Cruises International Ltd, sole agents for Costa Crociere in Malta, together with other stakeholders, launched the 2010 Malta brochure in a press conference on board Costa Pacifica on November 13th.

The board of directors of Cruceros Málaga S.A., the company operating Malaga’s Eastern Passenger Terminal since its inauguration in December 2007, awarded last Wednesday the construction of the second phase of the Passenger Terminal.

Companies and institutions highly interested in the project

In 2008, the Port of Lisbon achieved an all-time high number of cruise calls and passengers, establishing new national records.

Barcelona is the turnaround port for more than 55% of cruise tourists

VISET Malta plc, operators of the Valletta Waterfront and the Valletta Cruise Terminal, said 2008 has been a record year in four different yet complimentary sectors: for the number of cruise passenger arrivals, passengers making use of the ferry services to Sicily, maiden calls by new cruise liners and new companies which set up shop at this distinguished address.

The facilities for tourists at southern Portugal’s main cruise port have been further expanded by the opening of Portimão Museum. The new cultural venue, which recreates a fish canning factory just a few metres from the Port of Portimão, is in the running for the European Museum of the Year Award.

Intercruises welcomes the all4ships network of agencies to its portfolio, after the merger of tourism division of TUI AG and First Choice PLC last year to form TUI Travel PLC.

Laurent Monsaingeon, former president of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise) and French Riviera Ports managing director, was named Seatrade’s Mediterranean Cruise Personality of the Year at the Seatrade Med Cruise, Ferry and Superyacht convention, celebrated in Venice last week.

MedCruise new president and Board of Directors were elected on December 11th at the 33rd MedCruise General Assembly in Venice, Italy.

On 10 December, it was formally announced that Seatrade Med will be held in Cannes at Palais des Festivals et des Congrés, hosted by French Riviera Cruise Club.

The Valletta Waterfront, Malta today welcomed the arrival of the ½-millionth cruise passenger for 2008. The passenger, Shannon Berg, of Jacksonville, Florida, was onboard the spectacular Norwegian Gem which cruises Mediterranean destinations.

Last weekend, the Port of Malaga received the visit of the Port Operations Manager of Aida Cruises, Matthias Ludwig, as the winner of a contest organised by MedCruise (The Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports). The prize was a weekend getaway for two to Malaga, Spain.

In the 60th Anniversary of the shipping line, Malaga consolidates as one of the key ports for Costa Crociere.

During next year, Costa will bring 156,000 passengers to Málaga, who will spend 8,000,000E during their calls.

On 29th October, during a press conference in Villefranche/Mer, the FRCC presented its achievements and its priorities for 2008, and two new ports of call: Antibes and Golfe Juan.

26-28 September 2008 "Toulon – Var – Provence, an area to discover!" In furthering its promotional strategy, the Port of Toulon’s cruise team organised an exclusive discovery weekend in southern France’s Var – Provence region for cruise companies and ship agents on 26 to 28 September.

The first international conference “BlackSeaCruise 2008” was held in Odessa, Ukraine, on September, 24-25, 2008, focusing on cruise and passenger shipping development in the Black Sea basin.

Some of the most important representatives of the sector attended to the event organised by Málagaport