No. 1 - 2009

Norway - the ultimate natural cruise experience -  
is rated as the safest country in the world  by Global Country Brand Index

In Cruise Norway News number 1 2009, you can read more about:

• Norwegian Cruise year 2009
• Cruise Norway members 2009
• Cruise Norway product manual 2009-10
• The Business sector NOx Fund - a success in Norway
• Cruise Norway at BOOTH 829 in Seatrade Miami

Norwegian cruise year 2009

In its last issue, Cruise Norway - the non-profit marketing organization for Norwegian cruise ports - reported on its top year in 2008 with 1633 calls and 1.5 million cruise visitors. The forecast for 2009 looks fairly good with an increase of about 2% on last year, measured by the number of calls. For the main cruise ports in Norway the season looks very good. But at present the number of passengers onboard the ships is of course still very uncertain and it will be very hard to match last year?s top figures.   
 
The cruise season gets longer every year and the first cruise to call at Norway this year is Saga's "The Search for the Northern Lights" in March, an 18-day cruise which includes an overnight stay at the Alta Igloo Hotel. Saga's winter guests can look forward to exciting winter adventures in Norway combined with a breath of spring at the cruise ports in Southern Norway.

Cruise Norway members

Cruise Norway increased its membership with 18 new members last year and revenues were 50% up on 2007. A new marketing executive is in place and among her areas of responsibility will be contact with travel agents and improving their knowledge of Norway as the ultimate natural cruise experience in Europe.
The total number of members as at end-January 2009 was 46, including 35 cruise ports, 6 attractions and 3 operators/ship agencies. In other words, we cover all the  major suppliers to the cruise industry in Norway.

Cruise Norway membership overview

Cruise ports:

Alstadhaug/Sandnessjøen
Alta
Aurland/Flåm
Bergen
Bodø
Brønnøysund
Cruise port Barents
Drammen
Eidfjord
Farsund/Small City Cruise
Florø
Fredrikstad
Geirangerfjord
Geiranger/Resort Stranda
Hammerfest
Jondal & Rosendal
Harstad
Kristiandsand
Kristiansund
Lofoten/Leknes
Molde & Åndalsnes
Narvik
North Cape
Olden/Nordfjord/Måløy
Oslo
Sandefjord
Skjolden
Sortland
Svalbard
Stavanger
Lofoten / Svolvær
Tromsø
Trondheim
Ulvik
Vik
Ålesund

Other members:

VisitBergen
VisitÅndalsnes
European Cruise Services
Nordic Cruise Services
Bring Logistics(NorCargo)
Funicular in Bergen
Aquarium in Bergen
Ulriken643 in Bergen
Hadeland Glassverk outside Oslo
VisitRøros outside Trondheim
Raumabanen in Molde & Åndalsnes

Further information about our members is available at: www.cruise-norway.no

Cruise Norway - new product manual

A new product manual has been prepared and will be distributed to all cruise lines within the next week. This is the only comprehensive overview of Norwegian cruise ports and cooperating companies which have the international cruise market as their field of activity

An electronic product manual with a concise overview of Norwegian cruise ports and a film of cruise destinations can be downloaded from www.cruise-norway.no

In addition to this we have a brand new distance table with overview of nautical miles between all member ports, both inside and outside sailing routes between Norway`s 35 cruise ports. It can be downloaded at: http://www.cruise-norway.no/CDA/viewfile.aspx?id=772

The Norwegian Business sector NOx Fund

So far, the Norwegian Business sector NOx Fund has been a success in Norway. Under the Fund, each year NOK 500 million will be allocated to reduce NOx emissions. Enterprises which sign the agreement will be exempt from paying NOx tax for a period of three years, but in return they will have to commit to reducing their NOx emissions. The NOx tax was introduced on 1 January 2007. Undertakings which join the Environmental Agreement by signing the Participant Agreement may apply for support for measures to reduce NOx emissions. Support will be granted for both investment and operating costs related to measures designed to reduce NOx emissions.

For more information see: www.nho.no/nox/english

Cruise Norway at Seatrade Miami - BOOTH 829

Cruise Norway will be present at Seatrade Miami - BOOTH 829

Remember to visit us and get "a taste of Norway"