MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Gibraltar wins Seatrade Cruise Shipping award

The Gibraltar Cruise Terminal has won an award at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping convention held in the US city of Miami last week. Gibraltar received the 2008 award for the “Most Efficiently Managed and Operated Cruise Terminal in the Mediterranean”.

Gibraltar also received a commendation under the “Destination with the Best Tour Guides” category. The survey undertaken by Dream World Cruise Destinations for the 2008 Awards reveals that 231 ports and destinations were put forward as having delivered a service level beyond expectation.

Of these, 41 won awards this year. In 2003, Gibraltar won the “Most Efficient Terminal Operator” award.

“I am delighted with the news that the Gibraltar Cruise Terminal has been recognised in this way by the industry”, said Joe Holliday, Minister for the Port.

“The recognition is a testament to the professional manner in which cruise ships and their passengers are dealt with during their visits to Gibraltar. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Port and Terminal’s staff and local industry players for achieving this recognition. It is awards such as this which reflect the hard work put in by the industry in Gibraltar that will keep us ahead in this very competitive industry.”

Meanwhile, following the violent storm suffered last October that wreaked havoc at the Cruise Terminal, the Terminal has been completely refurbished in time to welcome Gibraltar’s first cruise passengers of the 2009 season.

The Holland America cruise ship “Prisendam” will call on Wednesday for a seven-hour stay in Port. All indications point to 2009 being another record year for cruise calls with Gibraltar expecting to receive 242 calls and a maximum of 360,000 passengers. Last year, Gibraltar received 222 calls carrying over 309,000 passengers.