£2 million economy boost as Portland Port prepares for busiest cruise ship season yet with 36,000 passengers
PORTLAND Port is preparing for its busiest cruise season yet welcoming more than 36,000 passengers and an estimated £2 million added to the local economy.
In a major coup for the facility, and a welcome boost for the local economy, Portland Port is moving to establish itself as a major player in the cruise industry welcoming huge ships capable of carrying thousands of foreign visitors.
From information gathered last year, more than three-quarters of all passengers spend their time in Dorset, either on booked excursions or taking the complimentary shuttle bus to Weymouth.
This year it is estimated these visitors will add nearly £2 million to the local economy whilst they are in the region.
Perhaps the most high profile visitor will be the Disney Magic carrying 2,400 passengers. Since it was announced a few months ago the ship would be stopping off in May this year, Disney has subsequently decided to add a second call to Portland, so the ship will be coming in July as well.
Due to the nature of Disney’s customers and the size of the vessels in Disney Cruise Line fleet, port bosses are optimistic these calls could be the beginning of the company’s ships becoming regular visitors.
Port bosses and business leaders have hailed the ‘record breaking’ cruise season.
The season will also see the greatest amount to date of inaugural calls during an extended season, from April to November. Overall the port is expecting to handle 24 cruise ships bringing more than 36,000 passengers into Portland. Of these 24 calls, 10 will be first time visitors.
The season will be starting in ‘spectacular fashion’ with two first time visitors calling on April 26.
The Seabourn Quest and Holland America Line’s Rotterdam will be bringing more than 1,800 passengers between them. Seabourn is the upmarket sister to Holland America Line and operates a small fleet of luxury vessels around the globe. The visit of the Quest is the first of two planned for 2017.
Speaking of the Disney Magic visit, Ian McQuade, General Manager – Commercial at Portland Port said: “This is a major coup for Portland Port. Securing one call from such a globally renowned and world recognised brand really is great recognition of all the hard work put in by the port to establish itself as a destination of choice for the cruise industry, but to receive a second call in the same year is simply fantastic for the Port and the local area”.
Other exciting new visitors to Portland Port in 2017 include the Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL) ship Norwegian Jade and TUI Cruises vessel Mein Schiff 4.
NCL first visited Portland in 2015 whilst TUI made their inaugural call in 2016.
Mr McQuade said: “Whilst it is always exciting to see new cruise lines and new ships calling at Portland the return of such important customers as Norwegian and TUI is testament to the great experience their guests had when they previously called.