LNG to assist record cruise season

The tally will set a single season record for the port, which is expecting 12 cruise ships to pay their first ever visit. The season will begin with the arrival of AIDAmar, due to moor next to AIDACara, while ms Costa Smeralda, the second cruise ship ever to be powered by LNG, is confirmed as visiting on 22 October.

Mai Elmar, director of Cruise Port Rotterdam, said: “We are very proud of this number. In fact, the current trend has surpassed our expectations. We think it’s fitting that our loyal customer AIDA is opening the season. This German shipping line sets the trend when it comes to raising sustainability in the cruise industry. It has developed a dedicated ‘green cruising’ concept and recently took the AIDAnova into service: the world’s first cruise ship to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG).”

Other season highlights include the flagship MSC Grandiosa on 4 November. In addition, Rotterdam can expect regular visits from various vessels in the AIDA, Cruise & Maritime Voyages and MSC Cruises fleets. ms Rotterdam and ms Zuiderdam will also be returning to the cruise port this year.