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operations, which began in late January 2020, the Naftika_Chronika_210x280 20-02-23 16:09 ™ÂÏ›‰· 3
ship offered cruises In East Asia, with departures
from China.

INAUGURATION OF THE FIRST AND ONLY
CRUISE TERMINAL IN AQABA
Under the patronage of His Excellency the Prime
Minister of Jordan, Dr Bisher Khasawneh, Their
Excellencies Sheikh Khalifa Bin Mohammed Bin
Khalid Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Jordan, and
Tawfiq Kreishan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minis- THE RETURN
ter of Local Administration in Jordan, inaugurated
the first and only cruise terminal in Aqaba at the
end of January, which coincided with the arrival of TO GROWTH
the cruise ship MSC Splendida carrying more than
2,000 guests to Jordan. The new Aqaba Cruise Ter-
minal marks the launch of the first of five strategic
mega-projects planned between AD Ports Group Introducingnewdestinations
and Aqaba Development Corporation. andportalternatives
Under the agreement with Aqaba Development
Corporation, AD Ports Group will develop, manage, ThePosidoniaSeaTourismForum
and operate the Aqaba Cruise Terminal, a world-
class facility for international cruise passengers moves toThessaloniki,Greece’s
looking to visit Jordan, specifically Aqaba, Petra, 2 largest port
nd
and Wadi Rum. Over 50 vessels are scheduled to
dock at the Aqaba Cruise Terminal over the next
four months, bringing tens of thousands of visitors
to the popular winter-sun destination. 25-26 April 2023
The Aqaba Cruise Terminal comprises a 700-metre
quay wall, passenger and luggage hall, indoor Makedonia Palace Hotel
COSTA CRUISES RETURNS TO SERVICE retail spaces, free Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and offices. Thessaloniki, Greece
IN ASIA The ultra-modern facility is a one-stop-shop for
Costa Cruises announced the return to service in multiple government stakeholders serving the
Asia of Costa Serena. From June to September cruise business, improving processes, procedures,
2023, the Italian company’s ship will be operating and services, and making it an attractive destina-
a program of “charter” cruises in cooperation with tion for cruise lines, thereby increasing ship call
local Asian partners. opportunities and passenger volumes while ulti-
The signing of the commercial agreements took mately boosting the economy at large.
place in Dubai on board Costa Toscana, the flag-
ship of the fleet deployed in the Arabian Gulf CHINA SET TO DELIVER THE FIRST
throughout the winter of 2022/23. DOMESTICALLY-BUILT LARGE CRUISE
The total number of cruises Costa Serena will offer SHIP WITHIN 2023
in Asia in 2023 is thirty. Six cruises in June 2023 The Xinhua News Agency has reported that Chi-
will be dedicated to the South Korean market; na’s first domestically-built large cruise ship is
from July to September 2023, another twenty-four expected to be delivered by the end of 2023,
cruises are planned for the Taiwan market. as over 91 per cent of its construction has been
The itineraries, lasting from 4 to 7 days, include completed. Citing statements made by the China
some of the most beautiful destinations in State Shipbuilding Corporation, Xinhua said the
East Asia, particularly Japan, such as Sasebo, shipbuilding giant has also been building a second
Kagoshima, Otaru, Hakodate, Naha, Miyakojima, large cruise ship since the beginning of August Diamond Sponsor Silver Sponsor Bronze Sponsors Official Airline
and Ishigaki. In addition, departures are scheduled 2022.
from the ports of Busan, Sokcho and Pohang in This Chinese shipbuilding venture is of particular
South Korea and Keelung in Taiwan. interest, given that constructing large-sized cruise
Costa Serena is an Italian-flagged ship built by ships has traditionally been undertaken by Ameri-
Fincantieri that entered service in 2007. She has can and European shipbuilding companies, which
a gross tonnage of 114,000 tons and can accom- are the pioneers in this sector, as their leading role
modate up to 3,780 guests. Before the pause in in the cruise market shows.
www.PosidoniaSeaTourism.com
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