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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

MuguettteDuring 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.