Theme. cruise norway. text: susan parker

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1 Theme cruise norway text: susan parker Cruise Norway (CN) celebrated 20 years in 2012 and there s no sign of it resting on its laurels. With Wenche Nygard at its helm and Norway being a destination that for many is a lifelong travel dream, the association is reaping rewards. Even with the Emissions Control Area sulphur limit of 0.1% looming in 2015, this is a country that has a wow factor that is not easy to replace anywhere nearby. Not only does it boast extraordinarily beautiful fjords, ancient cultures, history and nature in its purest form, but this year and last are highlighted as being particularly special for the aurora borealis/northern Lights. Photo: Mike Louagie SHIPPAXCFI 9

2 Nigel Lingard, cruise & travel industry management consultant, commented: Norway is on the wish list of the primary demographics of the cruise market, i.e. retired middleclass people. Most of them at some point in their lives want to see the fjords. And Joanna Boxall, Cunard shore operations executive, said: Norway is incredibly important for the summer programme. It gives us good itineraries with lots of ports in a relatively small area which means we can drop fuel costs. There is a massive amount of variety for shore excursions. Cruise Norway was set up by a group of Norwegian ports keen to promote Norway as a cruise destination. Wenche Nygard joined in 2006 and has been instrumental in taking it further ever since. There are 41 shareholders with Norwegian ports owning the lion s share, i.e. 70%. There are 20 associate members. Between 2007 and 2011 CN tripled its revenue from NOK 1.7 million (EUR 0.22 million) in 2007 to NOK 5.2 million (EUR 0.69 million) due to an increased number of members and activities. Our aim is to make sure that our shareholders and partners get a return on their investment on the events, for example Cruise Shipping Miami, Seatrade Med and the workshops, as well as the product manual and other activities, explained Nygard. Cruise tourism important for economy The product manual is being distributed as we go to press. New this year is the inclusion of distances between port embarkation areas in nautical miles. The e-book is due to be launched on soon. Feedback over the years has been very positive: Cruiselines have told us There is a lot of money in the NOx fund. There is an opportunity to apply for funding for new environmentallyfriendly technology so use it. Wenche Nygard, Cruise Norway Photo: susan parker Nigel Lingard that the CN cruise manual is the best in the market place. We have a website which has a lot of information. In addition we are a spokesman for the industry in Norway. We have close cooperation with the port and hospitality associations and, for example, the coast guard. Boxall said the association works very hard on raising the profile of Norway and introducing new ports as well as helping out with literature with Lingard adding that Norway promotes itself very actively. Nygard: For years we have fought for cruise tourism to be part of the national tourism strategy and we succeeded last year. Finally cruise has come in from the cold. This is fantastic. It means that the Ministry recognises cruise tourism s important economic value for Norway. Indeed, the value of cruise tourism in Norway corresponded to 13% of all foreigners tourism spending in Norway in 2010 according to a report, Guest survey of tourism, requested by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry. The direct effect of cruise tourism was calculated at NOK 2 billion (EUR 0.27 billion). Perhaps it is due partly to this that some of the negativity towards cruiseships in the fjords from the hotels a few years ago has changed. Cruise tourism has become more positive for the Norwegian community than it was two years ago. Will ECA rules affect Norway s cruise business? However even before this major step forward, Nygard has been instrumental 10 SHIPPAXCFI

3 in bringing cruise issues to the table. Most notably the NOx tax of That was the time when we decided we needed to be a member of the European Cruise Council and the HNO [Norwegian hospitality association]. We have worked very closely with both to get the NOx tax changed to a NOx fund which is much more positive for the cruiselines. Cruiselines are able to apply to the fun for funding for relevant technical development but so far only Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has done so despite Nygard using every opportunity to encourage operators. There is a lot of money in the fund. There is an opportunity to apply for funding for new environmentallyfriendly technology so use it. The fund was due to close in 2013 but this has been postponed until In Lingard s opinion this demonstrates one of CN s strong points. Many of us view Cruise Norway as being an exemplary cruise association, partly because they have gone beyond just promotional activity. They have helped cruiselines with defence against punitive taxes on environmental measures, for example the NOx tax. The ECA is bound to effect Norway but none is quite sure how. AIDA Cruises, for example, has already booked calls in Bergen in 2015 when the 0.1% sulphur limit begins. Lingard thinks that in the end all the primary cruising areas will get wrapped up into some regulatory system but that, in the short term, there may be some benefits to itineraries north of 62 degrees which is outside the ECA. Some [destinations] will benefit from itinerary changes cruiselines are contemplating to reduce average cruising speeds. There will be some winners and some losers. What have been fairly traditional products like the sevennight Norway cruise [out of UK] might become eight, a bit like extending the length of the transatlantic cruises. Elisabetta de Nardo, port operations manager Costa Cruises, said that the low sulphur fuel demanded in 2015 and 2020 will have an impact on itineraries to what she calls a beautiful and always attractive destination. Other challenges Looking ahead Nygard sees pilot fees as a challenge. The pilot fees are going to be reduced by 2% this year. The pilot costs have increased 40% in last the five years so a 2% drop is not much. There is still a long way to go. We have been fighting for two years now, not only CN but also working with the port associations which are the main organisations for this issue. There are two Norwegian port organisations which are mainly lobbying organisations for the ports and shipping industry. Nygard commented: They don t deal with cruise so far but that is something that I want them to do, to be the spokesperson for cruise lines as well as the rest of the industry because if we speak with one voice we will be stronger. Lingard however commented that most of the cruiselines have learned to live with the pilotage fees. Some of the bigger ships go through complicated routes to avoid fees but then they don t tend to navigate close to the islands. He added: The actual port costs in Norway are not that great, particularly in some of the fjord ports but they do have limitations of not having fuel or waste disposal. As mentioned above CN has a close cooperation with the ECC. Nygard said: I have been informed that waste handling is not a problem in Norway. I hope this is true. The ECA is a challenge of course. I think it is important for us to continue our good work. One of the benefits of Norway is that we are very port intensive. There are 41 ports along its coastline so cruising to Norway is value for money for the cruiselines from that perspective. You can come and visit many ports next to each but a large variety. I think that one of the selling points now with the ECA coming in is that northern Norway is not in the ECA, ie north of 62 degrees. In this respect bookings are looking fantastic for 2014 and for 2015, although it is early days yet. Nygard commented that the ports have already made some bookings, especially from AIDA Cruises. Costa Cruises said that the low sulphur fuel demanded in 2015 and 2020 will have an impact on itineraries. Photo: Mike Louagie SHIPPAXCFI 11

4 A survey learnt that passengers were not able to spend all the money they wanted to. In fact they wanted to spend 25% more. Internally CN makes sure it is keeping its customers satisfied. In a CN member/partner survey in 2012, it was found that CN s partners were 93.5% satisfied with the association s market activities, up from 83.3% in 2010, and 100% satisfied with communication and information, up from 81.3% in When it comes the industry itself, Nygard knows only too well that: We have to make sure that we deliver value to the cruiselines and to our guests. We have to develop and invest in new products all the time. Working closely with the cruiselines is important to ensure Norway remains attractive as a destination. As well as decreasing pilotage costs, continuing to offer high quality and high service levels is vital. We have to revise the quality guidelines which we have had for four years now. This is not a marketing tool, it is an internal working tool for the ports. We have to see how we can develop them further. We have to always improve service and quality and ensure that we all earn more money. One thing CN learnt from survey of about 2,000 passengers in 2010 was that they were not able to spend all the money they wanted to. In fact they wanted to spend 25% more. Unsurprisingly Nygard said: We want that money. That is good news for the cruiselines too. We can help each other to get that money so our guests can go home broke and happy. Innovation Norway Now that cruise has become part of the national tourism strategy, Innovation Norway has employed someone specifically to work and advise on cruise matters. Tore-Johan Pedersen started in 2012 on a three-year project, focusing on four areas: Increasing competence and skill in the Norwegian market Product development Norwegian seafood on board cruiseships Norway as a turnaround destination He will work closely with CN and all the stakeholders in Norway on these four initiatives. Nygard commented: We really hope another survey will be done which will show us where there is potential for all of us to earn more money. She is hoping that this new development may lead to funding. We would love to have some more money for marketing. We don t get any funding from the government. Everything is paid for by the ports and destinations. Despite the positive feedback to CN, Nygard would like to do more and says a rise in employees from the present 1.6 to 3 would result in a lot more being accomplished. One challenge Norway has is that the exchange rate is very high compared to the euro and the dollar making Norway a very expensive country. The only taxes are VAT (25% on food and other services, 8% on transport) and the NOX tax although all tourists visiting Svalbard have to pay an environmental tax of NOK 150 (EUR 20.2) each. Nygard commented on the latter: It has been there for years and it is not an issue. Marketing the country When it comes to fam trips, CN has been very proactive. Beginning in 2009, the first two weeks of September has been given over to a fam trip which focuses on a particular area. I am convinced that fam trips are the best way to market our country. I know that, for example Royal Caribbean decided to go to Lofoten after visiting on a site inspection. With 41 ports, Nygard said: We have a lot of hidden gems. We have tried to develop a kind of tier as it takes three to four years before each port gets a second visit. One thing is for sure though. We will continue to arrange fam trips as long as customers, cruiselines and member ports want to do it. One example given of the importance of offering a variety of shore excursions is Longyearbyen, capital of Svalbard. Calls were scheduled for about four hours with passengers only having the option of taking a shuttle to the local museum but on further research and collaboration cruiselines decided to extend calls to eight hours given that there was much more to do than was initially realised. 12 SHIPPAXCFI

5 Cruise calls In 2012 there were 2,066 cruise calls to the 41 Cruise Norway destinations, with 2.6 million passengers visiting, giving a 23% and 26% increase on 2011 respectively. The season has been getting longer with only two months with no calls last year. Among Norway s top 17 ports only Oslo experienced a decline in 2012 and that was due to the cancellation of 10 calls because of the pilot strike in the summer. For 2013 calls are up 12% on 2012 at 2,324 calls and passengers up 17% on last year to 3.01m passengers are forecast. Top 5 Norwegian ports (number of pax in 2012) 1. Bergen 446, Geirangerfjorden 312, Oslo 300, Stavanger 277, Flam 199,875 Source markets The German market is the largest with 164,000, followed by UK with 154,000 and the US with 57,000 compared to 82,000, 96,000 and 46,000 respectively in The British market which experienced a 10% decline in cruise traffic to Norway in 2010 has now increased by 37.5%. Cruise Norway s new members New members to join CN in 2013 are Arendal, Telemark and Odda ports and Spitsbergen Travel and Maersk Broker Agency. Photo: Mike Louagie SHIPPAXCFI 13

6 SVALBARD SPITSBERGEN Norwegian Cruise Ports, an overview Norway has a wealth of different ports ranging from the highprofile large ports such as Oslo and Bergen to those tucked away in the depths of the countryside such as Farsund and Sandnessjøen. With such a variety there is plenty of choice for the cruiselines. Joanna Boxall, Cunard shore operations executive, also commented on the increasing length of the season and the advantages that LONGYEARBYEN SANDNESSJØEN BRØNNØYSUND VESTERÅLEN HARSTAD LOFOTEN ISLANDS SORTLAND NARVIK LEKNES SVOLVÆR BODØ SVARTISEN GLACIER TROMSØ HAMMERFEST NORTH CAPE HONNINGSVÅG ALTA Flåm offers one of Norway s most popular attractions. Flåmsbana is widely recognized as one of the steepest and most beautiful railways in the world. The train station is just next to the ship. KRISTIANSUND MOLDE ÅLESUND ÅNDALSNES MÅLØY HELLESYLT GEIRANGERFJORD NORDFJORD GEIRANGER FLORØ OLDEN JOSTEDAL GLACIER SKJOLDEN SOGNEFJORD VIK TRONDHEIM FLÅM BERGEN ULVIK HARDANGERJØKULEN GLACIER HARDANGERFJORD EIDFJORD FOLGEFONNA GLACIER JONDAL/ROSENDAL ODDA HAUGESUND OSLO DRAMMEN STAVANGER LYSEFJORD SANDEFJORD FREDRIKSTAD BREVIK KRAGERØ FARSUND ARENDAL KRISTIANSAND Photo: Mike Louagie this brings in organising shore excursions. It was June, July, August but now we are visiting earlier and earlier and staying later so we have more scope. When there were so many ships calling in a short time it could get congested and we would have capacity issues. When in a port there are only so many buses etc that you can use, so with a longer season there are now more choices. She added however that the earlier the call the more likelihood of snow on the roads. When asked about the adequacy of the port facilities, Boxall was pragmatic: Some of the younger destinations are tender-only and may not have quayside facilities but mostly if we tell the passengers in advance they are happy with that. Obviously we want more facilities in some places but we understand that if it is a small port it is not practical. Nigel Lingard commented on Norway s desire to have more turnarounds: It is a long way to anywhere else from Norway. Also cabotage means a ship has to go elsewhere. I have my doubts as to Norway as a genuine base. When it comes to shore excursions, Boxall was enthusiastic: There is a really good variety of shore excursions from hiking to King Crab safaris and huskies. However for Cunard Line and P&O Cruises the most popular excursion by far is the trains: If we could add carriages to the trains we would love to. We sell out all the time. Not just in Norway but everywhere. 14 SHIPPAXCFI

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8 OSLO The capital of Norway, Oslo, is well located between The Baltic and the Norwegian Fjords. It is undergoing an urban renewal and the waterfront project, Fjord City, which will create better connections between the sea and the city by placing the traffic underground. The relatively new Oslo Opera House is an iconic building in a city that has many. The older City Hall and Nobel Peace Center are no less important and are close to the port. A quick ferry ride leads passengers to attractions such as the Viking Ship Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum, the Polar Ship FRAM, and the Norwegian Maritime Museum. Not to be missed is The Vigeland Park with more than 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland. Last year the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art designed by Renzo Piano was opened in the Tjuvholmen neighbourhood which has become a new destination in itself with many shops and restaurants. The Museum is located at the outer edges of the city next to the fjord. The three buildings are integrated into the landscape which includes canals, bridges and lawns where sculptures are displayed. Also opened in 2012 was the Mathallen Food Market. Nordic cooking has undergone a recent renaissance and the strong connection with the North Sea and wild natures brings an abundance of ingredients to the kitchen. This year marks the 150th anniversary of famous painter Edvard Munch HAMBURG arriving in Bergen. Vigeland Park, Oslo. with a major exhibition on his art from 1904 to 1944 at the Munch Museum. There are 162 calls scheduled to the port this year and passengers will have a number of new shore excursions to choose from. Opened last summer, Oslo Summer Park includes a downhill bike park and a large climbing park. All equipment is included in the ticket and available on site. Biking tours of a less hair-raising nature have been set up to visit the Akerselva River, the Oslo Waterfront and the Holmenkollen Ski Jump and Vigeland Sculpture Park. In the footsteps of Harry Hole has Photo: tom gulbrandsen been set up to take people through the city s streets, the setting of the popular crime novels by Jo Nesbo about Hole. At the moment cruiseships can tie up below the 700-year old Akershus Fortress. The Port of Oslo has however developed a plan for new cruise piers. One is on the west side of the harbour next to the Color Line ferry to Germany. And the other is an extension of the pier next to the medieval castle. A decision on where to start building and when has yet to be taken. BERGEN As a European City of Culture and World Heritage City, Bergen offers world-class experiences and culture. Being the Gateway to the Fjords of Norway, the Bergen region combines nature, culture and urban attractions all year round. This is a big city, packed with history and tradition, with small-town charm and atmosphere. The port is within easy walking distance of the city centre which can be explored on foot. From the main cruise pier, Skoltegrunnskaien, passengers can stroll along the listed wooden buildings at Bryggen to the old fortress at Bergenhus, or call in at one of Bergen s many museums and galleries. It is also not far from the city centre to Mount Floyen, Mount Ulriken or another of the seven mountains that form the backdrop to the city. With 335 calls and close to 475,000 passengers there is no doubting the at- Photo: Mike Louagie 16 SHIPPAXCFI

9 traction of this particular city. A cruise terminal at Skoltegrunnskaien is going to be developed and will be the main cruise port in Bergen. It will be used for turnaround calls with the port hoping to be a homeport in the future. There s a wealth of things to see and do in Bergen but for the active a Bergen Jogging Experience might tick some boxes. A guide will make sure passengers, of all abilities, discover the winding alleyways and mountain panoramas of Bergen. A more leisurely way of getting around is the Hop On and Hop Off bus which is guided in eight languages. Visiting Edvard Grieg s composer s cabin and enjoying a lunchtime concert at Troldsalen gives a musical flavour or a trip to the Aquarium offers new sea lion shows, a new snake exhibit, a shark tunnel and more. For the historically minded the Ole Bergen Museum is a reconstructed town dating back to the 18th century with actors telling the stories of old Bergen families. ARENDAL The cruise quays in Arendal city centre will be ready in spring this year. The port is now actively marketing itself to the cruise industry with two calls scheduled this year but with discussions ongoing for more both this year and next. The point of arrival has all been redeveloped with new buildings, roads, roundabouts and parking spaces in place. The port has eliminated all non-statutory charges such as quay, passenger and cargo dues so that visiting ships will only pay for used services. Arendal is very close to the main shipping route to/from the Baltic and north- SHIPPAXCFI 17

10 ern Europe. The city was founded on shipping, forestry and mining and became one of the wealthiest towns in Europe during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Arendal is built on seven small islands and is just a few hours sailing from the main route in the Skagerak. Whether a kayak, a rafting boat, a boat, a bus or on foot there are shore excursions for all levels of fitness and interest. Passengers can visit the local archipelago and the lighthouses, Store and Lille Torungen, or go upriver on the Nidelv. Wooden townhouses dating back to the sixteenth century and the City Hall bring history to life. Only 25 minutes drive away is Grimstad which was home to Norway s greatest poets, Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun. For something completely different the Naes Ironworks Museum dates back to the 17th century with the ironworks finally being closed in HARDANGERFJORD The five ports of Hardangerfjord - Eidfjord, Ulvik, Jondal, Rosendal and Odda - are expecting 114 calls and 170,000 passengers this year. Each has its own particular attraction. Having been to Ulvik when the blossoms are out I can vouch for the beauty of this fruit village where apple juice, cider and brandy are produced from the apples, pears, cherries and plums. Jondal is the site of the Folgefonna glacier AZAMARA JOURNEY in Eidfjord, Hardangerfjord. and summer ski centre where passengers can ski and sledge even in the summer months. Rosendal has Norway s only Barony with rose garden while Odda is the only town of Hardanger based on the hydro power industry with a museum charting its history. There is also a Roldal stave church and waterfall valley. Eidfjord is home to Norway s largest national Park Hardangervidda and the country s most visited natural attraction, the Voringfoss waterfall. The Norwegian road authorities are investing NOK140 million (EUR 19 million) in building a panoramic restaurant, better access and a glass bridge over the waterfall which is due to be finished in This year Edvard Grieg concerts are being introduced for cruise passengers in Lofthus Ullensvang as well as piano concerts in Ulvik Church and folklore. For families, farm visits at Voss are being introduced. In addition combination shore excursions are being offered which mean that passengers can leave a vessel in Haugesund, drive overland to Hardangerfjord (or vice versa) and pick up the ship there. HAUGESUND Located between Stavanger and Bergen, Haugesund is where King Harald Fairhair united Norway into a single kingdom a thousand years ago and it was from the area that the Viking Kings ruled for more than 500 years. The port only began targeting cruise Photo: Mike Louagie Haugesund s Viking festival. last year and has five calls this year, four from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and one from Swan Hellenic. The port is close to the city centre. By the first call - BAL- MORAL- on 22 May, the pier will have been landscaped and a new terminal, Haugesund Harbourpark, will be ready. One important factor to note is that pilots can now join ships just east of Haugesund at Roevaer which is only 5nm from the city. The city is host to numerous festivals including the Viking Festival in June, the Herring Table and the Norwegian International Film Festival both in August. A wide variety of shore excursions have been put together including Homeland of the Viking Kings which visits Avaldsnes, Norway s first capital city. Passengers visit the old church built by a Viking king and a reconstructed farm to find out how they lived. A tractor safari along the Eikemo mountain pasture trail includes a boat trip and tractor safari to view mountain farm life as few have seen it as well as a visit to Langfoss waterfall. Few people know that the Statue of Liberty in New York is clad in copper produced in the area. The Visnes Mining Museum tells the story dating back to Closer in time is the museum telling the story of the German occupation during World War Two. For fishing enthusiasts sea fishing off the coast can be tried while birdwatchers might prefer an eagle safari in Yrkefjord. LONGYEARBYEN Longyearbyen is a modern Arctic community found on Spitsbergen at 78 degrees north, midway between Norway and the North Pole. The climate is surprisingly mild due to the Gulf Stream which runs northwards along the west coast of the Svalbard archipelago. Glaciers cover over 60% of the archipelago and the remaining area is filled with mountain ranges and wide tundra Photo: orjan iversen 18 SHIPPAXCFI

11 A calving glacier on Svalbard. Photo: Svalbard reiseliv/constance andersen SHIPPAXCFI 19

12 plains. Cruise Port Longyearbyen is a safe harbour which is centrally located on Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago, and the only island with permanent settlements. Founded as a coal mining town in 1906, it is today the administrative centre of the archipelago. A colorful and multicultural community, the town boasts modern infrastructure to combat issues like permafrost and isolation. Local wildlife like the Svalbard Reindeer are often seen wandering amongst the picturesque buildings. There are endless opportunities for adventure here with Spitsbergen Travel s guides on hand to lead the way. On any trips out of the town guides will carry high calibre rifles and flare guns to ward against the 3,500 polar bears which roam the area. Most of the ships calling are expedition ships. A dock reception facility is being developed where passengers will be able to book shore excursions directly, gather information and buy souvenirs. This year Spitsbergen Travel has put on four new shore excursions: The Spitsbergen Experience which includes an introduction to Longyearbyen and a visit to the Svalbard Museum and Camp Barentz; Art of Svalbard to view paintings by Kare Tveter and taste champagne, a tradition which goes back The famous globe on the North Cape. to the explorers of the 1800s; the Burma Road Walk from the old coal harbour towards Longyearbyen; Explorer s Culture where passengers follow a map to the Airship Museum, which tells the story of Roald Amundsen s adventure to the North Pole, the Svalbard Museum, the Barentz Pub for an arctic smørbrod (sandwich)and Fruene for a cup of coffee with the locals. There are a host of other choices to suit all ages and fitness levels whether it be viewing nesting seabirds on Fuglefjella (Bird Mountain) from an open Polarcirkel boat before heading to the abandoned mining town of Grumant, summer dogsledding or fossil hunting at the Longyear Glacier. NORTH CAPE North Cape is located at the very top of continental Europe. Passengers can stand as close to the sea as they dare and have a photograph taken to mark the spot. It is an area of Arctic beauty with fishing villages steeped in cultural traditions. Work was completed on a new cruise pier last year. It has received some very positive feedback, giving the port the ability to take larger ships alongside but also to be able to handle ships safely in rough weather conditions which do sometimes occur in this far northern city. This year 106 calls with an estimated Photo: yngve kristiansen Huskies in Tromsø. 139,000 passengers are booked. Last year there were 112 calls and 121,000 passengers. The season began mid May and lasted until mid October. Of the passengers visiting last year, 83,000 travelled to the North Cape plateau. TROMSØ Tromsø is situated midway between the Lofoten Islands and North Cape. It is a compact city with good infrastructure and has plenty of attractions to appeal to people of all ages. It lies in the middle of the Northern Lights belt and is said to be the best place to explore these fascinating lights. Groups can be organised giving photographers a course on capturing the lights on camera or the thrill of dog sledging under the lights. The Science Centre of Northern Norway is a newlyopened planetarium which educates about the aurora borealis and the night sky. Tromsø Lapland is a new excursion which introduces passengers to the Sami culture and the traditions of a Sami camp. The port has 112 calls this year with the majority between May and August, 10 in February/March and one in October. Tromsø has recently dredged the seabed in the city centre and new improved quays have been built so that larger ships can call in the heart of the city. A new terminal for Hurtigruten and catamarans is to be built. In addition, facilities for turnaround operations are planned. Photo: Bård Løken 20 SHIPPAXCFI