The most recent issue of Dream World Cruise Destination Magazine published a list of award-winning ports and destinations which had provided outstanding berthing facilities and services to cruise ship passengers in 2009

Proof that ports and destinations constantly work on improving their tourist facilities and services is borne out by the fact that this year the number of nominees has increased somewhat in comparison with last year.

This year, the crews, passengers and cruise companies nominated 51 ports and destinations for awards in different categories for their above-average services and distinctive qualities.

The Most Improved Destination 2009 Award, which Dubrovnik has recently won, acknowledges the improvement in tourist service and infrastructure, transport facilities, landscaping, traffic flow, access to tourism information, as well as new attractions and experiences.

Recently in Malaga, in the organization of Cruise News Media Group, Croatia once again had the honor to receive significant award for the Best Cruise Destination in the year 2009.

This confirms the fact that cruising tourism in Croatia has reached an enviable level of quality and that such acknowledgements should encourage further progress in the field.

18.02.2010.           Croatia - Best Cruise Destination 2009

At the second edition of the Mediterranean CRUISE EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2010 hosted in the city of Malaga on the 18th of February 2010, Croatia won the award in the category Best Cruise Destination 2009 together with Turkey.

The prize was received by General Managers of Dubrovnik, Šibenik and Zadar Port Authorities and Mrs. Sania Jelić, Spanish Office Croatian National Tourist Board Manager.

The award winning ceremony was held in scope of one-day EXCELLENCE CRUISE FORUM, summit knowledge in the international cruise sector, which brought together more than 160 managers and executives of major shipping lines operating in Europe, representatives of European ports as well as travel agencies, tour operators, community members port and tourism industry in general.

The awards in 14 categories are the result of a macro survey made by CRUISES NEWS MEDIA GROUP among Spanish cruise passengers who have chosen the best cruise line, the best cruise ship, the best entertainment on bord and the best Mediterranean port of 2009. Croatia has the honour to receive an important acknowledgement again this year as the best cruise destination in 2009.

Last year, at the event Excellence Cruise Awards ( Mediterranean Edition), the Port of Dubrovnik won the award as the best Mediterranean port of 2008 together with Venice in the category of the best service for cruise ships in the Mediterranean.

These are pioneer awards not only in Spain but throughout Europe, and the results are highly valued by industry, since it is the opinion of the users.

 
Spain has the largest European increase in cruise passengers who spend over 75 % of their vacations on Mediterranean cruises. 

In 2009, there were 628 cruise calls in Dubrovnik bringing 847.000 cruise passengers, out of which the ships Empress (Pullmantur), Grand Mistral (Iberocruceros) and Gemini (Quail travel group) sailed into the Port of Dubrovnik 42 times and brought over 60.000 Spanish passengers. In 2010, the ships Empress and Grand Mistral will be replaced by the ships Zenith and Grand Celebration, which will call the Port of Dubrovnik on a regular base from April until November, and which will, with the ship Gemini, bring over 80.000 passengers in the scope of their 70 cruise calls.

"This is certainly a moment to remember the maritime tradition and history of this city, the galleys and shipbuilders and many great seafarers that sailed out from here. It is also certain that the completion of the new operative quay at the port of Dubrovnik is a moment when we are turning a new leaf. It is my wish that this season the results get even better thanks to the port of Dubrovnik. May the ships sail to you and to us, at the benefit of all of us." - With these words and the sound of ship sirens, on the 2^nd of February 2010 the President of the Government of Croatia, Mrs. Jadranka Kosor, opened the new operative quay at the port of Dubrovnik - Gruž.

 Short speeches were given by the Minister Mr. Božidar Kalmeta, the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Prefect Mr. Nikola Dobroslavić and the Mayor of the City of Dubrovnik Mr. Andro Vlahušić. The details of the reconstruction and the importance of this huge project for the City, the County and the Republic of Croatia were explained by Dubrovnik Port Authority General Manager Mr. Vlaho Đurković, who also announced the continuation of civil works at Batahovina area.

 The grand opening ceremony was enhanced by the presence of Mr. Božo Biškupić, the Minister of Culture, Capt. Mario Babić, State Secretary for the Sea, Parliament representatives Mr. Branko Bačić, Mrs. Dubravka Šuica and Mr. Frano Matušić and many other representatives of Croatian maritime affairs, the constructors and supervisors, the members of Dubrovnik-Neretva County Shipping Association as well as many other business partners.

COMPLETION OF RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OPERATIVE QUAY IN GRUZ HARBOUR

On the 10^th of December 2009 the reconstruction and development of operative quay in Gruž port has been completed. It was a crucial phase of Gruž aquatorium development.

The investment in reconstruction of quay line from Solska baza to Kantafig amounts to 26,5 million euros. Civil works have been carried out by the company Konstruktor Inženjering from Split, while the supervision works have been performed by the company IGH. The final result of this complicated project is about 810 meters of new quay line with about 13.500 square meters of new area and 11 meters of draught.

Today the existing passenger port of Dubrovnik primarily serves for accommodation of passenger cruise ships and local ship and ferry traffic. It consists of 88.000 square meters of land operative area with the quay line of 1.220 meters in length. It is divided in ten berths (from berth 7 to berth 16) and the accompanying aquatorium which comprises two thirds of Gruž bay total area.

The Investor, Dubrovnik Port Authority, the representatives of the Contractor and Supervisor, held a press conference yesterday, during which they all expressed their satisfaction with performed works, by emphasizing their happiness that Croatian companies were selected for this huge assignment.

Civil works started in May 2005, but they were very demanding because they had to fulfill highest world standards and ecological norms set by the European Union. The new quayline is built on 607 concrete piles ? pilots.

Special care was given to environmental issues, which is the reason why concrete piles were built (water circulation). The approval for disposal of dug-out material (eight miles south of Koločep island).

One of the many examples proving how much effort was invested in order to stop the pollution of city streets is the fact that each exit of the truck to city streets was preceded by tire wash. Special thanks for understanding was given to all citizens and the City of Dubrovnik for cooperation and support.

At the moment we are working on realization of 8 million euros EBRD loan in order to go on with the modernization of Gruž port. Next year the Urbanistic Detailed Plan should be finalized, which would mean the continuance of plans related to construction of new facilities at the port of Dubrovnik.

In 2010 we plan to work intensely on the preparation of infrastructure project for Batahovina II area, which is preceded by Batahovina I, which will attempt to activate the port area trafically and economically outside of Gruž bay.

The projected project value is 16 million euros.

After the technical approval, we are now in preparation of the grand opening ceremony.

23.10.2009. MILLIONTH PASSENGER AT THE PORT OF DUBROVNIK

Mr. Guliamo Gaetano from Milan, who arrived this morning on MSC Poesia, is this year's millionth passenger at the port of Dubrovnik - Gruž.

Millionth passenger, the first mister after last year's lady, Ms. Antonija Matijašević, 2008 millionth passenger at the port of Gruž, was pleasantly surprised by the welcoming ceremony given on the occasion of his arrival during which he received presents from Dubrovnik Port Authority, the City of Dubrovnik as well as other representatives of tourist activities at Dubrovnik port area.

This year the millionth passenger arrived three weeks earlier than last year, corresponding to announcements of traffic increase by 3% compared to 2008. By the end of the year we expect 628 cruise calls bringing 847.000 cruise passengers to Dubrovnik.

The expected total traffic (domestic and international) of the port of Dubrovnik - Gruž in 2009 is about 1.081.000 passengers, while for 2010 the expected number of passengers grows to 1.129.000 passengers, which represents a 4,2% passenger growth.

The planned cruise traffic increase in 2010 amounts to 7% in number of passengers compared to 2009.

According to cruise ship arrival announcements we expect 648 cruise calls with around 920.000 cruise passengers.

After the millionth passenger welcoming ceremony, Dubrovnik Branch Office of MSC Cruises and the Captain of MSC Poesia donated 60 mattresses to Dubrovnik Red Cross. This year 250.000 passengers from MSC cruise ships visited Dubrovnik, and during the next two year their ships will arrive even during the winter period.

In this year's winter period (November 2009 - March 2010) the port of Dubrovnik expects 40 cruise ship arrivals, which is a 20% increase compared to the same period of the last year.

Dream World Cruise Destinations Autumn 2009 edition features the world's busiest cruise ports of call, among which Dubrovnik takes the 10^th place in the 2008 table of the world's busiest ports of call (according to number of transit passengers who use another port as homeport), as well as the 3^rd place among Mediterranean ports, following Naples and Livorno.

It is significant to emphasize that the top ten places of the world's busiest homeports include five Mediterranean ports (Barcelona, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Venice and Palma), which confirms how important cruise tourism is for the Mediterranean area.

The new 130,000-ton Carnival Dream is also the largest cruise ship that has ever visited Dubrovnik port.

She is 306 metres in length, displaces 130,000 GT, has 14 decks and 1,823 cabins and accommodates 4,600 passengers and 1,369 crew members, including 30 crew members from Croatia on board.

The newest cruise ship arrived to Dubrovnik on its inaugural cruise started from Italy on the 21^st of September. Among many amazing features, Carnival Dream boasts more outdoor deck space, more stateroom categories, the largest spa ever built, a huge Carnival Waterworks and an indoor / outdoor café and live music venue called The Piazza.

This cruise ship was welcomed by a ceremony at arrival which included city orchestra performance and distribution of souvenirs from Croatia.

 
The Master of the ship organized a reception on board with the representatives of the City of Dubrovnik, Croatian National Tourist Board, Port Authority of Dubrovnik and Harbour Master's Office, followed by an organized ship tour.

The ship left Dubrovnik last night at 7:00 p.m. and continued her 12-day Europe cruise to Venice, Messina, Barcelona, Monaco and Livorno, but will visit Dubrovnik again on the 6^th  and the 20^th of October. The ship will then sail on a trans-Atlantic crossing and arrive to New York and then to Florida. For the next two seasons Carnival Dream is scheduled to operate Caribbean cruises.

Although the 2009 season, due to known global recession reasons, was expected with prudence in cruise ship arrival announcements, the results of the nine-month period for 2008 are satisfactory. In mentioned period, Dubrovnik was visited by 561,000 cruise passengers, representing a 1% increase compared to the same period of last year.

In 2010, Dubrovnik expects a 4% to 7% boost of cruise traffic.

By the end of the year, Dubrovnik is expecting to accommodate 628 cruise ships with 850,000 cruise passengers.

Croatian ambassador in Spain Neven Pelicarič and president of chamber of commerce, industry and maritime affairs of Malaga Jeronimo Perez Casero

Dubrovnik Port Authority
The main goal of Dubrovnik Port authority is to develop renominated and world known destination which will attract high clientele with its image, wide specter of services and quality and become one of the most visited stops in this part of Mediterranean.  The center of our goals for domestic and also for foreign parties is to make a package of services which will enrich the offer of Dubrovnik as tourist destination and make it more quality and more known.