Liverpools claim to be a major Cruise Ship destination has been given a further boost with the news that the new Cunard Cruise Ship The Queen Victoria will make her first visit to the city in July next year.
At 90.000 tonnes the Queen Victoria is one of the largest ships afloat. The Duchess of Cornwall launched the Italian built ship in Southampton in December 2007. Since then she has been engaged on Scandinavian, Baltic and Mediterranean Cruises and will visit Liverpool shortly after returning from a World Cruise.
The Queen Victoria is 965 feet long and a towering 180 feet high and carries just over 2000 passengers. Most passengers enjoy Stateroom facilities with balconies.
Regular visitor Crown Princess will be making three visits and The World will be making a return, her previous visit was marred in controversy when many of her passengers were unhappy being berthed at Langton Dock when they expected to be berthed by the Pier Head. This time The World will be berthed at The Cruise Liner Terminal at the Pier Head. The World is a residential ship were you buy your accommodation and enjoy luxury living, afloat, carries just 200 passengers.
Another ship making a return to Liverpool will be the 50.00 tonne Crystal Symphony.
Liverpool City Council Cruise Manager Angie Redhead stated that “2009 has been a fantastic year for Liverpool Cruise Terminal. We welcomed 13 international cruise liners to the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Waterfront which included extremely high profile visits by Queen Mary 2 & HMS Illustrious, enjoyed by over 100,000 spectators at Liverpool Pier Head.”
She went on to comment that “The 2010 season sees an impressive 17 cruise visits confirmed with an inaugural visit by Cunard’ Queen Victoria. It’s certainly going to be another exciting year on our world-famous waterfront.”
Liverpool City council have made an official bid to up grade the Cruise Liner Terminal and make Liverpool a turnaround port so that cruises can start and finish here. At present there are no baggage handling, immigration or Customs facilities in Liverpool. These are only available at the heavily industrialised Langton Dock in Bootle.
Councillors are awaiting the outcome of a Department of Transport report about the up-grade. Southampton Docks owners, Associated British Ports, have attempted to block any upgrading of Liverpool, citing “unfair competition” Southampton handles over 300 Cruise Ship visits annually. Cruise ship visits have contributed nearly £14 million pounds to the local economy in the past two years.
Cruise Calendar 2010
Date Vessel Pax Cruise line
23.5.10 Aaura 1266 Aida
2/3.6.10 Deutschland 548 Peter Dielman
6.6.10 Aaura 1266 Aida
19.6.10 Crystal Symphony 960 Crystal
26.6.10 The Discovery 796
27.6.10 Crown Princess 3114 Princess
10.7.10 Aaura 1266 Aida
21.7.10 Crown Princess 3114 Princess
24.7.10 Aaura 1266 Aida
26.7.10 Queen Victoria 2014 Cunard
5.8.10 Astor 590
8.8.10 Maasdam 1200 Holland America
14.8.10 Crown Princess 3114 Princess
16-19.8.10 The World 200 Residensea
22.8.10 Azamara 694 Azamara/Celebrity
26.8.10 Crown Princess 3114 Princess
30.8.10 Westerdam 1900 Holland America
These visits have been confirmed, but may be subject to change and more ships may visit.
carol, melling around 1 week, 5 days ago