Photo: Erik Joachimsen
Photo: Erik Joachimsen
24
CRUICE NORTH 2014
Increased capacity at no additional cost:
Creative itineraries
Northern Norway and Svalbard is the land of the Midnight Sun. From the end of
May till the end of July the region has 24 hours daylight, allowing us to exploit the
capacity of the ports in a completely different way than is currently the case.
Avoiding congestion at a port is the most
important action a cruise line can take in
order to create a call that is as successful
as possible. Berths at ports and access to
buses and guides are often scarce when
the largest cruise ships call. If several
large cruise ships call at the North Cape,
Tromsø and Lofoten on the same day,
this creates dissatisfaction on the most
hectic days.
“Fortunately there aren’t many such
days during a season. But we have
noticed that this can be solved in a
relatively simple manner without major
changes in the sailing
pattern,” says Remi
Solberg at Arctic Guide
Service (pictured).
He runs Northern
Norway’s largest guide
company, and each
year observes that
slightly more flexible
exploitation of all 24 hours of the day
would have solved many of the challenges
everyone faces. “By dividing up the day,
some cruise ships could call during the
day and others in the evening. This should
also form the basis for being able to
negotiate port fees,” he says.
“In addition, this would enable the
capacity for buses and guides to be
used in a completely different way. I
actually find it hard to understand that
more agents and cruise lines don’t see
this simple opportunity,” says Solberg,
who has extensive experience with the
implementation of cruise calls in Northern
Norway.
The ports have little interest in
investing substantial amounts to avoid
a few peaks during the season. Solberg
mentions an example that is rapidly
approaching: “On June 6
th
2014, there
are three calls with a total of 6,000
passengers to Leknes in Lofoten. All of
these are during the daytime. If we were
successful in spreading these calls out
over the entire 24-hour period, this would
create a favourable win-win situation for
absolutely all the parties involved.”
Solberg is therefore encouraging all
itinerary planners to keep this in mind
when planning future sailings. “Remember
that the weather is often much calmer
in the afternoon and evening, so there is
much to be gained here. The alternative
is that one doesn’t get a berth at a port
or that there is congestion, and obviously
nobody wants this,” says Solberg.
