|
Rising
popularity of cruising in Africa
 by
Jerry W. Bird
"Imagine
a cruise around Africa, via the Suez Canal, stopping at
exotic ports on the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian
Ocean. Or if that's not enough, Africa's rivers and lakes
offer an abundance of opportunity for everything from soft
adventure to luxury. From what we've heard at this year's
travel show circuit, travel agents can expect some new
cruise programs involving Africa. Stay tuned for an update
and progress on our Africa
Cruise Supplement.
Living three blocks from one of the world's top cruise ship
terminals, we have a definite interest in this mode of
travel. Editor.
 The
number of cruise passengers has been growing almost twice as
fast as International Tourist arrivals in the last decade,
according to a new WTO study on the cruise industry which
states the following. "Since 1990, the number of cruise
passengers has increased by 7.7 per cent annually to reach
8.7 million in 1999. Although it represents only 1.3 percent
of all international arrivals, the importance of the cruise
industry has do with the amount of revenues generated and
its potential for growth.
A direct competitor to sun
and sand holidays, the cruise industry has an enormous
momentum and it is believed that North American and European
demand will surpass 12 million passengers by the end of
2010. The North American outbound market still offers medium
term growth but analysts agree that Europe represents the
largest potential short term growth rates. The main trends
identified in the report are:
• Faster growth in
European demand than North American demand, decreasing
average age of passengers, increasing demand for short
cruises and a boom in Mediterranean cruise.
• An increase in the size of the cruise ships -
impeding some cruise ships from crossing the Panama Canal
and increasing the investment required in port facilities.
This trend towards larger cruise ships will also create more
competition with resorts on land -some of these vessels will
include mini-golf, aquariums and even ice rinks.
• Consolidation of the cruise industry, which will
cause the disappearance of medium sized independent shipping
companies, therefore strengthening the position of the
larger cruise operators."
Dar
es Salaam and Zanzibar Exotic Indian Ocean Ports of
Call
Flashback:
Delegates to Seatrade Conventionin Miami saw the Tanzania
Tourist Board raise its profile and presence with its
first-time Coffee Break Sponsorship on Tuesday, March 4,
prior to the State-of-the-Industry Address. Tanzania will
highlight Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar as its exotic Indian
Ocean ports of call, as well as shore excursions to some of
Africa's most famous national parks and game reserves.
Showcasing
the diversity of Tanzania and Zanzibar's tourist attractions
at booth # 1261, the six-person Tanzania delegation to
Seatrade includes Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) of Directors,
Mrs. Vicky Swai and Mrs. Scolastica Ponera; Koz Gamba,
Chairman of the Tanzania Cruise Tourism Committee, Mr. James
Lembeli, Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA); Mrs. Sabaah Ali,
Zanzibar Tourist Corporation; Mr. Ali Haji, Zanzibar Port
Corporation, and a representative from the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area Authority.
As
the cruise
ship companies look for new ports of call in different parts
of the world to add value to their packages, Tanzania, the
largest country in East Africa, is attracting more
attention. Famous as the home of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti,
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania promotes itself as "Authentic
Africa." frica, is attracting more attention. Famous as the
home of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater,
Tanzania promotes itself as "Authentic Africa."
Silversea
Cruises features Dar es Salaam
Brad Ball, spokesperson for Silversea Cruises, describes
the attraction of this Indian Ocean Port. "The city started
out as a fishing village and is today considered the
commercial capital of Tanzania. Its picturesque harbor lies
along some of the world's most important sea
routes.
In this
intriguing city, visitors find themselves surrounded by an
impressive display of cultural and architectural influences
dating back to the Sultanates. However, it may be the
friendliness and relaxed manner of the city's inhabitants
that make it a truly appealing port of call.
Dar es
Salaam's sites of historical interest lie both in the city
and the surrounding area. An organized city sightseeing tour
provides a good overview for the first-time visitor. Of main
interest are the game reserves and national parks, which are
a good distance from Dar es Salaam and can be reached by
full-day or overnight excursions."
Zanzibar: An
Archipelago of Spice Islands
Zanzibar,
both as a port of call and as a day excursion from Dar es
Salaam, offers the visitor a taste of the exotic Swahili
culture and history. A former spice sultanate and later, a
major port for the Slave trade, the island has many sites
that are part of the Slave Route. The mosaic of
architectural styles in Stone Town, the main city of
Zanzibar Island and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflects
the rich history and influences of all the traders that
flourished on these islands. The Island also boasts
beautiful beaches, marine sports, diving and
snorkeling.
DUBAI: WORLD'S
MOST- PROMISING CRUISE DESTINATION
 Long
established as an excellent maritime city with geographical
advantages, excellent infrastructural facilities, ports and
logistics, Dubai started looking at developing cruise
tourism very lately compared with
other destinations. However, the emirate utilized its
relatively late entry into cruise tourism sector to its
advantage by creating better facilities and services than
others in the near and farr. The Dubai Department of Tourism
and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) see Dubai benefiting immensely
from the cruise industry in the coming years. Operated by
the DTCM, the Dubai Cruise Terminal was officially
inaugurated by His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Defense
Minister and Chairman of the DTCM on 26th March 2001 at the
state-of-the-art Port Rashid complex.
Earlier, the department operated a
temporary cruise terminal since October 1999. Dubai began to
tap the potential of this dynamic sector in the mid-1990s.
It set up a division in the DTCM in 1997 to spearhead the
growth in cruise tourism. The only obstacle, however, was
the lack of a dedicated cruise terminal. The ship-shaped
building is located on a 335-metre quay offering the
capacity to berth two ships simultaneously, while the
terminal itself is around 3,300 square meters in size. The
Dubai Cruise Terminal is the world's first to receive
ISO-9002 certification and also the world's only cruise
facility run by the government tourism body.
More->
Just
Imagine
"Imagine
a cruise around Africa, via the Suez Canal, stopping at
exotic ports on the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian
Ocean. Or if that's not enough, Africa's rivers and lakes
offer an abundance of opportunity for everything from soft
adventure to luxury. From what we've heard at this year's
travel show circuit, travel agents can expect some new
cruise programs involving Africa. Stay tuned for an update
and progress on our Africa Cruise Supplement. Living three
blocks from one of the world's top cruise ship terminals, we
have a definite interest in this mode of travel. Editor.
• Africa (North) and
Canary Islands
Canary Islands,
Djibouti, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia
Port details to be provided
later.
• Africa (South) and Seychelles Islands
Comoros Islands,
Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Seychelle Islands, South Africa,
Tanzania
Port details to be provided later.
Some
helpful Cruise Web Sites
Africa Red Sea
Cruises
http://www.orientlines.com/Africa/redsea01.html
Major cruise ship
companies site
http://www.leaderships.com
...
Small Ship Cruise
Lines
http://www.smallshipcruises.com
River Cruises,
ec.
http://www.prowsedge.com/
Visit Africa's
Exotic Ports on a Floating Resort
 During
her career as a Travel Agent in Tahiti, Muguette Goufrani,
our Associate Editor, worked for Matson Lines. Later,
visiting West Africa on a cruise from Europe along the Gold
Coast and Ivory Coast, she ended up working there for
several years. Ms. Goufrani's views on Cruising Africa will
appear in this section and in print. She lives in Vancouver,
BC, Canada, one of the world's finest ports and center of
the famous Love Boat Cruises to Alaska. Her Editor Jerry
Bird, worked aboard the paddlewheeler SS Keno on the fabled
Yukon River system. Together they can give you some sound
advice based on experience. If you have news of a cruise
experience e-mail: africa@dowco.com.
 Exotic
Adventures await
These storied waterways
have been followed by merchants, soldiers and sages for
millennia. Emperors and Kings built rich cultures here while
nature created treasures of her own. The familiar and
surprising, the old and the new-together , they blend in a
thrill of adventure that lingers long in the imagination.
Unable to resist the powers of the Sphinx and the Great
Pyramids, you are lured to the shores of Egypt as you pass
through the Suez Canal. Alexandria, built by Alexander the
Great, was once the greatest city of the ancient
world.
Your gateway to the Nile
River and the ancient wonders of Luxor and the Valley of the
Kings is Safaga which offers world-class snorkeling and spa
experiences. The shores of the Red Sea are home to other
alluring destinations such as Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Shore
excursions will take you deeper into these historic cities
and beyond, revealing exotic bazaars full of traditional
music, colorful arts and crafts, and delicious markets full
of the flavors of each region..
The warm breezes across the
Indian Ocean open to dhows and baggalas crisscrossing the
Old Port of Mombasa as they have for centuries. Sailing the
Mozambique Channel to the fabled island of Zanzibar and on
to Durban, beauty awaits in graceful mosques and aromatic
bazaars offering native crafts. The majestic profile of
Table Mountain signals the entrance to Cape Town, one of the
world's most breathtaking capitals. Inland from these
cities, herds of elephant, giraffe and countless other
animals are found in spectacular game reserves. Choose from
one-day photo safaris or overnight tours, and discover the
grandeur of Africa's wildlife.
Rounding the Cape of Good
Hope, you discover the romantic extremes of West Africa.
Sands sparkle like diamonds under a sultry sun on the dunes
of Walvis Bay, named for the whales once hunted here. A
turquoise surf leads to the secluded luxury of Bom Bom
Island Resort in the Gulf of New Guinea, where monkeys and
parrots play in the tall jungle canopy. But once again, the
jungles of the equator give way to the desert dune scapes of
the Sahara approaching genteel Dakar.
The influences of European
explorers are present along these shores, mingling with the
energy of modern-day Africa. A French colonial luster adorns
the intriguing capitals Lome, Takoradi and Abidjan. Banjul,
a maiden call, which was founded by the British in 1807 to
block the slave trade, today highlights the remarkable
artistic skills and tribal diversity of Gambia. Another
unique maiden call is Porto Grande, Cape Verde. And there is
the exuberance of the Spanish-flavored Canary
Islands.
Each port along these
exotic shores has hidden secrets and beauty to share. Using
hot-air balloons, helicopters, riverboats, land rovers and
other creative transport, knowledgeable local guides,
together with our shore excursion professionals, will bring
the history and myth of this region to life and you will
agree: It's a wonderful world.
For more information see
your Travel Agent or: http:www.crystalcruises.com
River
Cruises, ec.
http://www.prowsedge.com/
We are
currently compiling our editorial selection for the Africa
Cruise Supplement. In the meantime, here are some popular
cruise web sites:
The
CLIA Web site at
http://www.cruising.org/ lists
several groups of cruise destinations as follows:
•
Africa (North) and Canary Islands
Canary
Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia
Port details to be provided
later.
• Africa (South) and Seychelles Islands
Comoros Islands, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Seychelles
Islands,
South Africa, Tanzania
Port details to be provided later.
Some
helpful Cruise Web Sites
Africa Red Sea Cruises
http://www.orientlines.com/Africa/redsea01.html
Major
cruise ship companies site
http://www.leaderships.com ...
Small Ship
Cruise Lines
http://www.smallshipcruises.com
River
Cruises, ec.
http://www.prowsedge.com/
Website
Visit the following site and
check out the offers below. Watch for 2007 dates to be
announced.
Africa Cruises & Safari Cruise
Vacations
Princess Cruises: $50
per person onboard credit plus bottle of wine!*
Pacific Princess: 28-day
Indian Ocean and Australia cruise from Cape Town, South
Africa to Sydney, Australia.
- Sail date: October 13,
2006. Free Quote
Silversea: Free shore
excursion in Salalah, Oman!*
Silver Whisper: 15-day
African Cruise from Port Said, Egypt to Dubai, UAE.
Sail date: October 18,
2006. Free Quote
~ Destination Overview:
"Safari" is the Swahili word for adventure and that's just
what these Africa cruises and cruisetours have in store for
you: in south Africa and Kenya amidst the teeming wildlife,
blazing sunsets, and endless plains. Comnbine your cruise
with an African safari package featuring the most renowned
game reserves in the world for an Africa cruise vacation
you'll never forget.
Venture to the Pyramids of
Giza and Jordan's hidden city of Petra. Explore the lair of
the lion in Africa. Meander through the island paradises of
the Seychelles and Maldives. And admire the perfection of
India's Taj Mahal.
Africa with Cunard Line
- Cunard Line is a
traditional luxury line that began in 1840; its flagship,
Queen Elizabeth 2, is the worlds most famous ship and the
greatest liner of her time.
Africa with Holland
America - Holland
America is a premium, elegant, classic cruise line with a
semi- formal and yet relaxed atmosphere.
Africa with Princess
Cruises - Princess
Cruises is a premium cruise line focusing on passenger
choice in dining, entertainment, activities, and
accommodations.
Africa with Seabourn Cruise
Line - Seabourn is a
luxury line with six-star quality service, yet with all the
amenities and choice of modern cruise ships.
Africa with Silversea
Cruises - Silversea
Cruises is an award winning six-star luxury cruise line with
unmatched, all- inclusive value; voted "Best of the Best
Cruise Line" by the Robb Report in 1999.
|
