Timeless Blog

People always used seas, oceans and rivers as trade routes. However, cruising entered the shipping industry only after the invention of steamships, which did not depend on the wind. The ship “Savannah” of the Black Ball Line was the first steam- driven vessel that crossed the Atlantic carrying 8 customers on board. This happened in 1818. Twenty five years later the “Great Britain”, the world’s first propeller-driven, iron hulled passenger vessel, was launched and the model for future developments was set.

Many believe that the company P&O invented deep-sea cruising by launching scheduled cruises from London to Lisbon, Malta, Istanbul and Alexandria aboard the “SS Iberia” in 1844. At that time cruising was considered to be a safe ocean travel. However, the loss of the “Titanic” in 1912 proved that it can be dangerous.

By the early 1900s, cruising was an expensive type of holiday and was available only to privileged people. This type of travelling became open to the middle and working classes only in 1930s.

The popularity of cruising increased significantly in 1920s, when the U.S. government issued the prohibition on sale and service of alcohol in the country. The increase of customers was due to the fact that non- U.S. flagged vessels were allowed to sell and serve alcohol if they were out of U.S territorial limits.

In the 1930s new luxury liners with better facilities, art deco design, windows with sea views started operating, for example, “Queen Mary”, “America”, “Normandie”.

The Second World War negatively affected the cruise industry. Many passenger ships were sunk or worn out. The passenger ships that survived had been used to transport troops during and after the war.

After the world’s recovery from the global warfare, cruising was again in demand and the market had its boom in 1957. However, cruise passenger levels started rapidly declining in the late 1950s after the advent of jet aircraft capable of carrying large numbers of passengers. As a result many cruise companies went out of business. But later cruise companies and airlines decided to cooperate and “fly-cruises” were introduced to the market. The concept of the “fly-cruise” attracted customers and increased revenues of both cruise and airline industries.

As a product cruising was very simple at its early stages. Entertainment mainly included dancing and fancy dress competitions. In the early 1980s, in order to create a unique selling point and differentiate themselves, cruise lines began marketing themed cruises, which included a focus on music, food, wine, dance, health and well-being.

In the 1980s and 1990s a lot of small and medium-sized cruise companies went out of business and bigger groups, such as Carnival & Plc, Royal Caribbean, Star cruises, took over. Nowadays cruise industry is considered to be the most successful and one of the  fastest growing sector of tourism industry.

Mindelo has the deep sea harbor formed from a volcanic crator, and is the international port on Sao Vincente. The history of the island is short but sweet. Its economy heavily relied on the slave trade and finally it was abolished in 1876. All the ships passing between Europe and Americas or the east find themselves passing or sailing nearby to these islands and they would call in for repairs and other provisions. This city is the home of 96% of total islands population.

Mindelo is a cosmopolitan city, and there was a coal station in the Mindelo during the times of steam navigation by the British. In 1885, Mindelo was switching station for the first Trans-Atlantic telegraph table and it became important cable station in the world. Mindelo is also considered as the cultural capital of Cape Verde. This town is totally surrounded by mountains; it has deforested mountain to the east and smaller Vigia Mountain to the west.

On the island, only 10 percent of the land is suitable for agriculture, so most of the land has been dedicated to cattle and goat grazing. The nearest airport is in the southwest near Sao Pedro and Mindelo also has schools, high schools, banks and some parks. Carnival celebrations are very famous in the town, it has its roots in the Portuguese tradition and also has the flavors of Brazilian tradition.

On the surface Mindelo is lively and prosperous and Portuguese colonial buildings are picturesque and colorful. The local specialty is cachupa which is a mixture of maize and beans. Porto Grande which is Mindelo’s deep water port is connected to Mindelo Bay (an underwater volcanic crater).

There are ferry boats available which go from Mindelo to Santo Antao and back twice a day. It carries up to 450 passengers as well as a hundred cars and trucks. Mindelo became the cultural capital of the Portuguese speaking country second only to  Lusophone in the year 2003. This town has many places to enjoy and lots of job opportunities as well. The town is full with enthusiasm and joy.