Explora II Floats Out and Steel Cut For Explora III

Explora II Floats Out and Steel Cut For Explora III

Explora Journeys today celebrated two maritime milestones at builder Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard near Genoa in Italy with the float out of the Explora II and the steel cutting of Explora III

The new Explora II will enter service in summer 2024 and spend her first season operating in the Mediterranean Sea, the company said in a press release, as construction of the ship began in October 2021 at Fincantieri’s Castellammare di Stabia yard in Naples, Italy where the ship’s keel was laid in May 2022.

The Explora III will launch in the summer of 2026 and be the first of Explora Journeys’ four luxury vessels to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the world’s cleanest maritime fuel available at a scale that plays a key role towards the decarbonization of international shipping.

Construction of the Explora IV, also powered by LNG, will start next year with a completion date of early 2027.

The double ceremony today was witnessed by Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer, of Explora Journeys, Pierroberto Folgiero, Fincantieri’s CEO and General Manager and the Mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci.

Michael Ungerer, Chief Executive Officer, of Explora Journeys, said, “The double event today marks another major step forward on our mission to redefine ocean travel for today’s discerning luxury travellers.  Following the successful launch of Explora I and the incredibly positive feedback from the first guests, travel advisors and media, who had a chance to experience the Ocean State of Mind, the story continues, and we are now beyond thrilled to witness the next important construction milestones for both Explora II and our first LNG powered ship Explora III. We are proud that our four ships are built by Fincantieri, further underlining our commitment to Italy.”

Costa Atlantica Returns to Southern Europe

Costa Atlantica Returns to Southern Europe

After several months anchored off the island of Cyprus, the Costa Atlantica recently returned to Southern Europe.

Currently, on its way to Marseille, the Spirit-class vessel also visited two Italian ports in March: Augusta and Naples.

Three years after its last drydock, the 2000-built cruise ship is expected to undergo scheduled maintenance at a local shipyard once it arrives at the French port.

Originally operated by Costa Cruises, the Costa Atlantica was sold into Carnival Corporation’s joint venture with China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) in 2018.

Handed over to its new owners a few days before the COVID-19 pandemic operational pause in early 2020, the vessel has remained out of revenue service.

Despite the change of ownership, Atlantica also retained its original name, in addition to Costa’s colours and features.

In November 2022, the Carnival Corporation – CSSC joint venture revealed plans to launch service in China under the Adora Cruises brand.

With a newbuild under construction in Shanghai, the company intends to welcome its first guests in late 2023.

Plans for the service restart of the Costa Atlantica and its sister ship Costa Mediterranea – which was also sold to the joint venture in 2018 – are yet to be confirmed.

The Atlantica originally debuted in 2000, becoming the first vessel in Carnival Corporation’s Spirit Class.

In addition to the Costa Mediterranea, the series of ships also include four ships operated by Carnival Cruise Line: the Carnival Spirit, the Carnival Miracle, the Carnival Legend and the Carnival Pride.

Built for Costa Cruises, the 2,100-guest ship served the company’s traditional markets in Europe for nearly 15 years before being repositioned to Asia in mid-2013.

Sailing year-round in the region through 2020, the Atlantica served different countries and markets, including Singapore, Taiwan, China and more.

In 2015, the ship also became the first to offer a world cruise from China. Sailing roundtrip from Shanghai, the 86-day itinerary included visits to 28 destinations in 18 different countries.

 

MHA Culinary Council to Promote Shipboard Crew Talent

MHA Culinary Council to Promote Shipboard Crew Talent

The Marine Hotel Association’s (MHA) new Culinary Advisory Council will be awarding scholarships to the emerging culinary talent on cruise ships sailing globally in a first-of-its-kind initiative.

The not-for-profit MHA is looking ahead to its annual Conference and Trade Show, taking place in Naples, Florida, April 2-4.

The event brings together food and beverage and hotel vendors along with key decision-makers from cruise lines, and the new Culinary Advisory Council features chefs from a number of cruise brands that will be heavily involved in the Florida event.

The Council will be nominating and recommending chefs working onboard cruise ships for the MHA culinary scholarship.

“This allows us the opportunity to highlight our extraordinary talents onboard and feature their commitment to delivering an ever-evolving world-class experience,” said Eric Barale, Vice President of Culinary for the Apollo Group and Maître Cuisinier de France. “I am truly excited to be able to support and recommend our chefs at sea for the MHA scholarships that focus on the culinary education, development, advocacy and career navigation of our talent.

“The MHA conference and Trade Show will also provide a unique one-on-one networking opportunity for our vendors and teams to address, encourage and visualize the future of trade on the high seas,” he added.

Marella Cruises has revealed details of the new ship Marella Voyager

Marella Cruises has revealed details of the new ship Marella Voyager’s bar and dining options ahead of its launch this summer.

The all-inclusive vessel will include new venues such as Silver Fork, a British-themed speciality restaurant; The Arts House, a bar with an arts and crafts space; and The Kitchens, a food hall with eight eateries rolled into one. The ship also offers a spa, pool and show lounge.

 

Marella will also debut its first Mexican restaurant, Abuela’s, which will offer a range of dishes such as tacos, burritos, nachos and fajitas.

From its homeport in Majorca, Voyager will sail to destinations such as Barcelona, Naples, Sicily and the south of France. In the winter, it will offer eight-night itineraries from Barbados.

Chris Hackney, managing director of cruise for Tui UK and Ireland, said: "We’re delighted to present an exciting evolution of our fleet in Marella Voyager.

 

"She really takes things to a new level, building on our current ships’ best features, whilst adding new venues that we know our customers will be excited to try.

"We understand what guests want from their cruise and what they love about our existing ships, so by ensuring we keep some Marella Cruises favourites as well as adding a different flavour to Marella Voyager, we will be providing more choice for our loyal customers and providing an exciting introduction to the brand for new customers."

The line has also announced plans to offer sailings in Canada for the first time as part of its winter 2023/2024 programme, which goes on sale on 21 July. 

Steel Cut for Explora II, Second Ship for MSC’s New Luxury Cruise Brand

The first steel of the Explora II, the second of four new-concept luxury cruise ships that Fincantieri is building for Explora Journeys, the new luxury cruise brand by MSC Group, was cut today at the Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) shipyard.

The order for this class of ships, announced in 2018, is worth a total of over 2 billion euros.

The Explora I is currently under construction in Monfalcone, while the Explora II will be built at the Sestri Ponente (Genoa) yard, with deliveries respectively in 2023 and 2024.

A traditional maritime ceremony took place today at its Castellammare di Stabia yard near Naples for the first steel to be cut for the second vessel. Attending the event, among others, were MSC Executive Chairman, Pierfrancesco Vago, Explora Journeys CEO, Michael Ungerer, and Fincantieri General Manager Merchant Ships Division, Luigi Matarazzo.

“The start of Explora Journeys’ second ship signals our firm commitment to our tourism partners for the coming-to-market of our new luxury brand with a significant financial investment in a fleet of innovative, elegant ships, that will bring together our vision and purpose to create an ocean state of mind like no other. Given our belief in this brand to create a new category in luxury, lifestyle travel, we will continue to invest in its expansion to attract the growing number and aspirations of the next generation of discerning luxury travellers,” said Vago.

Michael Ungerer, CEO of Explora Journeys, added: “We are greatly encouraged by the tremendous enthusiasm and support we have received so far from the travel advisor community who have placed their trust in Explora Journeys since our launch in June and for their overwhelming response to our exclusive `By Appointment' service and innovative commercial terms ... Explora Journeys has also been awarded ‘preferred’ status with a number of leading travel agency groups, an honour not normally bestowed on a brand prior to its coming into service, that demonstrates an unprecedented recognition from the luxury travel industry and which reinforces our commitment to, and confidence, in our robust B2B2C strategy.”

According to a press release, all four vessels will have a gross tonnage of approximately 64,000 tons and will feature the latest maritime and environmental technologies and solutions available. Each is equipped with 461 guest suites.  

Including these four vessels, the partnership between Fincantieri and the cruises division of MSC Group counts eight ships to date: the MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, delivered in 2017 and 2018, and the two enriched Seaside Evo ships - the MSC Seashore, delivered in July, and her sister ship, the MSC Seascape, which will enter into service next year. 

AIDA Status Update: The Latest and Greatest

AIDA is one of the cruise lines that has managed to resume service after a pandemic-related break, at least partially.

In this short update, Cruise Industry News recaps what the German cruise line has been up to since it stopped sailing in March 2020.

Service Resumptions

Over the last year, AIDA continually looked for service resumption opportunities. While some plans ended up scrapped before the actual service start, others went ahead. The German cruise line already welcomed passengers back three times.

First, in October, it reactivated the AIDAsol in the Mediterranean, in an all-Italian itinerary visiting Naples, Palermo, Catania, La Spezia and Civitavecchia. After a couple of sailings, however, the operation had to be cancelled due to new travel restrictions in Germany.

After cancelling other restart plans, AIDA had its second service resumption on Dec. 5, with the AIDAperla in the Canaries. A second ship, the AIDAmar, was added to the program before Christmas. On Dec. 29, AIDA was forced to cancel the operation after IT issues. 

While plans initially called for a January restart, a new lockdown in Germany prompted further cancellations.  

Sailing in the Canaries

The AIDAperla then re-entered service on March 20, marking the third AIDA resumption. The ship is currently sailing in the Canaries, offering a week-long cruise departing Gran Canaria and visiting Tenerife, La Palma, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

The operation was recently extended until June, replacing a set of previously announced Mediterranean cruises. 

Intact Fleet  

With the Carnival Corporation having sold 18 ships already since the start of the pandemic, the AIDA fleet remains intact. So far, none of its 14 vessels had to depart the fleet.   

After the sales in other brands, AIDA ended up with some of the older and smallest vessels across the nine brands of the corporation – including the 38,000-ton AIDAcara built in 1996 and the 48,200-ton AIDAmira built-in 1999.

AIDAcosma Delayed

AIDA’s 2021 new build, meanwhile, was significantly delayed. Initially scheduled for a spring debut, the LNG-powered AIDAcosma was pushed to the third quarter. With the change, the vessel’s inaugural season in Europe was entirely cancelled and the first voyage rescheduled to Oct. 23, 2021.

In other AIDA shipbuilding news, the cruise line announced in November that it is progressing on its way to emission-neutral ships. The cruise line also said that it plans to install batteries onboard the AIDAperla and fuel cells onboard the AIDAnova in 2021.

By the Numbers:

Ships:

• Ships shed: -0
• Ships added: +0

Result: No Change

Berths:

• Berths shed: -0
• Berths added: + 0

Result: No Change

Costa Will Start Cruising Again in May

Costa Cruises announced that it will start cruising again in May, citing restrictions in place in Europe and other European countries to contain COVID-19.

In line with the new plan, the Costa Smeralda’s departure from Italy is planned for May 1, with three- and four-day mini-cruises or alternatively a seven-day cruise, calling at Savona, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina and Cagliari.

From June 12, the Costa Smeralda will return to sailing one-week cruises in the Western Mediterranean, with visits to Italy (Savona, Civitavecchia and Palermo), France (Marseille) and Spain (Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca).

The departure date of Costa Luminosa, the second Costa ship scheduled to resume service, is now postponed to May 16 from Trieste, and the following day from Bari, confirming its program of one-week cruises in Greece and Croatia.

Costa Restarts Cruises With New Program From March 27

Costa Cruises will be restarting service on the Costa Smeralda from March 27 and on the Costa Luminosa from May 2. This was announced by its parent company, Carnival Corporation, in a press release.

“The cruise ships of Costa Cruises … are ready to set sail again and offer guests holidays filled with leisure and relaxation, along with enhanced health and safety protocols,” the company said.

The Costa Smeralda program will consist of an unchanged itinerary across Italy for three- or four-day mini-cruises or, alternatively, a 7-day cruise, calling at Savona, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina and Cagliari.

On May 1, the Costa Smeralda will return to one-week cruises in the Western Mediterranean with visits to Italy (Savona, Civitavecchia and Palermo), France (Marseille) and Spain (Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca).

The Costa Luminosa will be departing from Trieste from May 2, and the following day from Bari, confirming its program of one-week cruises in Greece and Croatia, according to the press release.

“Costa is working with national and local authorities of the countries included in the itineraries of its ships outside Italy to define the details of the restart of cruise operations, with enhanced health and safety measures through the implementation of the Costa Safety Protocol,” Carnival Corporation wrote. “The protocol contains operational measures related to all aspects of the cruise experience, both onboard and ashore, which were implemented in the past months of cruise operations.”

All other cruises scheduled until the end of May, and not included in the program updated on Feb. 17, will be cancelled. Costa is in the process of informing travel agents and customers affected by changes.

MSC Cruises aims to restart Greece sailings by Easter

MSC Cruises aims to restart Greece sailings by Easter

MSC Magnifica take by Dave Jones

MSC Cruises has announced that it is working closely with the Greek Ministry of Tourism and other relevant authorities for the reopening of local tourist services in time to serve cruise passengers visiting Greece, starting with the upcoming Easter holiday period.

In related news, the Company also announced that it is cancelling all of MSC Magnifica’s scheduled cruises through to April 29. MSC Magnifica will thus be replaced for voyages to the Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece, during the Easter period and throughout the summer season. 

Guests booked on MSC Magnifica through to April 29 will be offered the option to rebook their MSC Cruises holiday at sea on one of the line’s other ships due to call Greece or on its flagship MSC Grandiosa, which is currently at sea in the Western Mediterranean. Alternatively, guests will receive 125% Future Cruise Credit, valid for all sailings taking place on or before April 30, 2022. 

MSC Grandiosa is currently operating weekly cruises leaving every Sunday from Genoa, Italy and calling Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo/Cagliari in Italy as well as Valetta in Malta. Embarkation is available from each port in Italy.

www.msccruises.co.uk

MSC Cruises Aims to Restart Greece Program by Easter

MSC Cruises announced today that it is working closely with the Greek Ministry of Tourism and other authorities for the reopening of local services in time to serve cruise passengers visiting Greece starting with the upcoming Easter holiday period, according to a press release.

The company also announced that it is cancelling all of MSC Magnifica’s scheduled cruises through April 29. 

The ship was originally scheduled to return to sea starting on Feb. 14 with a Greece-bound itinerary; the MSC Magnifica will be replaced for voyages to the Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece, during the Easter period and throughout the summer season with another MSC ship. 

Guests booked on the MSC Magnifica on cruises through April 29 will be offered the option to rebook their MSC Cruises holiday at sea on one of the line’s other ships due to call Greece or on the MSC Grandiosa, which is currently at sea in the Western Mediterranean.

Alternatively, guests will receive compensation relevant to the country where the booking was made.

The MSC Grandiosa is currently operating weekly cruises leaving every Sunday from Genoa, Italy and calling Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo/Cagliari in Italy as well as Valetta in Malta. Embarkation is available from each port in Italy.

Four MSC Ships to Cruise in Europe for Winter 2021-2022

MSC Magnifica

MSC Cruises announced that four ships will be deployed for the winter season in Europe for 2021-2022.

The MSC Grandiosa will sail from. Genoa as well as Barcelona and Marseille. In addition to these homeport options, the ship will call in the Palermo, Civitavecchia for access to Rome, and Valletta, Malta.

The MSC Fantasia will also sail a classic seven-night itinerary with the choice of multiple embarkation ports in MSC Cruises’ most visited destinations, Barcelona, Marseille, and Genoa, as well as Italian cultural highlights, including La Spezia and Naples, before calling in Palma de Mallorca.

The MSC Magnifica will offer extended 11-night cruises with two different itineraries. The first starts in Genoa and then to Greece, calling Katakolon, Piraeus, and Rhodes before reaching Haifa in Israel where the ship remains overnight allowing a full day to discover ashore, then on to Heraklion, Civitavecchia and back to Genoa.

The second itinerary visits five countries – starting in Genoa, Barcelona in Spain then on to Casablanca in Morocco for an extended stay, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Funchal in Portugal, Malaga in Spain, and then Italy with Civitavecchia and Genoa.

The MSC Poesia will offer 5- and 10-night cruises out of Genoa before embarking on the 2022 World Cruise from Genoa on 5 January.

Costa Forced to Cancel Christmas and New Years Cruises

Costa Diadema.

Costa has cancelled its holiday cruise program, citing a request from the Italian government. 

"This is a temporary stop that, as stated by the Government itself, has never questioned the reliability of the health protocols adopted in collaboration with the Italian authorities," the company said, in a press release. "Those protocols represent a unique model in the tourism sector at an international level, and have proven their full effectiveness in the last 4 months of operation in Italy."

Costa said that during the holiday period, its ships would be in various ports and it would offer a special food donation program. 

Costa also said, in a prepared statement: "The cruise suspension does not only affect the Company but the entire ecosystem that depends on cruises, such as travel agencies, shipyards, ports and local activities of destinations visited by ships the ports and local activities of the destinations visited by the ships, that the Company helped to restart in the second half of the year.

"The cancellation of Christmas and New Year's Eve cruises, among the most popular of the year, therefore represents a further economic sacrifice for Costa Cruises and the entire industry, in a period that was already very difficult for the entire sector, that relied on these operations."

Costa said it will resume service with the Costa Smeralda on January 7, 2021, with the one-week itinerary, dedicated exclusively to Italy, that can be divided into two short cruises of three and four days each, departing from Civitavecchia. The four-day mini-cruise sails to Central and Southern Italy, with stops in Naples, Messina and Cagliari. The three-day cruise voyages to Central and Northern Italy, and includes visits to Civitavecchia, La Spezia and Savona.

AIDA Moves Restart Forward, Cruising from Italy In October

AIDA Cruises will expand its range of cruises this fall with new voyages visiting the highlights of Italy, starting on Oct. 17, 2020.

Carnival's German brand is thus moving up its restart from November to October.

The new seven-day itinerary departs from Civitavecchia near Rome and travels to Palermo and Catania in Sicily, Naples and La Spezia. In Rome, an overnight stay is planned. AIDA did not say what ship will be put into service first.

The voyages will be offered weekly until Nov. 28, 2020.

Bookings open Monday, Sept. 21.

AIDA had previously announced its fall and winter program for 2020 and 2021, sending the AIDAmar to the Canary Islands, starting Nov. 1, 2020, followed by the AIDAperla Nov. 7, taking over the program originally intended for the AIDAnova.

The AIDAmar will sail from Las Palmas, while the AIDAperla will use Tenerife in addition to Las Palmas for turnarounds.

AIDA also plans to launch service in the Western Mediterranean with the AIDAstella on Dec. 12, 2020, sailing seven day cruises from Palma, Mallorca.

 

MSC Cruises Bans Family For Breaking Crucial Coronavirus Safety Rule

MSC Cruises Bans Family For Breaking Crucial Coronavirus Safety Rule

MSC Grandiosa (closest) and the MSC Magnifica just sticking out.

MSC Cruises has shown just how serious it is about health and safety, removing a family from its ship who broke its coronavirus rules.

The cruise line is operating a select sailing in the Mediterranean aboard its new ship MSC Grandiosa, which was open to residents of Schengen countries only.

The action was taken after a family broke the cruise line’s strict health and safety rules, which included not wandering off on land excursions.

To ensure the safety of passengers, limit contact and manage the spread of the virus, MSC is only allowing guided land excursions. This means passengers stay in a ‘ship bubble’ and don’t come into contact with anyone else not on board the ship.

However, the unnamed passengers decided to break the rules when in Naples, Italy, wandering off from the rest of the group to explore the city on their own.

The passengers were then not allowed to re-embark the ship, for fear of endangering other passengers and crew, the line has confirmed.

The grand shopping and food courts with the Giant LCD screen ceiling

MSC Grandiosa is the first major ocean ship to sail in the Mediterranean in almost five months, following the coronavirus pandemic.

After approval from the needed ports, MSC Grandiosa set sail on a western Mediterranean cruise on Sunday (16 August), at 70 per cent capacity with 2,500 passengers on board.

The ship left from the Italian port of Genoa on a seven-night sailing calling at Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Palermo and Malta.

Sadly, the sailing was not available for British or Irish passengers, instead only open to residents of EU countries.

“In line with our health and safety protocol, developed to ensure the health and wellbeing of our guests, crew and the communities we visit, we had to deny re-embarkation to a family who broke from their shore excursion while visiting Naples, Italy,” said a spokesperson for MSC Cruises.

“By departing from the organised shore excursion, this family broke from the ‘social bubble’ created for them and all other guests, and therefore could not be permitted to re-board the ship.”

The cruise line stated that other health and safety measures include transfers being properly sanitised, social distancing, tour guides and drivers undergoing health screenings and the wearing of PPE.

Fincantieri Marks Milestone Event for Trio of Princess Ships

Fincantieri and Princess Cruises today celebrated three construction milestones of three Royal-class ships, currently in different construction phases, at a ceremony at the Monfalcone shipyard.

The day began with the live broadcast of the steel cutting for the sixth and last Royal-class ship, still unnamed, at the shipyard of Castellammare di Stabia (Naples).

The section, once completed, will be transported by sea to the yard in Monfalcone, where the ship will be completed in 2022.

Later, in Monfalcone, the keel laying of Enchanted Princess, the fifth Royal-class ship, was marked, with a delivery date in 2020. 

The event was attended by Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia group president, and Luigi Matarazzo, senior executive vice president of the merchant ships business unit of Fincantieri.

In addition, the Sky Princess was floated out, and will join the fleet later this year; the Madrina of this ceremony was Kerry Ann Wright, a second officer with Princess. 

In addition, Fincantieri will build two next-generation 4,300-guest ships for Princess Cruises with delivery dates in 2023 and 2025. The ships will be 175,000 tons each. 

Cruise lines lower Med capacity based on terrorism fallout

Santorini cruise basin.

Fewer and smaller cruise ships being deployed in the Mediterranean this year by will hurt ports throughout the region, according to a recent projection of 2017 cruise passenger totals.

Fears of terrorism in parts of the Mediterranean basin have sent the region's share of global capacity to a 10-year low, according to the report by Risposte Turismo, a cruise research firm based in Venice.

Only 15.5% of cruise ship capacity will sail in the Med this year, down from 18.3% last year and 16.4% in 2007.

Francesco di Cesare, president of Risposte Turismo, said the decline is the result of a mix of factors, among them the "no-go zones for cruise ships," which currently include destinations such as Turkey, Tunisia and Egypt.

"In 2017 we shouldn't register any growth in major Med ports," di Cesare said. "But some marquee ports such as Barcelona will remain stable in comparison to 2016."

A spokeswoman for the Port of Barcelona confirmed that it is expecting more than 800 cruise ship calls this year, up from 758 in 2016, which can be attributed in part to Barcelona's strength as a turnaround port.

About 58% of the 2.6 million visitors to Barcelona last year were boarding or disembarking a cruise, said the spokeswoman, who asked not to be quoted by name.

By contrast, the major ports in Italy are expecting declines. According to Risposte Turismo, the number of passengers handled by Italian ports will drop 7.1% this year, to 10.3 million, while the number of ship calls will be down 9.6%, to about 4,500.

Risposte Turismo expects Civitavecchia, the port for Rome and the second-largest cruise port in the Med after Barcelona, to see 5.9% fewer passengers this year, and Venice, the fourth-largest Med port, to see an 11.4% drop.

Naples, the sixth-largest port, is expected to see a 23.4% drop in passenger numbers, while among the top Italian ports only La Spezia, the gateway to the Cinque Terre region, will eke out a 0.2% increase, the study found.

Di Cesare expects Marseille, France, the fifth-largest Med port, to experience a 6% drop in passengers this year.

Venice is a major turnaround port for cruise ships on eastern Mediterranean itineraries, which have been affected by cruise lines dropping Turkish ports due to an ongoing threat of terrorism. 

Venice is also impacted by limits on the size of cruise ships that can reach the city through the Giudecca Canal. 

Greek tourism minister Elena Kountoura said the number of cruise calls to Greek ports is expected to be down this year, but the number of passengers is expected to rise because of larger ships being deployed. Often, lines that have canceled calls to Turkey have substituted stops at Greek ports.

Di Cesare said Tunisian ports were dropped after two 2015 terror attacks and although the ports began getting calls again in late 2016, lingering uneasiness continues to affect itinerary planning.

Weak results in the Med influenced Celebrity Cruises to bring the Celebrity Equinox back to the Caribbean this summer, while Norwegian Cruise Line, diversifying its capacity out of the Caribbean, moved the Norwegian Getaway this summer to Baltic itineraries rather than Mediterranean ones.

Di Cesare said that regions other than the Med are perceived by cruise lines this year to have a higher return on investment and more demand from passengers. That said, the Med will continue to be the world's second most popular cruising region, behind the 35.6% of capacity devoted to the Caribbean but ahead of the 11.5% of ships doing itineraries in Europe outside the Med.

The drop in Med traffic comes after several strong years. 

Italian ports had 11.1 million passenger movements in both 2015 and 2016, close to the record of 11.5 million set in 2011, Risposte Turismo figures showed.

The spokeswoman from the Port of Barcelona said growth there had been "spectacular" for about a decade but has leveled off in the past few years to a more sustainable percentage, though it is still an increase.

Next year, the Med's share of passengers stands to increase if there are no more terrorism incidents to reduce demand. For example, Royal Caribbean International said it will have eight ships in Europe for 2018, up from seven this year, including its 5,400-passenger Symphony of the Seas, which will do seven-day trips from Barcelona that include stops in Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles, La Spezia (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia and Naples.

Best Souvenirs to Pick up on a Mediterranean Cruise

Best Souvenirs to Pick up on a Mediterranean Cruise

Whilst you can always shop on board Cruise Line Ships, the Mediterranean offers a vast array of gifts for yourself, or friends and family back home. Besides standard soccer shirts and Eiffel Tower key rings, there are much better choices that will invoke memories of your travels for months to come. Here are my picks for the best souvenirs to pick up on a Mediterranean cruise!

France

When I think of France, it conjures up delectables like indulgent chocolate, hot chocolate, and those oh-so-colorful (and gluten free!) macarons. Which are quickly followed by thoughts of sumptuous coffee and tea, or a glass of really good red wine. Any of these would make for wonderful gifts from France! But so would a perfumed candle or skin care products from a traditional pharmacy. Small coffee table art books and French fashion magazines, along with stationery items including notebooks and calendars, all make for meaningful gifts. There are also plenty of Parisian-inspired artwork and illustrations to choose from, including sets of frameable postcards, plus you may find the perfect antique at a flea market. If you decide to break the bank, shop for a designer Hermès scarf.

Greece

The Greek Isles always make me think of enjoyment - celebrating life through good food, music and quality family time. Souvenirs to pick up on a Greek cruise include their famous local honey, olive oil, and fresh herbs, spices and teas. You can accompany these gifts with a bottle of wine, anise-flavored Raki or traditional Ouzo. Music fans may enjoy a bouzouki (Greek guitar), while others may love a handmade backgammon set. Natural cosmetics and skin care are big sellers, and the same applies to handcrafted leather sandals, as well as popular evil eye talisman jewelry.

Italy

In my opinion, a trip to Italy is all about food and wine. Some of the best souvenirs to buy here include locally pressed olive oil, handmade dried pastas, balsamic vinegar, and wines or Linomcello, a popular lemon-flavored liqueur. Hand-decorated Amalfi coast ceramics could also satisfy culinary lovers. If you have an avid holiday fan in your family, consider Nativity figurines, while kids may enjoy hand-carved wooden marionettes. If Italian fashion is more your thing, take a look at colorful Murano glass jewelry, silk scarves and ties, as well as leather goods including belts and luxury, buttery soft gloves.

Portugal

Since Portugal is the worlds' largest producer of cork, it's no wonder some of the most popular items to pick up here include lightweight cork souvenirs like wine stoppers, jewelry, wallets and more. Olive oil and traditional port wine are always good choices, as are specialty liquors like Ginjinha (sour cherry liqueur) and Medronho fruit brandy. If you're visiting the Canary Islands, be sure to grab a bottle of Mojo sauce, that's widely used for dipping and marinating. Other great buys in Portugal include leather shoes and boots, along with glazed ceramic accent tiles (individual and mural sets).

Spain

Besides rich coffees and herbal teas, the Spanish love their sherry and Cava, a sparking white or rosé wine. A traditional guitar may strike a cord with your music loving friend, while Majorca pearls or gold and silver jewelry may be a better choice for the bling lovers. Castanets are fun souvenirs, as are colorful Flamenco fans and dresses for girls, or perhaps a Flamenco figurine would do the trick.

Dispatch, Costa Diadema: In Naples, maximizing margherita time

Dispatch, Costa Diadema: In Naples, maximizing margherita time

by Tom Stieghorst |

Prior to boarding the Costa Diadema for Costa Cruises' annual "Protagonisti del mare," or "" gala event to honor the line's travel agent partners, Cruise editor Tom Stieghorst spent some time in Naples, Italy, on the hunt for some local grub.

If you only have a short time in port in Naples, Italy, head for one of the city’s authentic pizzerias.

Naples is said to be the birthplace of pizza — although it goes back in some form to Roman times — and more than one pizzeria in Naples claims to be the originator of the tri-colored margherita pizza.

For cruise passengers, a good option is to head for via Tribunali, home to four or five well-patronized pizza parlors. It is about a 15-minute walk from the port terminal in Naples. My hotel concierge told me a taxi to the area should cost no more than 10 euros.

My first stop on via Tribunali was Di Matteo, which was favored by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who is shown munching on a slice in a photo that appears on the cover of Di Matteo’s menu.

Despite the excellent navigation and mapping functions on my iPhone, I missed finding Di Matteo twice. It looks like little more than a takeout window at first. Only when I asked directions of an Italian shopkeeper and he pointed over my shoulder, did I find it.

The place was bustling at 8 p.m. on a Wednesday. The pizza oven and a takeout business are just inside the entrance, with a dining room hidden to the side and more space up a steep set of stairs. My dining companions and I climbed the stairs to a cozy room lit by florescent lights and containing four tables with paper tablecloths.

The atmosphere at Di Matteo is like eating in an old friend’s kitchen. There is marble wainscoting on the walls, but rattan in the chair seats. I counted 39 varieties on the pizza menu. We ordered a margherita, an eggplant and a mushroom/ham pizza, which arrived quickly.

They were properly thin-crusted, with burn marks around the rim and a thin layer of tomato sauce and cheese covering their circular expanse. The three pizzas and a bottle of regional red wine cost us 22 euros. We carted away some leftovers in the classic cardboard box.

The following day I was ready for more, so I trooped by myself back to via Tribunali, this time to Sorbillo, a few blocks down the street. I arrived before noon, which was good because by 12:30 there was a crowd about 20 deep waiting to get in for lunch.

Sorbillo is a little more easily recognized as a restaurant outside, with its blue- and white-striped awnings. Inside it makes more of an effort to be decorative than Di Matteo.

Unlike Di Matteo, however, there is no English translation of ingredients on the menu, so I wasn’t sure what toppings were included on some of the pies listed. I punted and went with the basic margherita. The green ingredient in the red, white and green margherita is basil, and I have to confess I found the amount of basil at both Sorbillo and Di Matteo rather small.

My standard for pizza has always been the pizza place in my hometown, said to be owned by the city’s Mafia boss. I expected the pizza in Naples to be crispy, but the crusts were more doughy than I imagined, somewhat the consistency of a soft pretzel.

But very satisfying to eat, even so. Although the pizza spilled out over the edge of a 12-inch plate, I finished it all. My family would not be surprised.

Be advised that many restaurants in Naples close after lunch and don’t reopen until 7:30 p.m.

Other “Vera Pizza Napoletana” pizzerias (a quality designation) on or near via Tribunale include Antica Pizzeria Port’ Alba and Il Pizzaiolo del Presidente (Clinton ate there, too, and the place was renamed in his honor).