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Noble Caledonia chooses Gibraltar for two Serenissima turnarounds

Noble Caledonia chooses Gibraltar for two Serenissima turnarounds
Noble Caledonia, has announced Gibraltar as the turnaround port for two of its 2016 itineraries in the region.

This represents a major breakthrough for the Rock’s cruise business, which has been achieved after lengthy negotiations by the cruise company’s local agent MH Bland, with the support of the Gibraltar Tourist Board.

The 100-passenger Serenissima will undertake two turnarounds in Gibraltar in October and November 2016: The ‘Morocco Bound and Beyond’ cruise takes in coastal Morocco and the Canary Islands from November 2-14, 2016.

On arrival in Gibraltar airport by scheduled flight from London, passengers will transfer to the vessel and spend a full day on the following day visiting the Rock’s main tourist attractions, before continuing the journey to Casablanca on day three.

Gibraltar will also feature in the ‘Caliphs and Kings’ themed cruise which will explore the architecture and art of Islamic Spain from October 25 – November 2, 2016.

After boarding in Seville, the cruise ship is scheduled to sail to Malaga and Motril and then onto Gibraltar, where passengers will disembark for a full day exploring, including a lecture on the Rock’s history before transfering to Gibraltar airport for the scheduled return flight to London.

These are the first  turnaround operations in Gibraltar for many years, something the Government of Gibraltar has keenly pursued, in addition to normal transit visits from cruise ships.

The move by Noble Caledonia will provide further opportunities for the port in terms of bunkering, stores, crew changes etc.

Minister for Tourism, Samantha Sacramento MP welcomed this exciting development for Gibraltar’s cruise and tourist industry, noting the extra economic benefits that would accrue from the operations. ‘We are delighted at the encouraging news that Noble Caledonia has included Gibraltar as the turnaround port for two itineraries in 2016. This is a major breakthrough for us, which underlines the untiring efforts of the Gibraltar Tourist Board and our other partners and stakeholders in the private sector.

‘We have also been very supportive of the Gibraltar cruise industry and we are beginning to reap the fruits of our hard work. Noble Caledonia’s initiative represents a great step forward and further evidence that the global cruise industry has complete confidence in our role as a leading port of call in the western Mediterranean.’

Sacremento said she was confident this will trigger further interest from other cruise operators to follow Noble Caledonia’s example.