Genoa (Milan, Italy)

Port Genoa (also serving as cruise port to Milan) is located on Ligurian Sea. Genova is the capital city of Liguria (coastal region in northwestern Italy) also known as the Italian Riviera. Genoa is approx 145 km (90 ml) from Milano and approx 185 km (115 ml)  from Cannes (direction north-east). The city has population around 600,000 (metro over 1,5 million) and is famous as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). Port Genoa is ranked Mediterranean's 2nd largest seaport (after Marseille).

Port's main ferry shipping destinations in Mediterranean Sea (both cargo and passengers) are Sicily Island (Italy), Sardinia Island (Italy), Corsica Island (France), Barcelona (Spain) and also Canary Islands (Spain).

Genova is Italy's busiest cargo ship port by cargo tonnage. The port is also famous with its dismantling (shipbreaking) station where the ominous Costa Concordia ship wreckage was dismantled. The port is also one of the country's still profiting shipbuilding yards serving the yacht construction market, yacht and boat maintenance, navy shipyards.

Besides its containership and passenger (ferry and cruise) terminals, shipyards and various ship handling facilities, Genoa port also has several sailboat and yacht marinas. The list of the marinas includes - Exhibition Centre (Fiera di Genova, capacity 305 berths), Duca degli Abruzzi (capacity 350 berths), Molo Vecchio (old harbor, capacity 160 berths, max LOA length 150 m), Porto Antico (capacity 280 berths), Genova Aeroporto (for mega yachts, capacity 500 berths, max LOA length 90 m) and Fascia di Rispetto di Pra (capacity 1000 berths).

On January 31, 2019, Italian police announced the seizure of over 2 tons of pure cocaine (from Colombia) - Italy's largest drug bust since 1993. The drugs (street value ~EUR 500 million / ~USD 574 million) was discovered in a TEU container and packed into 60 bags. The unit was imported from South America and destined for Barcelona. The drugs belonged to several drug-trafficking organizations part of "Gulf Clan" (accounting for ~70% of Colombia's total cocaine export). Reportedly, the police replaced total 1801 packets of cocaine with salt, then sent the cargo on its way in a ploy to hold the drug runners. A 59-year-old Spanish man was arrested in Barcelona when he tried to collect the shipment.

Genoa cruise port

On March 23, 2013, here was christened MSC Preziosa. In the period April 29 - May 17, the Grand Celebration ship (operated by Iberocruceros, owned by Costa Group) was docked in Genoa for planned refurbishment and maintenance. Dry-dock works were performed at the shipyard San Giorgio del Porto - a major shipyard for repairs and refitting.

On November 14, 2013, the Costa Cruises company (Costa Crociere SpA) announced its plans to open in late spring 2014 new offices in Genoa. The new office space is for about 190 employees. It is located on the 1st floor of the Carmonte office building (Piazza Piccapietra), neighbouring with the company's Palazzo Costa headquarters. Genoa has been the company's hometown since 1950s. The new offices became workplace for Costa employees that previously worked at Via De Marini and handling all the commercial and tour operations for Costa cruise passengers.

On June 30, 2014, the Italian Cabinet authorized the transportation (towing) of the salvaged Costa Concordia. The wreckage was towed from Giglio Island (the ship's sinking accident site) to Genoa for dismantling and recycling, The Concordia ship’s last voyage was provided by the salvage company Titan Micoperi. On July 23, 2014, at ~11 am started the towing of the wreckage towards Genoa. The ship moved at an avrg speed of 2,3 mph (3,7 kph) arriving in Genoa 4 days later (on July 27).

On November 7, 2014, here was christened the Costa Diadema. The new ship left Trieste on November 1. The maiden voyage to Genoa also visited Dubrovnik (Croatia), Corfù (Greece), Malta and Naples. The ship's inaugural cruise departed from Savona (on Nov 8).

In 2016, the port reported a record year with handled over 1 million cruise tourists. In 2016, Stazioni Marittime cruise terminals were upgraded with new equipment, including new gangways at Ponte Doria. The investment was around EUR 2,2 million.

Since 2018, Port Genoa provides shore-power capabilities. The shore-to-ship power technology (by Nidec Corporation, Japan) enables docked vessels to receive electricity from the city's power grid. From the berth, vessels can plug in directly to the grid which allows full onboard operations without using the diesel engines. The Japanese company has installed such shore-power systems in the US ports Los Angeles CA, San Francisco CA, Juneau AK, as well as in other European ports (Goteborg, Travemunde, Livorno).

On July 7, 2018, during Costa Cruises' 70th anniversary celebrations in Genoa (Costa Zena Festival) was constructed a waterslide, with length 340 m (1115 ft) designed to break Guinness World Record for "longest slid in 1 hour". The slide was installed on Via XX Settembre street and helped to establish world's new record of 775 km (481,6 ml) sliding in 1 hour. Another world record broken was for longest bunting string - 2070 maritime signal flags were connected into 2 km long line along the festival's areas. At Old Port and Piazza Caricamento were performed live 60 performers (street musicians, dancers, artists, acrobats), 29 singers, DJs, comedians. Piazza de Ferrari had for kids games, workshops and parties with mascots. The evening concert (at 8.30 pm) was on Radio 105 stage (opposite Piazza delle Feste) and included performances by popular Italian singers and bands.

For season 2019, the cruise port expects 30% increase in passengers (to 1,3 million), most of whom (around 750,000) embarking (homeport).

Cruise itineraries to and from Genoa Italy

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Genoa:

• The most common itineraries are the week-long (7-day) Mediterranean cruises out of Genoa. These round-trips visit the largest Central and Western Mediterranean Sea ports of Italy, France and Spain, along with smaller ports on the French Riviera and the Italian Riviera (coastal regions with top-luxury resorts).
• One-way itineraries (including around Italy) leaving from Genoa end up in Barcelona, Civitavecchia-Rome, Piraeus-Athens, Venice.
• Short-break (Mini Cruises) from Genoa are 3-nights / 4-days long, operated by MSC ships and visit Barcelona and Marseille.
• Round-trips to Canary Islands out of Genoa are operated mostly during winter months. The itineraries visit North Africa (Casablanca Morocco) and Funchal (Madeira Island) and are often combined with other ports in Spain and Portugal. The most visited ports in the Canaries are Arrecife (Lanzarote Island), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria Island) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife Island).
• Among the most visited Mediterranean island ports are Palma De Mallorca (Majorca Island), Sicily Island (Palermo, Messina), Corsica Island (Ajaccio), Malta (Valletta), Sardinia Island (Cagliari).
• World Cruises from Genoa are offered mainly by smaller ships (like those operated by Phoenix Reisen). Itineraries could be both eastbound (via Suez Canal) and westbound, some of which are around Africa (with circumnavigation routes).
• Repositioning cruises offer one-way itineraries from Genoa to UK (Southampton), Holland (Rotterdam, Amsterdam), Germany (Kiel, Hamburg), Denmark (Copenhagen). Eastbound reposition routes (transiting the Suez Canal) may end up in ports in Asia (Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong) and even in Australia (Sydney NSWy, Brisbane Queensland).
• Repositioning – westbound Transatlantic crossings on ship relocation itineraries out of Genoa are offered in Fall (starting in late November). Among the destination ports are Florida ports (Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Port Canaveral-Orlando, Tampa), Caribbean island ports (Bridgetown Barbados, Fort de France Martinique, Pointe A Pitre Guadeloupe, Havana Cuba). The longest Transatlantic cruises out of Genoa are on ship repositioning from Europe to South America. They offer disembarkation in either Brazil (Rio De Janeiro, Santos-Sao Paulo) or Argentina (Buenos Aires).

Genoa cruise terminal

Genoa tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Medieval quarter: located on Piazza San Lorenzo. The medieval centre houses the Church of San Donato, the Church of Sant’Agostino frescoes, the Museo dell’Architettura e Scultura Ligure and the Porta Soprana. The most popular are the San Lorenzo Cathedral and the Tesoro Museum.
• Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace) is a former residence of the Doges of Genoa. It dates from the 14th century and displays different historic exhibitions. It is located on 9 Piazza Matteotti.
• Galata Museum of the Sea: this is the largest museum of maritime history in the Mediterranean. It is located on 1 Calata de Mari.
• Acuario di Genova: the largest aquarium in the continent. The Acuario di Genoa houses more than 800 marine species. It is located on Ponte Spinola.
• Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco: both are located in Via Garibaldi and currently work as art galleries. Palazzo Rosso displays Durer, Caravaggio and Titian works. Palazzo Bianco offers Rubens and Van Dyck paintings