The world offers a huge and ever-increasing range of cruise choices.
Article from CruisesNews magazine
Dozens of cruise ships explore every corner of the earth, offering an endless array of routes. There are large ports with access to the most fascinating places on Earth, ports near natural paradises, melancholic ruins, and small ports serving as unique port calls. There are hundreds of them. Only a select few are home ports—the beginning and end of Mediterranean cruises.
What was once a limited option is now difficult to find a sea, or coastline, where we don't see a cruise ship.
However, besides the Caribbean, the quintessential sea is Mare Nostrum, our Mediterranean, which remains the preferred choice for millions of cruise passengers during peak season, from April to October.
The major cruise lines position their best ships, and the selection of routes is extensive and varied. It is true that North Africa has suffered a notable decline due to the ongoing instability in the Arab Spring countries, which have yet to achieve peace. But it seems that along the rest of the Mediterranean coast, the sector has never looked so robust. Almost 28 million cruise passengers sailed the Mediterranean in 2017.
There are routes and ports of call to suit all tastes, although only a select group of privileged locations have the honor of being called "home ports"—that is, where routes begin and end—although in some cases, and with certain cruise lines, this concept is quite flexible.
Only a select group of places are allowed the right to call themselves “home ports”.
Barcelona
is the busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean, the undisputed leader, and the fourth busiest globally. Last year, some 2.7 million cruise passengers passed through its facilities. Many factors contribute to its continued status as the flagship port for the sector in Spain, and not only because of the tourist appeal of Barcelona as the most visited city in Spain. It's an urban port, a stone's throw from all the attractions the city has to offer. From the cultural and artistic heritage of its Gothic Quarter, the legacy of Gaudí, to the finest restaurants and luxury shops just minutes from the dock.
Almost all shipping companies include Barcelona in their schedules.
The Port of Barcelona accounts for a significant portion of the 9.86 million tourists who stay at least one night in a hotel in the city each year. In fact, 27% of cruise passengers spend an average of 2.8 days in the city during pre- and post-cruise stays. The port's leading position is further strengthened by the potential of El Prat Airport, which handled 47 million passengers in 2017, representing a 7.1% increase. A key advantage is the extensive network of intercontinental connections, especially to the United States, with the recent arrival of low-cost carriers LEVEL and Norwegian, which are adding frequencies and destinations for the largest group of cruise passengers: North Americans, who, along with Europeans, are the Port of Barcelona's main clients.
Barcelona has all the ingredients to be the leading port in the Mediterranean.
There are two specific areas for cruise ship docking: two terminals at the World Trade Center, a few meters from Las Ramblas, and the Moll Adossat, with four terminals (A, B, C, D, and E, currently under construction for the Carnival group). The activity at the WTC terminals, the closest and which handle the luxury ships, will be transferred to the Moll Adossat in 2020, which will somewhat diminish its appeal to high-end passengers, as it will place their docking a couple of kilometers from the city center.
Visitors to Barcelona: 7 million tourists per year. This equates to 14 million overnight stays, both pre- and post-cruise.
Access to the city is via taxi, private vehicle, or PortBus, a port service that connects Moll Adossat with Plaça Portal de la Pau, also known as the Columbus Monument. Metro Line 3 is just 500 meters from the PortBus terminus, providing easy access to any point in the city. However, the metro route to the airport is long and requires several line changes, and the Aerobus service, which connects the airport to the city center, terminates at Plaça Catalunya, relatively far from the port area.
Cruise passengers in 2017: 2.7 Million.
The most significant development is that major cruise lines base their best ships in Barcelona. In 2018, the Symphony of the Seas will operate from the city, with its maiden voyages departing from Barcelona, as will the MSC Seaview. Costa Cruises' flagship, the Costa Diadema, also operates year-round from Barcelona, as do the Norwegian Epic and the classic Sovereign.
Marseille,
France's second-largest city and most important port, is gradually emerging as a cruise destination, becoming the country's leading port. Combined with Barcelona's boom, it benefits from interporting services, offered primarily by Costa and MSC Cruises, the main operators in the port of Barcelona. Interporting services allow passengers to embark at several ports of call on the same regular route. France's experience in the cruise sector is quite remarkable. Despite its glorious naval history, strategic location, and status as the second most visited country in the world, it lacked a significant market share in the cruise industry until recently. However, thanks in large part to embarkations in Marseille, it now surpasses Spain in the number of cruise passengers.
The Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations represents an ambitious commitment to the revitalization of the old port.
Marseille has undergone a tremendous transformation and very positive changes. Years of social tension, decline, and dilapidated neighborhoods are a thing of the past. The city boasts new museums, comprehensive renovations have been carried out throughout, and the beautiful historic district of Le Panier is more attractive than ever. Tourism is booming, with visitors discovering a vibrant, Mediterranean, and beautiful city centered around the old port. It's the perfect stopover for visiting the most outstanding gems of Provence, such as Arles, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence, or captivating towns like Martigues.
Marseille is the southern gateway to the second most visited country in the world.
The city has two cruise terminals. The J4 is essentially in the heart of the city, in the Vieux Port (Old Port), and is preferred by smaller luxury cruise ships. A few kilometers away is the MPCC (Marseille Provence Cruise Center), accessible via the coastal motorway “Autoroute A55”. Cruise lines usually provide shuttles to the city center; independent passengers must rely on taxis or undertake a veritable obstacle course to reach the Litoral Gourret bus stop (line 35), which will take them to Place de la Joliette. There, they can relax and enjoy the area's enormous new shopping centers and the nearby cathedral, or they will need to find other transportation if they wish to visit other essential sights in the city.
France's leading port with a 9% increase. 500 calls are expected in 2018, and the airport offers some 121 destinations.
Marignane Airport is 20 minutes away, but it doesn't offer direct transport to the port. While it has a strong presence of short- and medium-haul low-cost traffic, it would be better served by more long-haul connections. Currently, the airport offers approximately 121 destinations.
Cruise passengers in 2017: 1.7 Million.
In figures, the Port of Marseille handled approximately 1.7 million passengers in 2017, a 9% increase. It is the leading port in France and the fifth busiest in the Mediterranean in terms of cruise ship arrivals, with 500 calls expected in 2018.
CIVITAVECCHIA
All roads lead to Rome, and in this case, no self-respecting Mediterranean cruise route is complete without a stop in Civitavecchia, clearly the natural port of entry for visiting the Eternal City, the quintessential Mediterranean destination. An ancient port, it has been impacted by its own success, exceeding even its most optimistic projections in recent years. Ambitious future plans have been drawn up that will completely transform its character. It is the second busiest port in the Mediterranean after Barcelona, and it welcomed approximately 2.2 million cruise passengers in 2017.
The distance from Rome, and the slowness of the railway system, a handicap to overcome in the port of Civitavecchia.
Civitavecchia's main attractions are the monumental fortifications of its ancient Roman port, shopping and dining options, and the charm of a small seaside resort with a delightful promenade. Cruise ship passengers are always passing through quickly, heading either to Rome, the airports, or to visit the city's thermal baths, or to explore Tarquinia to the north, one of the most important sites for Etruscan ruins.
Civitavecchia may look modern, but it is one of the oldest ports in the world.
Fiumicino Airport is 60 kilometers away, and Ciampino Airport is about 85 kilometers away. There are no direct connections to the port; you have to book a private shuttle or use the services offered by the cruise lines themselves. The only public transport is the train, which departs from the airport station. Trains run frequently, with a change at the Rome stations of Ostiense or Trastevere. Once you arrive in Civitavecchia, a city bus takes you to the Rome Cruise Terminal, where there is a free shuttle to all the docking points. As I mentioned at the beginning, the port is undergoing a complete renovation. This includes integrating the port with the city, developing and repurposing some areas of the port, expanding the docking area, improving the waterfront, and, most importantly, constructing a large terminal of 10,000 square meters with a capacity for 4,500 passengers and 9,000 pieces of luggage per day.
The new terminal will have an area of 10,000 m2.
On the other hand, trains between Civitavecchia and Rome end in the city center, specifically at Stazione Termini as the final destination, from where we can access tourist buses, taxis, the metro, or urban transport lines.
Cruise passengers in 2017: 2.2 Million.
SAVONA VS GENOA
These cities must be linked because their rivalry is fierce. Like Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities, they are the home ports of Costa Cruises (Savona) and MSC Cruises (Genoa). They compete neck and neck in terms of passenger numbers, with similar figures: around 950,000 for Savona and 920,000 for Genoa.
The Genoa Maritime Station has historically been the departure port for the most famous and historic Italian ocean liners.
They are managed by the same entity (Ports of Genova-Autorità di Sistema Portuale dil Mare Ligure Occidentale), which emphasizes that, as a whole, they are the second busiest port facilities in Italy in terms of passenger traffic, after Rome. However, it is better to treat them as two separate entities, because their objectives differ, and each serves the two arch-rival "Italian" ports in the Mediterranean.
Shipments in Savona and Genoa benefit from the connectivity of Malpensa, Italy's busiest airport.
Genoa, the ancient city of navigators, boasts one of the most beautiful historic centers in the world. Its historic port has been renovated to house Europe's largest aquarium and one of the world's most significant maritime museums. Medieval streets, palaces, and a magnificent cathedral, along with other artistic treasures, make Genoa a true delight. It also serves as a gateway to other attractive destinations such as Portofino, Cinque Terre, and, a little further afield, Milan. Genoa benefits from having an urban airport less than 6 km from the cruise terminals. While ideal for embarking, its flight offerings are extremely limited and seasonal, with flights to Spain primarily to Barcelona, Madrid, and the Balearic Islands.
Italy's third and fourth largest ports after Rome and Venice. Savona is the home port for Costa Cruises and Genoa for MSC Cruises.
With almost all cruise traffic relocated from the city center, the four berths are located at the former Genova Maritime Station, and the Principe Railway Station is just across the street. From there, you can reach any point in the country, as well as access the city center by metro. Several bus lines pass in front of the cruise terminal, as do the airport buses that continue on to the city center.
Savona is located further west in Italy and is connected to Genoa by frequent train services. Costa Cruises found it extremely advantageous to relocate its operations to neighboring Savona. About 45 kilometers from Genoa, the Carnival group company maintains its operational strength in this peaceful town, where it has built a comfortable terminal, called Palacrociere, situated in the heart of the city's historic center.
A free shuttle takes passengers from the train station to the Costa Cruises terminals. It connects to a range of airports, some closer, some further away, including Milan-Malpensa and Linate, Genoa, Turin, and the nearby Nice airport. However, Costa Cruises focuses particularly on connecting airports (especially those in Milan) with its base in the northern Mediterranean.
Cruise passengers in 2017: 0.95 Million (approx. each).
This small town on the Ligurian Sea is pleasant and peaceful, and offers some interesting tourist attractions. Its jewel is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, along with its historic alleyways and landmarks such as a tower, fortifications, Piazza Goffredo Mameli, and the city's own Civic Art Gallery. From Savona, you can take excursions not only to Genoa and Turin, but also to charming and authentic small towns like Finalborgo, Albenga, Noli, or the rich wine and truffle region of Barolo.
VENICE
The Lady of the Lake is a magnificent architectural marvel, floating gently on the water, making it an irresistible destination. There is nothing more beautiful in the world; and such beauty comes at a price, a high one. Thirty million tourists pass through this small city each year. The tourism sector has faced criticism from local and external groups. The truth is that, of the enormous influx of tourists, cruise ships account for only 1.4 million, making the port the second busiest in the country after Rome. Many cruises departing for the Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean begin here. The passage of cruise ships through Giudecca is the greatest spectacle in the world, but many voices question the impact of these large vessels on the fragile structures overlooking the canal.
The construction of the new canal will cause significant disruptions to cruise ship traffic in the Lagoon.
The struggle between environmentalists, citizens' groups, and shipping companies has led to the first plans being put in place to rectify the situation. The decision has been made to prohibit the precious passage through the Giudecca Strait to all vessels exceeding 55,000 tons, requiring them to depart from the neighboring industrial port of Marghera, using the Malamocco Channel. Even smaller vessels will have to use the Malamocco Channel, which will first need to be dredged and widened, to reach Marghera. There, they will turn right to reach the Venice maritime terminal via the Vittorio Emanuele III Canal, which is currently out of service. This plan was supposed to begin implementation in January 2018, but given the enormous amount of work required, its effective implementation date does not appear to be certain.
Venice is trying to combine cruise ship traffic with the risks of uncontrolled tourism.
The port's advantage, besides its beauty and being a perfect place for pre- and post-cruise stays, is the ease of boarding. The two nearby airports, Marco Polo and Treviso, make things easier with good connections.
Marghera has size restrictions for larger vessels. Ships exceeding 55,000 tons will be required to use the neighboring port starting in January 2018.
In Venice, Terminal Passeggeri operates nine cruise terminals, several of them in Stazione Maritima, plus the San Basilio Terminal and Riva Sette Martiri for small luxury ships.
Cruise passengers in 2017: 1.4 Million.
The Maritime Station has direct connections not only to Piazza San Marco but also to Marco Polo Airport via the Alilaguna ferry. Furthermore, regional bus lines terminate at nearby Piazzale Roma, and across a bridge, the Santa Lucia Train Station connects to the airports and the rest of the country.
ATHENS
The major port of Piraeus is recovering from the country's turbulent financial situation. It has also been affected by the security problems and instability in Istanbul and the nearby coastline. Calls in Kussadasi, Izmir, and other ports, as well as those on the Black Sea, have been canceled due to the conflict in Ukraine.
The port of Piraeus is one of the busiest in the world in terms of ferry traffic.
But let's return to Greece, and to the great port of Piraeus, one of the world's largest ferry ports. Piraeus is a port city, connected to Athens, that serves the capital. Athens' new airport is about 25 kilometers from the port. Local taxis and independent shuttles are available, in addition to the ferry services offered by the shipping companies.
Three modern terminals: Miaoulis, Alkinos, and Themistocles. Together they cover 8,000 square meters and have a total capacity of 12,000 passengers per hour.
It has three terminals, AB and C, called Miaoulis, Alkinos, and Themistocles. There are departures and arrivals, but very few with stable weekly schedules, except for Celestyal, the country's main cruise line, which has some of its ships based there. Pullmantur and a few other cruise lines also operate from the terminals. All three terminals have some bus lines, city buses, and taxis. They are located a couple of kilometers from the center of Piraeus, where the metro departs for central Athens and the airport, and the X96 bus also goes to the airport.
There is no more wonderful setting in the Aegean than the blue and white symphony of its islands.
The terminals are relatively modern and efficient, and are connected by a free shuttle from Terminal A, where the main entrance is located. They have a total area of 8,000 square meters and a total capacity of 12,000 passengers per hour. Passenger traffic fluctuates considerably. It decreased in 2013, 2014, and 2015, increased slightly in 2016, and then decreased slightly again in 2017. Overall, the airport handled 1,055,559 passengers, with a total of 576 stopovers in 2017.
Cruise passengers in 2017: 1.05 Million.
