CAI Conference explores challenges and opportunities of cruising Atlantic islands

In Funchal City Hall, Nikos Mertzanidis, VP, Cruise Lines International Association - Europe, Paula Cabaço, CEO, Madeira Ports and Cristina Pedra, mayor of Funchal, signed an agreement for cruise passengers and crew to participate in altruistic activities on the island during its high season. Opportunities include tree planting in Funchal Ecological Park. 

Mertzadinis said the the protocol is ‘a very important one’ putting emphasis on environmental sustainability and reforestation. 

(L-R) A representative of the Portuguese Government observes the signing of the agreement by Cristina Pedra, Paula Cabaço and Nikos Mertzanidis. PHOTO: HOLLY PAYNE

The signing came on the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Cruise Atlantic Islands consortium, which includes Madeira, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde and the Azores. 

A series of activities and tours on the island, as well as a conference programme, marked the occasion. 

Challenges and opportunities 

During the panel, ‘Challenges and Opportunities for the Cruise Tourism Industry in the Atlantic Region and the World’ on September 27, Fiona Noone, marine planning and port operations manager at Marella Cruises TUI, expressed concern over the European Union’s Carbon Intensity Index, explaining that ‘it will be hard to reach CII regulations in the Canaries with seven-night cruises.’ Under CII rules, applicable to vessels of 5,000 gt or more, shorter distances between ports and longer periods in port result in a lower score regardless of whether the vessel is equipped with the most carbon-efficient systems.

Related:Tree planting action kicks off CAI Conference in Funchal

Since Covid, Marella has seen growing demand for shorter holidays in winter, and the Canaries ‘delivers.’

Marella Explorer will enter a five-week dry dock in November. Once maintenance works are complete, it will sail the Canaries, joining adult-only ship Marella Explorer 2. 

‘Passengers are wanting to do shorter, seven-night itineraries,’ Noone told moderator Virginia Lopez Valiente, CEO, Cruises News Media Group. ‘We want to come back to the Canaries time and time again’. 

As for shorter cruises in Macaronesia by MSC Cruises, ‘there is always the chance but we have to see step by step and period by period,’ commented Eduardo Cabrita, general director of MSC Portugal. 

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines had more calls to the Azores this year than in any year previously, according to Kai Algar, the line’s marine & port planning manager. Atlantic islands will continue to feature on Fred. Olsen world cruises, offering a ‘comfortable start’ and breaking up the days at sea. 

BC Group sees growing potential for voyages encompassing Cape Verde and the Azores, said the company’s GM Mark Robinson. He also suggested longer, 10-day Atlantic islands itineraries incorporating African ports, including The Gambia.

Related:Several cruise lines to attend 2024 Cruise Atlantic Islands conference

Meanwhile, Rafael Fernández-Álava, communication & external affairs director, Costa Cruises, remarked that the region of the Atlantic islands ‘will benefit from geopolitical problems elsewhere.’

Sustainability 

Robinson explained that historically passengers lacked the appetite for sustainable tours - ‘but that’s changing,’ he added. Amadeu Albuquerque, nautical senior operations manage of Portuguese cruise line Mystic Cruises, shared the view. Mystic passengers ‘are very worried about sustainability’ and seek ‘a different experience,’ he remarked. 

Robinson said ’huge opportunities for overnights, especially in Funchal’ exist, with the chance for vessels to shift from busier ports, such as Barcelona, to Macaronesia. 

Cabrita said he is ‘confident’ the region will be part of the cruise offering for years to come.

Increase in passenger volumes

In ‘The past in building the competitiveness of CAI’ panel discussion, it was revealed that the number of cruise passengers in the Canaries, Cape Verde and Madeira grew exponentially over the past 30 years. In 1994, the total figure stood at 286,082 and in 2023, it reached 3,324,552.

In 1994, 15,652 passengers visited Cape Verde (Furna, Brava; Palmeira, Sal; Porto Grande, Sao Vicente; Porto Inglês, Maio; Poto Novo, Santo Antao; Praia, Santiago; Sal-Rei, Boa Vista; Tarrafal, Sao Nicolau; Vale Cavaleiros, Fogo), while in Madeira, including Porto Santo, the number was 95,140. In 2023, this figure reached 86,945 in Cape Verde and 624,400 in Madeira. 

Collectively, Santa Cruz de La Palma, San Sebastian de La Gomera, La Estaca - El Hierro, Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Los Cristianos recorded 112,225 passengers in 1994, which rose to 1,106,181 last year. 

There were 78,717 cruise passengers in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Puerto del Rosario and Arrecife de Lanzarote in 1994, while in 2003, the figure reached 1,507,026. 

The panel consisted of: Juan Francisco Martin, former commercial director, Canary Islands ports; João Reis, former president, Madeira Port Authority (APRAM); Michael Blandy, former CEO, Blandy Group in Madeira; Eduardo Alvarez Hamilton, former CEO, Hamilton & CO in the Canary Islands; Franklin Spencer, managing partner of RS Consult. 

Ricardo Miguel Oliveira, Juan Francisco Martin, João Reis, Eduardo Alvarez Hamilton and Franklim Spencer. PHOTO: HOLLY PAYNE