CARIBBEAN SPIRIT, A new Way to Travel in the Caribbean!

PRESS RELEASE

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT has officially inaugurated its fast ferry service at Cabrits Cruise Ship Berth in Portsmouth - Dominica to Pointe-à-Pitre – Guadeloupe, via Grand Bourg – Marie Galante.

The new fast ferry service is operated by the newly renovated fast catamaran vessel ‘SPIRIT I’ of the Compagnie Maritime de la Caraïbe (CMC), owned by the LORET Group, which constitutes the largest conglomerate of private companies headquartered in Guadeloupe.

“Caribbean Spirit provides a winning combination, through the financial support and strategic vision of Groupe LORET, and (through the joint venture originally formed with BRUDEY & Frères) with more than 40 years of experience in maritime services in the Caribbean region” says Philippe Chevalier, President of CMC. “After our first year of operations, connecting the islands of Guadeloupe, we are extremely pleased that we have finally been able to extend our network to Dominica”.

Equipment:

SPIRIT I (ex-Acacia, which was taken over by CMC from BRUDEY & Frères last year) has been completely renovated -both inside and outside- to enhance passengers’ comfort and to meet the stringent security requirements for maritime services as imposed by the European Union.

SPIRIT I, constructed in 1993 in Sweden, has been fitted with two engines of 1960 KW, speed about 30 Knots, with a length of 136 feet and a width of 36 feet, offering a capacity of 350 passengers and 6 crew, i.e. 356 persons in total.

 
Services:

SPIRIT I is equipped with an open bar, available throughout the journey with a dedicated hostess, excursions for sale to visit Marie-Galante and Guadeloupe, as well as plasma TV screens with movies, temporary art exhibitions and much more to come.

SPIRIT I will be connecting the north of Dominica with the capital of Marie-Galante and the main port of Guadeloupe four times a week (of which one non-stop service a week to Guadeloupe) on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, until the end of August 2009, after which a bi-weekly service has been planned during low season.

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT will be benefit from a state-of-the-art internet based Central Reservations Service, offering on-line reservations, check-in and e-ticketing, handled by N.E.W. Agencies in Portsmouth, to which other points of sales are to be added soon throughout the Commonwealth of Dominica. Rates are competitively priced from US$ 79 return per adult, roundtrip fare, incl. VAT.

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT will not only start a new era of tourism development for Dominica, but also a great opportunity for Portsmouth and the North of the Nature Island to capitalize on the numerous tourist arrivals, up to 800 visitors a week because of its dedicated service to Dominica.

Especially at this time of economic hardship, which has already affected the airline industry, CARIBBEAN SPIRIT will offer a welcome alternative for Dominicans to travel North to its sister islands, and well beyond Guadeloupe by connecting to Pôles Caraïbes International Airport with numerous international flight connections.

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT is looking forward to working with the Dominican tourism authorities to make this new venture a success and is already planning to acquire new equipment to provide even faster and better services -albeit more economical and more environmental friendly- ferry services in to the Nature Island of Dominica.

For more information, contact:

David Alfon

CARIBBEAN SPIRIT / CMC
Immeuble Patisland
Rue Thomas Edison
Z.I. Jarry
97122 Baie-Mahault
Tel +590 590 574 574
Email : da_alf@yahoo.fr
Website : www.caribbean-spirit.fr Sphere: Related Content

Port of Heraklion feature a new port policy

The Port of Heraklion is the main and most modern gateway for the transport of passengers and commodities on the island of Crete. Furthermore, it is one of the ten major Greek ports with national importance (apart from the Thessalonica Port Authority and the Piraeus Port Authority). Port of Heraklion ranks 3rd in the passenger and goods transportation in Greece.

The Port Authority has a new port policy for the Cruise Shipping and our port already functions as a Base Port for Cruise Ships – in co-operation with the Heraklion Airport “Nikos Kazantzakis”. Our goal in the future planning is to operate a New Cruise Terminal with a New Passenger Station.

The Passenger Port serves 1,9 million people and over 310.000 vehicles annually. It possesses modern infrastructure while, at the same time, the existing good road network makes it easily accessible from the town, the Airport and the National road. The Passenger Port operates at Piers I and II, while the conversion of Pier III (currently Commercial Port) into a Cruise Terminal is also being planned.

There also exist two Passenger Terminals. The second one in pier II, which is the newest, stretches for 2,500 m2, and has modern facilities and equipment. In the future plan of the port is a third passenger terminal in pier III that will cater for the cruisers visiting.

From this year, the west side of the Pier III (currently Commercial Port) operates for the Cruise Ships.

It is already known that Heraklion is a historic city with a lot of physical and ancient views (like Knossos Palace, Historic Museum, Festos Palace etc) and is in the destination for Cruise routes in the Mediterranean Sea.

In that respect we can say that the cruise activity of Heraklion Port consist a business core activity in the development process of the Port Authority.

As I say above, the Port of Heraklion operates as a base port in cooperation with the airport of Heraklion, ‘’Nikos Kazantzakis’’. It is the only port in Greece that, in collaboration with the Airport Authorities, has the right to do the Check-in and Check-out of passengers at the New Passenger Station, giving the transit cruise travellers the chance to utilize the time in between until their departure from the airport.

The system of check – in, check – out among others offers:

1) Scanning x-rays machinery.
2) Passenger’s magnetic gate.
3) Exclusive use of anteroom in the New Passenger Station.
4) Use of place from shipping companies for passenger control.
5) Presence of Doctor during the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.

Furthermore, the Port Authority offers a free issue of a city map and free transfer inside the port with bus.

The port will be soon under the compliance of the ISPS code. From the 1st August will put into practice the security measures for the Olympic Games which will give a great security to all passengers, cruise and commercial ships.

Geographic Location of the port
The harbour is located in the centre of Crete, on the North side of the island. It consists the main entrance - exit gate of both the town and the port. It lies in close proximity to the centre of the town and has a very good road network linking it with:

· The town of Heraklion

· The airport ‘’Nikos Kazantzakis’

· The new National Road (N.R. 90) – North Road Axis of Crete

Its location is extremely advantageous as the Port is situated in the centre of the south- eastern Mediterranean, thus in the junction of three continents.

· Latitude: 35.16N.

· Longitude: 25.10E.

· Sea Map: 1707.

Services
Without question the largest and more effective Port Agent and Tour Operator in Crete for the Cruise Industry is Commodore Travel. Highly specialized in their function, Commmdore Travel offer a top quality, attentive service to Cruise Lines and in addition to leading Companies in the Travel sector. Sphere: Related Content