Latest news with #WesternMediterranean
Ya Biladi
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Morocco becomes second-largest source of irregular migrants to Spain in 2024
Data from Spain's 2024 National Security Report reveals that over 13,000 irregular migrants departed from Moroccan shores en route to Spain, making Morocco the second-largest departure point after Mauritania, which recorded more than 25,000 departures that same year. The report, published by the National Security Department under the Spanish Prime Minister's Office, confirms a growing migratory pressure on Spanish coastlines, with a record 61,372 sea arrivals in 2024—an increase of 10.3% compared to 2023. In addition to Morocco and Mauritania, Algeria recorded 12,038 migrant departures, while thousands more departed from sub-Saharan African countries, notably Senegal (8,970), The Gambia (1,943), and Guinea-Bissau (250). According to the report, the Canary Islands received the highest number of arrivals, with 46,843 migrants—up 17.4% from the previous year—while the Balearic Islands saw a sharp rise of 158.3%. While the traditional migration route from Morocco and Algeria followed the «Western Mediterranean route», the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands saw an 18% increase in traffic, in contrast to a 6% decline along the Western Mediterranean route. This shift is attributed to stricter controls in Libya and Tunisia, which have redirected migration flows toward Mauritania, Senegal, and Morocco—significantly increasing pressure on these countries. The report underscores that Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, and Senegal are now facing mounting challenges due to this shift.
NZ Herald
13-05-2025
- NZ Herald
8 reasons to do a Mediterranean cruise during the quiet season
Overnight stays and no sea days If you prefer exploring on shore to sailing, a quiet season cruise is ideal for pursuing your passion for exploration. During peak season, the number of ships in port can make it difficult (and expensive) for cruise lines to dock overnight. In winter, it's a different story, with some sailings offering multiple nights in sought-after ports like Athens or a second visit to a popular spot like Ephesus during the voyage so travellers can delve more deeply into the history of this fascinating destination. Quiet season cruises also tend to have fewer sea days so you can maximise your time in port. Support the local economy Sailing during the low season is a way for cruisers to support the local economy by spending time in cities during the quieter months when things are quieter and business can be slow. Not only will your tourist dollars be especially welcome, you'll also find cheaper prices for things like tours which can help take the sting out of the poor exchange rate with the Euro. Cruise fare savings galore I'm not kidding when I say you can make your holiday dollar go further. For example, prices fo r Viking Ocean Cruises' Iconic Western Mediterranean sailings can drop by almost half during the quiet season, bringing this cruise down from its busy season peak of NZ$10,745 to NZ$5980 per person. If you're on a tighter budget, MSC's seven-night round-trip Mediterranean sailings go down from NZ$1500 to NZ$1080. Keep an eye out for last-minute specials and you could save even more. Accommodation is cheaper It's not just your cruise fare that costs less during Europe's quiet season. Low-season airfares are generally cheaper too, and so is accommodation. When the summer crowds have gone home, hotels throughout Europe offer deals to tempt travellers to make a booking, making this the perfect time to enjoy a longer pre- or post-cruise stay or extend your trip. Whether you're on a tight budget or like the idea of staying somewhere nicer than you could usually afford, it's a win-win. Shorter (or no) queues If you're visiting one of Europe's most popular ports, the lure of shorter queues at museums, art galleries and attractions during the quiet season is particularly appealing. It's easier to get tickets to popular attractions too, as these are less likely book out in advance like they do in peak season. And when you get there, you don't have to shuffle through security or along the Vatican's corridors with hundreds of other people all trying to see the same thing. Seasonal touring highlights Along with shorter queues, fewer crowds and more comfortable temperatures, there are also different touring options to look forward to. In winter, cruise lines can add seasonal activities to their programme, like experiencing Carnevale di Venezia in Venice, visiting an olive orchard during the winter harvest or strolling through Christmas markets in Rome or Barcelona. The lack of crowds also allows for more flexibility when you're out sightseeing, as it's easier to step away from your tour group to look at something without losing sight of them. More comfortable sightseeing After almost passing out on a walking tour during peak season when Rome was heaving with people, temperatures climbed to 42C and seeing the sights felt like a test of our physical endurance instead of a great day out, I can thoroughly recommend sightseeing when the weather is cooler. With the effects of global warming continuing to be felt throughout Europe, there's never been a better time to visit during the low-season and see the sights minus the searing summer heat. Off season bargains may not last Perhaps the most important reason to book a quiet season cruise now is these incredible deals may not last. With so many good reasons to cruise the Mediterranean during the quiet season, more and more travellers are beginning to discover how good sailing at this time can be. In coming years, particularly if temperatures continue to soar, the quiet season may simply become less busy than other times of the year and be integrated into the regular cruising calendar – with prices to match.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Royal Caribbean makes generous offer to fix overbooking issue
Travel Royal Caribbean makes generous offer to fix overbooking issue CocoCay can accomoadate two of Royal Caribbean's largest source: Daniel Kline/Come Cruise With Me Although overselling flights is common among some airlines to compensate for "no-shows," overselling cruises is not something cruise lines regularly do. Occasionally, it does happen, potentially when the cruise line anticipates receiving some late cancellations. But other factors can contribute to cruise overbookings, too. Related: Royal Caribbean follows Carnival with new island development move When cruise overbookings happen, certain cruisers sometimes get the chance to score big if they're willing to be flexible with their travel plans. One such opportunity was just presented to some Royal Caribbean cruise passengers booked on an upcoming Mediterranean cruise. And in this case, even just being willing to switch to a different stateroom category could reward select flexible cruisers with a nearly free vacation. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter to save money on your next (or your first) cruise. This Royal Caribbean cruise ship was just upgraded to add new features like the Ultimate Abyss 10-story dry slide. Image source: Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean offers free cruise to flexible Allure of the Seas passengers Royal Caribbean reached out to some passengers booked in an oversold stateroom category on the May 15 Western Mediterranean cruise aboard Allure of the Seas. They received a very generous offer to entice them to change their booking, according to an unofficial fan blog not affiliated with the cruise line. "If your plans are set in stone, please mark this email as 'Read,' and gear up for your upcoming adventure - although, there are some pretty sweet options below," the cruise line's email suggested. Royal Caribbean outlined two enticing options that could be available to passengers with flexible travel plans, and both options came with a full refund of their cruise fare, even though they'd still get to cruise. Related: Royal Caribbean CEO reveals key trend that's costing cruisers The first option offered a full refund plus a $200 onboard credit to passengers willing to move to an interior stateroom, which suggests that only the higher stateroom category these passengers booked was oversold. The second option also offered a full refund of their cruise fare, but required the passengers to transfer to a different sailing on another ship – the May 18 Greek Isles cruise aboard Odyssey of the Seas that departs from Rome, the same port as their original Allure of the Seas sailing. With this option, passengers would get the same stateroom category, but the complimentary transfer would only cover their cruise fare for the new sailing and exclude taxes, fees, and gratuities (about $280 per person). Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter. Allure of the Seas is a popular ship that just got major upgrades For most cruisers, especially those set on their itinerary, departure date, and ship, changing stateroom categories would likely be a more attractive option if they want to take advantage of the generous refund offer. The cruise ship and itinerary likely matter most in this specific situation. Although the two cruises both leave from Rome on seven-night itineraries, they visit different ports and sail on ships from different classes. It's likely that many passengers would want to stick with Allure of the Seas due to the fact that Royal Caribbean just completed a highly anticipated $100 million upgrade of the fan-favorite Oasis Class cruise ship. Related: Royal Caribbean adds new onboard WiFi option cruisers will love Highlights of the revamped ship include new bars and restaurants, a reimagined resort-style pool deck, and new thrills like the 10-story dry slide, the Ultimate Abyss. The ship's renovation also added more than 100 additional staterooms across various categories. Allure of the Seas is cruising in Europe this summer for the first time since 2015, sailing seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises from Rome and Barcelona, visiting destinations in Spain, France, and Italy. (The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.) Make a free appointment with Come Cruise With Me's Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at amypost@ or call or text her at 386-383-2472. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 1:48 PM.
Asharq Al-Awsat
15-02-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
World Bank: Red Sea Crisis Raises Global Shipping Costs by 141%
The Red Sea crisis has emerged as a critical flashpoint of the conflict in the Middle East, upending global trade and maritime transport, port activity in the MENA region, and ecological balance of the Red Sea. In a report entitled 'The Deepening Red Sea Shipping Crisis: Impacts and Outlook,' the World Bank said that trade diversions have reshaped port trade activity along the Asia-Europe corridor, altering the fortunes of key hubs. It said Western Mediterranean hubs are thriving on redirected trade, while their Eastern Mediterranean counterparts face steep declines. Meanwhile, the report said, South Asian ports, like Colombo, have seized the opportunity, capturing more regional cargo. 'The disruption has sent shockwaves through global supply chains, resulting in longer supplier delivery times, especially in Europe,' the World Bank said. However, the report said higher freight rates have had muted effects on inflation so far, partly owing to subdued global demand, lower global commodity prices, and the adequate stock of inventories. The report said the Drewry World Container Index, a critical gauge of global shipping costs, remains 141% higher than pre-crisis levels as of November 2024. It said the impact is more pronounced along routes passing through the Red Sea, where shipping rates from Shanghai to Rotterdam and Genoa are, on average, 230% higher than at the end of 2023. In its detailed report, the World Bank said attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea—a vital corridor for nearly a third of global container traffic—have severely disrupted regional and global maritime operations. Security threats in the Red Sea have compelled ships on the Asia-Europe and Asia-North Atlantic trade lanes to be rerouted around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. In the wake of these disruptions, the once-thriving maritime passage, prized for its role as the most expedient link between Asia and Europe, has witnessed a precipitous drop in vessel traffic. By end-2024, about a year after the onset of the crisis, vessel traffic through the strategic Suez Canal and Bab El-Mandeb Strait—which used to carry 30% of world container traffic—had plummeted by three-fourths, forcing ships to detour around the Cape of Good Hope, where navigation volumes surged by over 50%. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most critical oil passageway and a chokepoint between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has not been immune to the spillover effects, experiencing a 15% reduction in maritime traffic due to its proximity to the conflict zone. Also, trade diversion around the Cape of Good Hope led a sharp increase in the travel distances and times of vessels that once frequented the Red Sea. The report said that by October 2024, travel distances for cargo ships and tankers that previously passed through the Red Sea had risen by 48% and 38%, respectively, compared to the pre-conflict baseline of January to September 2023. It said this has resulted in corresponding increases in travel times of up to 45% for cargo and 28% for tankers, signaling a significant shift in global maritime logistics. The Red Sea shipping crisis has also profoundly disrupted the global supply chains. The World Bank's Global Supply Chain Stress Index, a measure of the delayed container shipping capacity that was held up due to port congestion or closures, rose to 2.3 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEUs) in December 2024—more than double the levels recorded in December 2023. Over the past year, Eastern Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf ports have accounted for 26% of delayed container shipping capacity, up from 8% a year ago. Meanwhile, China's share has dropped to 9% from 38%. The report additionally showed that Purchasing Managers' Indices for suppliers' delivery times have increased in 25 out of 35 surveyed countries globally between November 2023 and October 2024, compared to the pre-crisis baseline of November 2022 to October 2023. The deterioration of supplier delivery times has been particularly pronounced in Europe and some of the Asian countries. The World Bank said that since November 2023, the majority of Red Sea and Gulf ports and their associated economies have registered reduced sea trade volumes compared to the baseline period of November 2022 to October 2023. Jordan and Oman saw the steepest declines in shipping exports, with reductions of 38% and 28%, respectively, while Jordan and Qatar experienced the largest declines in shipping imports, at 50 and 27%. Between November 2023 and October 2024, nearly all of the top 20 ports across Red Sea and Gulf countries recorded notable drops in both imports and exports, with an average trade volume decrease of 8% compared to their pre-crisis levels. Egypt reported an estimated $7 billion loss in Suez Canal revenues for 2024, representing approximately 5% of its GDP. Nevertheless, a few ports in the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have bucked the trend, showing positive growth. Their locations in the Mediterranean and the Gulf, away from Houthi-controlled Yemeni territory, likely enabled them to benefit from trade diversion from ports located near the conflict's center and maintain uninterrupted trade routes to Europe and other markets. From November 2023 to October 2024, global port visits and seaborne trade volumes dropped by 5% for imports and 4% for exports compared to the November 2022 to October 2023 baseline, partly due to the Red Sea shipping crisis. With the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas taking effect on January 19, 2025, and the Houthis stating they will limit attacks on commercial vessels to Israel-linked ships, the potential for reduced disruptions to global maritime trade has increased, the report showed. It said a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on January 19, 2025, unfolding in three phases over several weeks. More specifically, three scenarios are constructed to assess its potential impact on shipping trade. First, in the baseline scenario, the crisis is assumed to last until October 2025, with year-on-year shipping trade growth from December 2024 to October 2025 mirroring those observed during the same period from December 2023 to October 2024. Second, gradual recovery scenario assumes the crisis lasts until May 2025, after which shipping trade growth returns to the pre-crisis levels. Third, the World Bank said a rapid recovery scenario assumes the crisis ends quickly in February 2025.
