, including passengers and crew. Specifically, the ships were the Britannia and Azura, both belonging to the P&O Cruises fleet, and the Hebridean Sky, a luxury cruise ship from Salen Ship Management.
The Britannia carries the most passengers, a total of 3,500, in addition to 1,400 crew members. It arrived at the Transatlantic Pier at 8:00 a.m. from Southampton and is scheduled to depart for Madeira at 4:00 p.m. It is the flagship of P&O Cruises, which also owns the Azura. The Azura arrived at 9:00 a.m. from Bilbao with 3,000 passengers and 1,200 crew members and is scheduled to depart for St. Peter's Port at 6:00 p.m. The Hebridean Sky has 100 passengers and, after arriving at 11:00 a.m. from Bilbao, will set sail for Cádiz at 2:00 p.m.
September is notable for its large influx of cruise passengers, with over 35,000 passengers expected aboard 31 ships. These figures reinforce the sector's upward trend this year, which is projected to surpass all-time highs with 170,000 passengers and 120 port calls.
A Coruña has established itself as a top-tier destination among Atlantic ports, a position the Port Authority will leverage to further promote the port for cruise ship calls. One of the year's most significant commercial initiatives begins today at Seatrade Europe 2017, held in Hamburg, the most important event for the cruise industry in Europe. The Port Authority delegation at this trade fair is headed by the president of the public body, Enrique Losada, with the aim of advancing negotiations with major cruise lines to consolidate growth in the sector and even increase their investment in the port of A Coruña.
Seatrade Europe brings together leading companies and professionals in the cruise tourism sector, including cruise lines, ship service providers, port authorities, tourism services, tour operators, and shipping agents. During this event, which runs until Friday, the President of the Port Authority will hold several meetings with representatives of these entities. He will present the Port of A Coruña's offerings and the excellent results achieved in recent years, as well as the city's tourist attractions, specialized products for cruise passengers, and the high-quality passenger and ship services offered by the port at very competitive rates.
This biennial event facilitates business interaction among all participants, incorporating high-level conferences, an exhibition showcasing the latest industry trends, as well as workshops and forums to analyze the present and future of the European cruise market.
