The major players in the cruises sector are shining their spotlights on Livorno’s harbor. The value enhancements of the Tuscan port’s infrastructure deployed last fall with the new Cruise Terminal [Terminal Crociere] dedicated to services for passengers and crews are revamping the interest of international cruise operators. This September, Porto di Livorno 2000 – the port’s management company – has closed two important deals with Carnival and MSC.

The partnership with the world’s leading cruise group includes a five-year (renewable for an additional six years) collaboration contract pertaining to all brands owned by Holding Carnival Corporation & PLC: Curnard, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, Aida Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines and Costa Crociere. The Carnival-Livorno alliance forecasts 127 stops in 2015, corresponding to an estimated 250,000 passengers. “Thank you to Porto di Livorno 2000 and the Port Authority of Livorno [Autorità Portuale di Livorno] for their hard work and for their willingness to find solutions and take a strong step forward from last year,” commented Michel Nestour, vice-president of Carnival Global Port and Destination Euromed. “We believe that this agreement will allow us to continue to improve the quality of services for our passengers.”

After a record worthy 2012, with approximately 1.04 million passengers, the cruise traffic slowed in the Tuscan port last year. This imposed the need to improve infrastructures and services to make the port once again attractive to cruise operators: “The certainty of docks, the creation of the Alto Fondale [Deep Water] terminal and the works in progress, accompanied by an attention to the commercial aspect – explained the president of the management company, Roberto Piccini – were fundamental to this initiative’s success.”

In September, Porto di Livorno 2000 also saw MSC return to its port. The agreement foresees 15 dockings by the MSC Armonia in the second half of 2016, for an estimated total of approximately 50,000 passengers.


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