The Port of Taranto welcomed on May 9th the first call of the 2023 cruise season, the majestic Celebrity Constellation, part of the fleet of the US company Celebrity Cruises, which is controlled by the Royal Caribbean group.
Having already called at Taranto in 2022, the ship is back this year in the context of its 13-night ‘Best of Mediterranean‘ cruise from Barcelona to Ravenna. The arrival of the Celebrity Constellation shows the renewed interest of Celebrity Cruises in the port of Taranto, confirmed by the inclusion of the Ionian port-city in its 2023 cruise itineraries, selected as port of call for the first time in 2022 and promoted through videos and articles on the company’s blog.
The Celebrity Constellation inaugurates the 2023 cruise season of the Port of Taranto, which from today until November will see seven different cruise companies calling at the port for a total of 38 calls (link). The Port of Taranto portfolio includes both international cruise lines such as Marella Cruises, P&O Cruises, Sea Cloud and Noble Caledonia and sensational new entries such as Costa Crociere and Norwegian Cruise Line. From luxury cruises to the contemporary ones, the Port of Taranto guarantees an offer tailored to the needs of different market segments, thanks to the competitiveness of the dedicated cruise infrastructure and the beauty of a rich and varied tourism destination, capable of surprising both first-time cruise passengers and loyal ‘repeaters’. The first maiden call of the season will be on 3 June with the Costa Pacifica, and will be followed by four more maiden calls: Marella Explorer on 10 June, Noble Caledonia Sky Island on 21 June, the sailing ship Sea Cloud on 6 August and the magnificent Norwegian Epic on 1 November. On 10 June and 2 September, two ships will be docked simultaneously at the port of Taranto, namely the Marella Explorer and the Costa Pacifica.
The port celebrated the first cruise call of the year with the tug boats’ water fountains, which accompanied the Celebrity Constellation upon arrival in the port of Taranto, offering a unique show to the cruise passengers on board. The operations were carried out smoothly and quickly thanks to the expertise of the port operators and Taranto Cruise Port staff, who ensured all the necessary support to the ship’s agent – Danav Srl – and guests.
Some of the 1,947 transit passengers on the Celebrity Constellation toured the city independently, charmed by the authentic Mediterranean flavor of the Ionian capital, whereas those who chose to take part in the organised shore excursions had the opportunity to discover the cultural attractions, natural wonders and delicious food of both the regions of Puglia and Basilicata.
‘The promising new cruise season in the Port of Taranto kicks off today,’ said President Sergio Prete. ‘In addition to Celebrity Cruises, this year we have the honour of welcoming numerous companies that continue to choose Taranto, confirming the Ionian port-city as a worldwide-renowned destination of excellence, as acknowledged by the cruise industry with the 2022 Destination of the Year award at the Seatrade Cruise Awards in Malaga. Starting from June, Taranto will also welcome a large number of embarking/disembarking passengers as the turn-around port of Costa Pacifica. The goal of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea, shared with the other public administrations, is for our region to become an increasingly popular destination for the international market, in order to create new opportunities for tourism and culture.’
‘Today, 9 May, Taranto Cruise Port welcomes the Celebrity Constellation, which opens the 2023 cruise season ending in November, and will see no fewer than seven different cruise lines docking at Taranto, with around 110,000 visitors expected,‘ said Raffaella Del Prete, General Manager of Taranto Cruise Port. ‘The main novelty this season is Costa Crociere’s decision to make Taranto Cruise Port its homeport, i.e. the port of embarkation and disembarkation for around 2,500 visitors. These are important numbers that confirm the international interest in Taranto, which is carving out an increasingly strong position for itself as a city of beauty, hospitality and ancient culture, and which is no longer just a transit city, but a chosen destination. This was confirmed by the 2022 Seatrade Cruise Awards, where Taranto was awarded the Destination of the Year prize, and the choice of Taranto as the host city for the Italian Cruise Day. This important programme of events is the result of the commitment of Taranto Cruise Port, which is working with passion to consolidate and increase the role of Taranto on the world cruise scene, supported by the international experience of Global Ports Holding, to which it belongs, and the close, proactive cooperation with the port and city authorities, to whom we are very grateful.’
‘The reconfirmation for this cruise season of international players such as Celebrity Cruises with its stunning Celebrity Constellation, which we represent as ship agents, further qualifies Taranto and its port as a valued destination for cruises, of which we are actors and promoters,’ concludes Giovanni Danese, owner of the shipping agency Danav srl.
