One of Scotland’s main cruise ports is set to experience its busiest year since records began - and it means plenty to see for eager ship spotters in the Largs and Millport area.
Greenock Ocean Terminal has 91 cruise liners booked into the Inverclyde town’s new dedicated pontoon across 2023 – a rise of over 25 per cent on last year.
As many as 150,000 passengers and 38,000 crew members are expected to pass through the port over the course of this year.
It’s more good news for the terminal in its second full season since Covid effectively closed down the cruise industry.
Jim McSporran, Clydeport Port Director at Peel Ports said: “We’re extremely proud to be announcing a record cruise year for Greenock Ocean Terminal.
“Welcoming cruise liners to Greenock is a hugely important aspect of our port offering and we’re delighted that we continue to attract and grow cruise numbers to the region.
“This increase in tourism will benefit visitor attractions and businesses across Inverclyde and central Scotland, and we look forward to welcoming these visitors across the season.”
“In an effort to showcase the port as the cruise gateway to the West Coast of Scotland, this year we are also investing in a promotional campaign to feature at the global cruise industry’s key annual gathering in the U.S.”
Amongst the ships making a maiden visit to the terminal this year is the recently built ultra-luxury MSC Virtuosa, which is 331 metres long and can carry over 6000 passengers. The vessel will be one of the biggest to dock at the terminal throughout the busy cruising season, which will come to a close in November.
It comes ahead of the completion of a new £19.2million cruise ship visitor centre later this year at the terminal.
The project, led by Inverclyde Council, is part of the £1 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal funded by the Scottish and UK governments.
Inverclyde Council has estimated the development will provide a £26million boost to the Scottish economy.
The dedicated visitor centre will feature a museum paying tribute to the renowned late artist George Wyllie, a restaurant and roof terrace with stunning views of the River Clyde as well as a purpose-built arrivals and departure hall.
The schedule till July is below:
April
Sun 30 - Mein Schiff 3 - 10 nights Great Britain, including Belfast
May
Fri 5 - Regal Princess - 8 Night Ireland & Scotland, 22 Night British Isles Grand Adventure
Wed 10 - Norwegian Dawn - 10 Night British Isles: England, Ireland & Scotland
Thu 11 - MSC Preziosa - 10 Nights Northern Europe
Fri 12 - Mein Schiff 3 - 10 Nachte 10 Nachte - Grosbritannien Mit Schottland
Sun 14 - Regal Princess - 12 Night British Isles with Portland (for Stonehenge)
Tue 23 - Mein Schiff 3 - 12 nights British cruise
Wed 24 - Silver Dawn - 14 Night Southampton To Southampton
Fri 26 - Regal Princess - 12 Night British Isles with Portland (for Stonehenge)
Sat 27 - Artania - 12 nights around Great Britain
Mon 29 - Jewel Of The Seas - 12 Night British Isles Cruise
June
Thu 1 - Costa Favolosa - 14 Night Northern Europe from Amsterdam,
16 Night Northern Europe from Bremerhaven
Mon 5 - MSC Virtuosa - 14 Nights Northern Europe & cruises from UK
Wed 7 - Regal Princess - 12 Night British Isles with Orkney Islands
Tue 13 - Mein Schiff 3 - 10 Nights- Great Britain
Thu 15 - Britannia - 14 Night British Isles
Mon 19 - Regal Princess - 12 Night British Isles with Portland (for Stonehenge)
Wed 28 - Silver Moon - 12 Night Southampton To Reykjavik
July
Sat 1 - Regal Princess - 12 Night British Isles with Liverpool, Southampton / Southampton
Tue 4 Queen Victoria - 14 Night Iceland And British Isles, Southampton / Southampton
Thu 13 - Regal Princess 12 Night British Isles with Portland (for Stonehenge)
Fri 14 - Silver Shadow - 14 Night Reykjavik To Southampton; 29 Night Southampton To Southampton Southampton / Southampton
Sat 15 - Celebrity Apex - 12 Night Iceland & Ireland Rotterdam (Amsterdam) / Rotterdam (Amsterdam)
Mon 17 - Arcadia - 14 Night British Isles
Thu 20 - Azamara Pursuit - 14 Night Scotland Intensive Voyage
Sat 22 - Coral Princess - 107 Night World Cruise - Roundtrip Auckland, 107 Night World Cruise - Roundtrip Brisbane, 52 Night World Cruise Liner - Sydney to London (Dover), 56 Night World Cruise Liner - Auckland to London (Dover), 107 Night World Cruise - Roundtrip Sydney, 50 Night World Cruise Liner - Brisbane to London (Dover), 30 Night World Cruise Segment - Dubai to London (Dover), 73 Night World Cruise Liner - Sydney to New York
Sun 23 - Norwegian Dawn -15 Night British Isles: England, Ireland & Scotland- Southampton / Southampton
Mon 24 - Island Princess -28 Night Baltic & Icelandic Fjords Medley- Southampton / Southampton
14 Night Icelandic & Norwegian Fjords - Copenhagen / Southampton
Tue 25 - Regal Princess- 12 Night British Isles with Liverpool- Southampton / Southampton
Wed 26- Azamara Journey- 12 Night British Isles & Golf Voyage, Dublin / Edinburgh
Thu 27- Jewel Of The Seas - 12 Night British Isles Cruise, Amsterdam / Amsterdam
Fri 28- Mein Schiff 3 - 12 Nights Great Britain tour.
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