The 2024 cruise season kicks off at the port of Taranto

PORT OF TARANTO, 17 APRIL, 2024 - The port of Taranto welcomes today the first docking of the 2024 cruise season, which started with a bang with the berthing of the magnificent cruise ship Azamara Pursuit at the Ionian port's facilities. It is a day to celebrate for two reasons: in addition to being the first docking of the year, in fact, it is a maiden call, i.e., the ship's first call in the port of Taranto.

The ship Azamara Pursuit belongs to the fleet of Azamara Cruises, a prestigious U.S. luxury cruise line known in North America for offering tours dedicated to small groups, a preference for “boutique” ports off the beaten track, and a selection of proposals designed to foster an authentic connection with the destination - under the slogan “Change the way you sea.”

Taranto is included as a destination in the “10 Night Italy Intensive Voyage” itinerary, which sees the Azamara Pursuit sailing to the Mediterranean's most fascinating cities, visiting Rome, Livorno, Amalfi, Catania, Kotor, Ancona, Ravenna and Venice

Completely refurbished by the company in 2018, with its 180 m length and about 350 cabins, the Cruise ship combines an intimate atmosphere with top-notch services, so much so that it presents itself in the market as “your home at sea”.

With its 663 passengers on board, mostly from the United States, the Azamara Pursuit received a special welcome, thanks to spectacular tugboat water games upon arrival in the port.

2024 will be a special year for the Ionian port of call: in fact, it will see as many as 9 companies take turns at the dock between April and October. The port facilities, thanks also to the complex cooperation put in place by the Port Network Authority, the Harbour Master’s Authority and the State Police in order to ensure the necessary levels of security, are ready to welcome a variety of cruise lines, including those that, for years, have been returning regularly to the port of Taranto such as Marella Cruises, P&O Cruises, Noble Caledonia, TUI and new entries including Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and the extra luxury SeaDream Yacht Club and Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection. Special mention for Costa Cruises, the flag carrier that renewed the fruitful partnership with the port of Taranto started in 2023 by including the port of call, again this year, in an itinerary dedicated to the wonders of the Eastern Mediterranean. It will be the Costa Fascinosa that will make its debut in Taranto next June 9: sister ship of the Costa Pacifica, which stopped in Taranto last year, the Costa Fascinosa features the same technical characteristics, with about 290 m in length and the capacity to accommodate up to about 3,800 passengers. Once again this year, Costa Cruises passengers will be able to embark and disembark from the port of Taranto thanks to the collaboration with Taranto Cruise Port, a passenger services concessionaire that efficiently and professionally handles an increasingly heavy cruise traffic. The Costa Fascinosa will call at Taranto this year every Sunday from June 9 through September 22, for a total of 16 calls. Overall, the Taranto port calendar has 45 landings this year.

The prestigious maiden call ceremony was held aboard the Azamara Pursuit, in which authorities and key cruise stakeholders welcomed the ship's captain and officials to Taranto. The Network Authority donated the symbolic crest to the captain of the Azamara Pursuit, Mikael Palmroos, along with prestigious volumes chronicling Taranto's cultural and historical heritage.

The ceremony, attended not only by the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Seas, but also by the Harbour Master Authority, the State Police, Maritime Health, Taranto Cruise Port and the shipping agent DANAV, was an opportunity to remind people of the importance of cruise tourism, a sector that the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea promotes jointly with local players. Cruise ports represent an opportunity for the area to present the cultural, naturalistic and food and wine attractions of the Taranto to an international audience. Promoted by the company for the presence of the cultural heritage guarded by the National Archaeological Museum, Taranto has given cruise passengers the chance to set off to discover the area with tours focused on the historic archaeological beauty of the old town, typical local products and the UNESCO sites of Matera and Alberobello.

Azamara Cruises has booked as many as three calls in the Ionian port this year, the next one will see the Azamara Pursuit return on June 24 while in October the Azamara Quest will stop in Taranto for the first time.

“We are happy to inaugurate the 2024 cruise season with the prestigious Azamara cruise line”, - says the President of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sergio Prete - “which represents, with its boutique cruises, a response to the commitment that the Port Network Authority has made to the cruise market for years. The goal is to promote a sustainable development of cruise tourism, which is why the Authority is in constant dialogue with the local community and territorial bodies, the main beneficiaries of this traffic. In this sense, the action of the Port Network Authority is aimed on the one hand, to implement infrastructural interventions to reduce the environmental impact of navigation, through the development of innovative projects in the port area, and on the other hand, to encourage the local sector to seize the many opportunities related to ever-increasing tourist flows.”

“On a day that sees them at the centre of national interest thanks to the celebration of the Interforce Oath (Giuramento Interforze), Taranto and its community proudly welcome the Azamara Pursuit and its many passengers, marking the official inauguration of a new cruise season that promises to be extremely successful” says Gianni Azzaro, deputy mayor and councillor for Economic Development, Tourism and Sports of the City of Taranto. “This landing, which will be followed by many others until October, represents not only a moment of celebration, but also recognition of the hard work and commitment that our Administration is putting into making the city a preferred destination in the international cruise tourism scene. The choice of Taranto by travellers from around the world and organizers of major events is a result of the timeless beauty of our city, its historical and natural riches, and the warm welcome we extend to every visitor. From the crystal-clear waters of Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo to the ancient vestiges of Magna Graecia enshrined in our splendid MArTa Museum, from the vibrancy of our historic centre to the modernity of our port facilities, Taranto enchants and captivates anyone who visits it. The Municipal Administration, under the leadership of Mayor Rinaldo Melucci, in perfect harmony with the Port Network Authority and all stakeholders in the sector, is constantly working to enhance the heritage and promote the economic, cultural and tourism development of our city. And the arrival of the Azamara Pursuit, which we have the pleasure of hosting for the first time ever, represents a further step toward what is our goal: to make Taranto a beacon of excellence in the Mediterranean”.

“The first ship of the season is an exciting event, materialising the continuous work to promote the City and the territory. The 2024 season is characterised by a good variety of offerings, and as Taranto Cruise Port we will host both large ships with thousands of cruise passengers and smaller ships designed for demanding guests,” emphasises Raffaella Del Prete, General Manager of Taranto Cruise Port. Taranto is therefore a versatile and welcoming destination, well positioned in the international cruise context. Taranto Cruise Port has a further goal: the seasonal adjustment of the destination, hosting ships all year round, to the benefit of the image and economy of the area. An ambitious result, but possible, by continuing to work, as we do, in synergy with the Port Network Authority and all the actors of the port and tourism industry. Very important is the affection of citizens who have grasped the value of revitalising the City and the economic potential that cruises offer”.

“Today, the beautiful Azamara Pursuit, which we represent as shipping agents, inaugurates the 2024 cruise season” says Giovanni Danese, owner of DANAV shipping agency. “This maiden call is constant proof of both the international cruise market's attention to the city of Taranto and our work to promote the port of Taranto, which receives obvious positive responses”.