No. 2 - 2010

NORWAY – THE ULTIMATE NATURAL CRUISE EXPERIENCE – IS RATED AS THE SAFEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

Visit the Norwegian pavillion at Cruise Shipping Miami - Booth 829

In Cruise Norway News number 2 2010, you can read more about:

News from        Cruise Norway
News from        Oslo
News from        Hadeland Glassworks
News from        Ålesund – improved quay facilities
News from        Tromsø – improved quay facilities
News from        North Cape – new pier
News from        Eidfjord - Hardangerfjord
News from        Olden – Nordfjord
News from        Geirangerfjord  - protecting the environment

NEWS FROM CRUISE NORWAY

UK market

Mark the date for the Norwegian Conference and workshop in London on June 15.

Cruise Norway and partners at Cruise Shipping Miami

Visit Cruise Norway and partners at Cruise Shipping Miami,  booth 829.

Use the opportunity to meet with following cruise ports: North Cape, Alta & Hammerfest, Tromsø, Lofoten Islands, Bodø, Brønnøysund, Trondheim
Kristiansund, Molde & Åndalsnes, Ålesund, Geirangerfjord, Olden – Nordfjord, Florø
Bergen, Skjolden, Flåm, Hardangerfjord, Stavanger, Oslo and European Cruise Service.
http://www.cruise-norway.no/viewfile.aspx?id=2583

Cruise Norway web, www.cruise-norway.no and photo gallery

Cruise Norway has improved its  website and also includes  a better picture gallery with nearly 300 new pictures. The new website was launched March 8.

Early warning system

Cruise Norway has developed an Early Warning System (EWS) for the Norwegian ports.  EWS is a calendar on our website with overview of port calls on certain dates and weeks. Three years ahead 21 Norwegian ports will be part of EWS, which will be a good tool for the cruise lines. 

The Norwegian market is the first of its kind  to develop  a product of this kind, and one that has been requested by several cruise lines.

Quality Guidelines

New updated quality guidelines for Cruise Norway members, covering port facilities, service, services for crew, shore ex, guide standard and environment have been released and launched under Trade News at www.cruise-norway.no.

FAM-Trip 2010

Cruise Norway’s next fam trips will be arranged in week 36, from September 5 to September 12, to the following ports:  Tour 1 - Kristiansand - Stavanger - Hardanger - Flåm - Skjolden.  Tour 2 - Molde & Åndalsnes - Kristiansund and Trondheim. We welcome itinerary planners and shore ex from cruise lines to participate in the site inspections. 

Winter cruise to Norway

We have two winter cruises to Norway in 2010. Saga and Cruise & Maritime cruises   - in the search of  the Northern Lights. In 2011 we look forward to welcoming 4 winter cruises to Norway in February and March.

View our new Winter Wonderland brochure as an e-book

NEWS FROM OSLO - THE CAPITAL OF CULTURE AND NATURE

Environmental focus in Oslo

The coaches we use to transport passengers in the Port of Oslo have been changed to environment- friendly buses.  We are proud to announce this as it illustrates how seriously we take environmental challenges as well as our commitment to cooperate with responsible companies.

NEWS FROM ALESUND – THE NORWEGIAN ART NOUVEAU GEM

New cruise port expansion plan

The large growth of cruiseship calls to the port of Alesund has accelerated the need to  increase the capacity of central berthing facilities.

We are therefore planning an extension of the already existing cruise terminal with a 200-m-long pier. The expansion will increase the quay front from 370 to 570 m. In addition this will provide 200-m-long berthing facilities on the shore-side of the pier. This expansion will enable the port of Alesund to accommodate two large-sized cruise ships alongside at the same time and at the same place. The pier is expected to be operative from 2012.

NEWS FROM TROMSØ -  THE GATEWAY TO THE ARCTIC

During the 2010 season all cruise ships visiting Tromsø will call at Breivika, 4 km north of the city center. This is due to a large environmental project to remove polluted sediment in the harbor in Tromsø’s city center.

The Port of Tromsø is happy to announce that from cruise season 2011 we will have a fresh, clean seabed and new improved quay facilities in Tromsø city center. The depth at the new quay will be 8.5 m and a length of 300 m. This means that larger vessels will be able to use the facilities in the heart of the city, giving more tourists the opportunity to disembark and enjoy "the Paris of the North".

This year 91 cruise ships representing a total gross tonnage of 3 279 968 will call at Tromsø. If the vessels have 80% capacity, approximately 81 000 passengers will explore our cruise destination. For the 2011 season, Tromsø has already registered 49 calls, with a total gross tonnage of 2 666 686 and 62 000 passengers (80% capacity).

These numbers indicate that the vessels visiting the North of Norway are also getting bigger. The “average vessel” for 2010 has a gross tonnage of 36 044 GT and an expected passenger compliment of 890, while so far for 2001 the  “average vessel” has a gross tonnage of 54 422 and 1265 passengers.

NEWS FROM NORTH CAPE - THE NORTHERNMOST POINT

Starting in 2010 Destination 71° Nord will be offering an ATV-safari in Honningsvåg. On this safari you will experience the island’s spectacular nature.

The excursion takes 1.5 hours and is suitable for people of all ages. The tour starts from our office in the center of Honningsvåg. Following a security review, we start off from the slopes of "Nato mountain".

On the tour you will experience Mager Island's unique nature, and we stop at several stunning viewpoints. From the mountain we continue back to Honningsvåg and drive to the old church before ending the safari at our office. On the tour we will drive on both gravel and asphalt roads.

New pier at North Cape

Construction work on a new cruise pier in the Port of North Cape port will start in April 2010. The new pier will be ready for cruise season 2011. It will have a depth of 12 m and a length of 134 m allowing vessels with a maximum draft of 12 m and a maximum length of 300 m to tie up alongside in the port. The pier will include two hydraulic Capstone pullers – each with a capacity of 250 tons.

The new pier will be built next to the old piers in the heart of the city center.
For cruise season 2010 the Port of North Cape is expecting 98 calls and this year we can welcome our  first- time visitor Aida, as well as Luna, Celebrity’s Constellation, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and P&O Cruise’s Artemis among others.

The Port of North Cape also has a lot to offer in the wintertime. Finding the Northern Lights at the  North Cape in winter is a very special experience. The North Cape plateau – the northernmost point in Europe - is northern Norway’s biggest tourist attractions in the wintertime.

Together with North Cape we can offer a variety of shore excursions – such as a King Crab Safari, Eagle/Seal and Bird Safari, and ATV safari. Or experience the life of a fisherman with a visit to the northernmost fishing village in Europe, as you discover Arctic nature - and the light - at latitude 71° north.

NEWS FROM EIDFJORD – THE FJORD AND MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE

New activities for children and adults in Eidfjord!

Activities for children:
Creative activities, children can make their own artwork. Geocaching; experience the excitement of  finding treasure using GPS.

Activities for adults:
Photo workshops and GPS rental

The Service-Center with free internet (w-lan) at the pier is popular among crew members. Free use of wireless broadband to the whole port zone, included visiting ships, will also be offered in 2010.

Destination Eidfjord is agent for Global Refund and offers tax refunds to cruise passengers on calls which have Eidfjord as last harbor. This will also be offered in 2010

In 2010 there will again be a surprise for the passengers during every new 1st-time-call at Eidfjord!

NEWS FROM OLDEN – GATEWAY TO THE GLACIERS

The 2010 edition of the Port Manual for the Port of Olden – Nordfjord is now available at www.nordfjord.no/cruise. It contains suggestions for 25 different exciting excursions in the area, as well as practical information about the port and pier facilities, as well as the village.

If you need further information, Olden will be represented at the Cruise Norway booth at Seatrade Cruise Shipping Miami, and will be pleased to meet you there.

NEWS FROM - GEIRANGER UNTAMED NORWEGIAN NATURE – WORLD HERITAGE NATURAL SITE

Geirangerfjord, protecting the environment.

The Geirangerfjord and surrounding area have prepared a strategy in response to the increased focus on environmental problems caused by tourist traffic in the area. The pollution of the physical environment, both on land and at sea, has received significant media attention in recent years. The Geirangerfjord is recognized for its status as an area of natural heritage, and we must therefore exercise extra caution when it comes to potential sources of pollution. We must also examine and identify relevant initiatives which may help us reduce pollution or the risk of pollution.

Stranda Port Authority, the Geirangerfjord World Heritage Association and Destination Geirangerfjord, have now joined forces to work on an environmental project targeting new environment-friendly technology, innovation and administration.

Simultaneously with our investigations and reports, we will be seeking to recruit contributors to a major specific project. It is important to ensure that all such activities have local roots.

Challenge no. 1 in the Geirangerfjord area is, in principle, the overall traffic situation, and the quality of air and emissions, including bus traffic.

Challenge no. 2 is the constant emergence of negative and partly incorrect claims about the physical environment in the area.

Stranda Port Authority has established both individual projects and joint projects which target solutions to the challenges faced in this area. These include:

• Cooperation with cruise ship owners who have already executed different environmental initiatives
• Charting requirements
• Ensuring satisfactory documentation
• Completion of Hellesylt quay by 2011
• Completion of Stranda quay by 2011
• Geiranger – ensuring completion of new disembarkation facilities in Geiranger by utilizing new quay technology. An ongoing project.
• Maintain good cooperation with the pilot master in relation to anchoring and mooring
• Geiranger – offer environment-friendly tender facilities within a short period of time (electrical, hydrogen and/or hybrid) in cooperation with supplier
• Continue efforts from 2007 to control traffic entering the area
• Participate in the “Early Warning System” led by Cruise Norway
• Cooperation with local tour operators in order to improve logistics on shore

One main goal is for Geiranger, and possibly other areas, to have the first electric small boats, scooters and cars within 1-2 years. The plan is for short-term hire to private users. We hope this can and will contribute towards a change in behavior and positive perceptions of the use of electrical transport, which in turn provides immediate reductions in hazardous emissions.

Port Director Stranda, March 2010

NEWS FROM HADELAND GLASSWORKS

Hadeland Glassworks, beautifully situated on the edge of the Randsfjorden at Jevnaker, just one hour’s drive from Oslo, offers many attractions for children and adults alike.

The glassworks celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2012, and is thus the oldest enterprise in Norway in continuous operation. The factory receives more than 600,000 visitors every year. Among them are thousands of cruise passengers.

Among the attractions: see crystal in the making in the Factory, the Glass Museum, the Factory Sales Shop, the Curiosity Shop, the Honey House, the Seasonal Sales Shop, the Porcelain House and the Christmas House. Passengers can indulge themselves, tempted by delicious traditional Norwegian dishes in the Bakery Cafe and the Restaurant Kokkestua.