Taranto Cruise Port: dreaming of 2022
Taranto Cruise Port: Looking Ahead to 2022
Inaugurated in April 2021, a year marked by an uncertain and fragile recovery for the global cruise sector, Taranto Cruise Port surprised with its figures, remarkable for a newly established terminal: the season closed with 28 calls and over 80,000 passengers, numbers that placed the destination among the top ranks of the Italian Cruise Watch, positioning it in the top 10 Italian ports by passenger numbers and within the top 20 Mediterranean ports.
The 2022 schedule seems to confirm this trend, showing almost doubled figures: 51 calls, 9 different cruise lines, and approximately 133,000 passengers expected.
Operations will resume on March 27 with the arrival of the Artania cruise ship, operated by the German company Phoenix Reisen, continuing until October 19 with the final call of MSC Splendida.
MSC Splendida will play a leading role in Taranto’s 2022 season, with 29 calls from April to October, including embarkation and disembarkation operations that will bring additional positive economic benefits to the local community. Moreover, 2022 marks a significant international expansion of the terminal, which will host important cruise lines from Germany, France, the UK, and the USA, including Marella, TUI, Phoenix Reisen, Sea Cloud, P&O, Celebrity, Noble Caledonia, and Road Scholar.
This significant achievement is undoubtedly the result of the intensive promotion of the destination carried out by the Ionian Sea Port Authority, the Municipality of Taranto, Taranto Cruise Port, and local stakeholders, showcasing to the world the potential, beauty, and rapid development of an area not yet fully present in the cruise market.
However, the global pandemic scenario continues to raise some concerns, causing instability in cruise line scheduling. Prior to 2020, itineraries were defined and confirmed at least two years in advance; now, fleet deployments are frequently revised, creating unprecedented volatility.
Despite this, Taranto Cruise Port continues its growth trajectory, including in its 2022 program projects aimed at sustainable improvement of port infrastructure, in line with the recently obtained ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications, as well as promotional initiatives, confirming its participation at Seatrade Cruise Global, the world’s largest cruise trade fair, and organizing Educational Tours to present the city of Taranto and its territory as a premier cruise destination.
To underline the port’s growing importance in the national cruise landscape, Taranto has also been chosen as the venue for the next edition of Italian Cruise Day, Italy’s most important event dedicated to the cruise industry, taking place in October 2023, offering an excellent further opportunity for promotion.
Antonio Di Monte, General Manager of Taranto Cruise Port, states: “Global Ports Holding immediately recognized Taranto’s potential, and the 2021 season results and 2022 schedule prove that this belief was well founded. The traffic levels achieved and projected are remarkable, not only for the absolute novelty of the destination but also considering the global crisis caused by the pandemic in the sector. Taranto Cruise Port is the rising star of the Mediterranean cruise scene, and the key to its success lies in the synergistic collaboration with the Ionian Sea Port Authority, the Municipality of Taranto, and the main local stakeholders. Full speed ahead: the rock port has all it takes to continue its conquest of the cruise world!”
“2021 will remain a memorable year for the port of Taranto,” says Sergio Prete, President of the Ionian Sea Port Authority. “Thanks to the valuable cooperation among the various actors of the port and local cluster, the port has been able to showcase the destination as an emerging tourist hub in the Mediterranean cruise landscape. Prospects for the future promise new and exciting seasons with steadily increasing figures: if 2022 calls are almost double compared to the previous season, the recent confirmations for 2023-2024 indicate the arrival of additional cruise lines, including luxury operators, calling at Taranto Cruise Port for the very first time. The Port Authority will continue its institutional efforts to consolidate these results and add new ones, aiming to enhance the exclusivity of the port by improving services and promoting Taranto as a destination in the most prestigious Mediterranean and international contexts.”
Taranto Cruise Port (TCP) is part of the Global Ports Holding (GPH) network, the world’s largest independent cruise terminal operator, with a consolidated presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Asia-Pacific regions. Thanks to recent acquisitions and continuous growth, GPH currently manages 21 cruise ports in 14 countries, serving 14 million passengers annually and holding a 24% market share in the Mediterranean.
