MedCruise has been engaged in an effort to detail the characteristics of the cruise port industry in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas and the challenges that the MedCruise member ports are facing.
MedCruise members participated in the Association’s 2015 Fact Finding Report answering 70 questions related to a range of subjects including profile, port structure, challenges, berth booking practices, operational issues and financial responsibilities.
On the question of challenges facing cruise ports, the three issues highlighted of upmost importance were the relationship with the cruise lines, followed by port infrastructure (other than transport) and the increasing size of cruise ships.
On the issue of procedures, ports responding identified those related to passengers and crew arriving/moving in/out of Schengen areas as the highest importance, followed by crew visas and the checking/stamping of crew passports.
The outcome of this study will be a special MedCruise Fact Finding Report that will detail the state of the cruise ports industry in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas.
The flagship publication of the Association is expected to be circulated in early 2016, part of the celebrations that will mark the 20th birthday of the Association.
|
Major challenges for cruise ports (0=Not a challenge, 1=Lowest importance, 5=Highest importance) |
Not an issue (%) |
Of highest importance (%) |
Mean |
|
Relationship with the cruise lines |
11.9 |
54.2 |
3.83 |
|
Exploiting the potential of winter cruising |
6.7 |
30 |
3.35 |
|
Relationship with people and businesses around the ports |
5.1 |
22 |
3.32 |
|
The relationship with the city of arrival and local authorities |
11.7 |
31.7 |
3.25 |
|
Bigger cruise ships (in size) |
13.6 |
32.2 |
3.2 |
|
Security |
16.7 |
40 |
3.17 |
|
Infrastructure (other than transport) in the port |
11.9 |
37.3 |
3.15 |
|
Becoming a homeport |
15 |
30 |
3.12 |
|
Transport infrastructure to and from the port |
10.2 |
27.1 |
3.12 |
|
Connectivity of the destination with source markets |
5.1 |
15.3 |
3.1 |
|
The competition with other (neighbouring) cruise ports |
5 |
18.3 |
3.08 |
|
People with reduced mobility |
16.7 |
28.3 |
3.03 |
|
The relationship with the travel agents |
13.3 |
25 |
3.0 |
|
The development of other regions as new cruise destinations |
10.7 |
19.6 |
3.0 |
|
The mobility to and from the port |
15 |
18.3 |
2.85 |
