“A great percentage of cruise passengers to Gibraltar are repeat, so new shore excursions are being reviewed, tested and introduced,” said Nicholas Guerrero, chief executive of the Gibraltar Tourist Board.
“In addition, new attractions are being rolled out, such as the SkyWalk and Windsor Bridge, in the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Upper Rock. We also organize evening concerts at St Michael’s Cave exclusively for cruise ships,” he told Cruise Industry News.
Of note, in June, the destination will play host to the MedCruise General Assembly.
That will complete a big year, with 219 calls booked. Maiden visits on the schedule include the Ocean Nova, Majestic Princess, Norwegian Joy, Celebrity Reflection, Panorama ll, Seabourne Encore and Columbus.
“We offer a variety of incentives, such as discounts on turnarounds, trans-Atlantic re-positioning calls, number of calls made in a year and passenger volume rebates,” Guerrero continued. “Non-financial incentives include allowing ships to open onboard shops and casinos after 18:00 local time while remaining in port.”
The cruise call business has seen consistent growth in Gibraltar.
“We are located at the entrance to the Mediterranean and are an ideal port of call for Western Mediterranean and Atlantic itineraries,” added Guerrero. “Located a short distance from main shipping lanes, Gibraltar offers a unique product and experience; a destination with a distinct British flavor in the Mediterranean, it enjoys natural and military history, architecture, unique culture and VAT free shopping.”
Gibraltar was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status in 2016 for its Gorham’s Cave Complex. Gorham’s is the last known site of Neanderthal survival, some 28,000 years ago.
