The level of cruise industry recovery from the pandemic has been highlighted by new figures released by the world’s largest ports operator.
Passenger numbers in the three months to June 30 of 1.8 million were just 29% down on equivalent 2019 levels for Global Ports Holding as ship calls increased by 14%.
In April, passenger volumes were 64% of 2019 levels, rising to 69% in May and 80% in June.
“This improving trend continued into July, with passenger volumes rising to 99% of 2019 levels on call volumes that were 10% ahead of 2019 levels,” the company said.
Cruise revenue for the period was $25 million, an 885% increase from the $2.5 million in the comparable period last year.
The company moved back into the black in the three months with cruise profit of $16.3 million against a loss of $1.7 million year-on-year.
“While occupancy levels remain below pre-pandemic levels, they continued to rise across the industry and grew during the quarter,” CPH said.
“As expected, in recent months, we have experienced a strongly improving trend in call and passenger volumes on a like-for-like basis compared to 2019 levels.
“Our July traffic statistics show a further improvement in passenger volumes, with volumes only 1% below July 2019 levels on a like-for-like basis, compared to the Q1 2023 figure of -29%.
“Despite the unprecedented nature of the Covid-19 crisis and its significant impact on our business, we have continued to grow the number of cruise ports in our network.
“Since the onset of the crisis, we have now added ten new cruise ports to the portfolio.
“By the end of the 2023 reporting period, our $250 million investment into Nassau Cruise Port will be near completion. As our vision for this port becomes a reality, we believe it will stand as a blueprint for future cruise port investment and will position the group well for further cruise port expansion.”
A 30-year concession for San Juan cruise port in Puerto Rico was signed this week following a 12-year concession for Tarragona port in Spain and the start of cruise operations at the port of Vigo in a 50/50 joint venture.
The network has been expanded into the Canary Islands by adding the ports of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Arrecife in Lanzarote and Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura. The ports handled 1.5 million cruise passengers in 2019.