The port and city of Oostende welcomes cruise ship visits and has the infrastructure to support day calls and turnaround business. The cruise-ships berths / quays are adjacent to the railway station: berth no 103, 104 and 105 are especially used to accommodate cruise-ships. A swing-circle of 300m is present in front of the quay. The quay was strengthened and improved in 2000 and has a length of 250m and a water-depth of 8.5m at all states of the tide. The quay is situated in the outer-port, 500m from the open sea and the relevant shipping-lanes, and next to city centre of Oostende, so that cruiseships berth in the middle of the City.
The port and the city of Oostende offer all the right ingredients for a successful cost effective turnaround call for visiting cruise ships: Firstly, there is an easy access to the berths at all states of the tide, no locks, no sailing on narrow inland canals. The cruise port is located 500m from the open sea, linked to the shipping lanes of the English Channel and the Southern North Sea. Secondly, many highquality hotels located in the city centre and thirdly, Oostende is easily accessible: offering fast connections by road, rail, and air and by sea demonstrating that city and port are working together to make this an attractive place to organise a turnaround.
Oostende is an excellent location for shore excursions. The medieval cities of Bruges, Kortrijk and Ypres are in the direct neighbourhood of Oostende. Excursions to major Belgian cities, like Ghent, the diamond city Antwerp and Brussels can easily be organised and thanks to the high-speed rail-link, the international cities of Paris, Köln and London are easily accessible. It makes London and the Olympics of 2012, a very cost effective way for cruise ship guests to visit the Games.
The city of Oostende is a port town and a holiday resort with 9km of beaches. It obtained its status as city in 1265 and its strategic position on the North Sea coast has shown major economic advantages and also the cause of trouble. The siege of Oostende by the Spanish army between 1601 and 1604, and the creation of the Ostend Trade company to the Far-East in 1722 are superb examples.
Oostende has a rich cultural heritage. Very important for the image of the city was the attention of both Belgian Kings Leopold I and Leopold II during the 19th century, who liked to spend their holidays in Oostende and as such important monuments and villas were built to please the Royal Family. The city, many monuments, the cathedral, Fort Napoleon, the spa and the pier promenade are all within easy walking distance of the Port of Oostende. The city marina, houses the gracious Mercator, a three-masted barquentine, this provides a fascinating insight into our maritime history. Other possible attractions are the Casino and the Wellington Hippodrome. A visit to the PMMK, the museum for modern art can also be arranged. Oostende has always been appreciated as a free haven by scientists and artists, from Albert Einstein to Marvin Gaye.
If gastronomic delights are an attraction, there are many high-quality and local restaurants in the town, serving both local seafood as surprising dishes to tempt the taste buds.
From a thematic point of view, art lovers will find their way in Bruges and Ghent, where medieval artists as Van Eyck and Memling, are confronted with the visions of Joseph Beuys, David Hockney and Francis Bacon. As the World Wars are concerned, both Ypres and Oostende offer a large overview of the impact of these events on the region: the military cemeteries, the `In Flanders Field museum’ and the `Atlantic Wall museum’ give a catching insight in this recent history. And last but not least, lovers of culinary refinement easily can find their way in this land of beer and chocolate: beer is produced in breweries and monasteries according to century-old traditions, and chocolate has become an art.
Welcome to Oostende, the port in a city and region with so much to offer the cruise industry.
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