Cruise Britain

In a new move, five European ports and destinations associations are coming together to work collaboratively on sustainable solutions to industry challenges. By sharing best practice from over 400 ports and destinations across Cruise Baltic, Cruise Britain, Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway and MedCruise, we know that cruise tourism can grow sustainably and can deliver for our guests, communities and environments. Together, the five associations have made this comment: ‘’As an alliance of European and Mediterranean cruise ports and destinations represented by Cruise Baltic, Cruise Britain, Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway and MedCruise, we’re focused on promoting sustainable growth within the cruise industry. We understand the common challenges our members and partners face and we believe that we can find innovative solutions by working together with all stakeholders in a transparent fashion; these solutions will work to ensure that the cruise industry and all our environments from urban to rural can coexist in harmony with other forms of tourism. Acknowledging the current concerns about overtourism in some European destinations, our priority is to develop and promote strategies and messaging that facilitate the cruise sector in striking a successful balance between tourism and communities. By joining forces and working together with cruise lines and other key stakeholders, we are committed to advocating for a responsible approach to cruising - one that delivers for our guests, respects our communities, protects our natural heritage and fragile environments, and contributes positively to local economies.” Cruise Baltic Cruise Norway Cruise Europe MedCruise

And just like that, we're heading for #SeatradeMed! Stand 360 will host Portland Port & Portland Harbour Authority Ltd, UK Cruise Wales SMS International Shore Operations Associated British Ports Denholm Port Services Ltd Portsmouth International Port Peel Ports Group Fowey Harbour Commissioners Poole Harbour Commissioners Liverpool Cruise Port Port of Aberdeen CapitalCruising Destination Plymouth Cattewater Harbour Commissioners Cruise Guernsey Dart Harbour. Phew - drop by, there's no shortage of people to talk with! Plus our very own Chair Ian McQuade and Portsmouth's Stephen Watkyns will be taking part in conference sessions, and Portsmouth and Fowey are shortlisted for prestigious Seatrade Cruise Awards. All go next week! In other news, the hosted ship visits for local, regional and national politicians have gone very well this summer. Travels have taken us to Orkney Harbours Greenock - Peel Ports Group and Holyhead Port. Such a pleasure to support in showing off just what the sector is capable of delivering to ports and destinations, and the steps being taken to create a sustainable future. And showcase beautiful ships, of course! Big thanks to CLIA UK & Ireland Princess Cruises Regent Seven Seas Cruises Windstar Cruises. Thea George Steven Masters Christopher Blanchard Ian Diaper Andrew Williamson Suzanne Thomas Isla Haddow Paul Cross Kate O'Hara Rosie Macnamara Paul Britton Amanda Johns Mark Renouf Glen Gardner Richard Allan Evie S. Marlene Mitchell

Looking forward to this session at Seatrade Cruise Med in Malaga, what an impressive line-up! Cruise Europe Cruise Baltic Cruise Norway AS MedCruise Cruise Britain #STCMed #cruise #ports

Where to start with June? June feels like it began in the last week of May with the Tourism Minister’s visit to Ponant’s Le Dumont D'Urville closely followed by the CLIA UK & Ireland conference and destination showcase (a chance to talk about the fabulous variety of cruise experiences around our shores). June proper saw Cunard’s Queen Anne named in the line's spiritual home of Liverpool. The industry's first ever ‘godmother city’ took their ship to their heart and celebrated everyone’s newest godchild with warmth and enthusiasm. Another week, another new ship. This time a treasured and memorable opportunity to sail aboard TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7 on the delivery voyage from Turku in Finland to Kiel in Germany. A beautiful ship that we look forward to welcoming to Britain in the future. And then onto Belfast for our own summer meeting. Well, more of a full-on event really. Belfast Harbour welcomed members with open arms including a networking evening in the magnificent surroundings of the Harbour Offices (not quite your normal day at the office), together with Cruise Ireland colleagues – the British Isles working and networking together. The shore excursion afternoon opened everyone’s eyes to the Belfast of today as well as its past including, of course, the world's most famous historic ship! Our conference day aboard Mein Schiff 3 was full of valuable insights and conversations ranging from how to address exponential growth in cruise numbers to sustainability strides and how to cater for the German cruise market. A huge thank you to TUI Cruises for hosting and supporting (what a venue!) and thank you to our sponsors Belfast Harbour Visit Belfast Excursions Ireland Royal HaskoningDHV Harland & Wolff Titanic Distillers and Cruise Ireland. Gary Hall gets a special mention in despatches and our speakers and panellists did a fantastic job - especially Marcus Puttich and Maria Tauschke (without whom the event would not have been possible), Matthew Ducharme Niamh McCarthy Ruth Flynn Ben Challier Coen Eggermont Graham Couser Glen Gardner Janine Moore, all ably held together by Ian McQuade Mary Bond Last week of June but still time to squeeze in another visit to Liverpool. This time to join John Mawer Cruise Liverpool welcoming Director of Maritime and team members from the Department for Transport to Viking Neptune to discuss cruise challenges and opportunities for Britain.

April has been a whirlwind of more British ports welcoming their first cruises of the season (although for some the excitement has never stopped). But before we get into that, a big welcome to Queen Anne, the newest Cunarder which arrived at her home port Associated British Ports Southampton yesterday and will be touring the British Isles soon Cruise Liverpool (naming ceremony!), Belfast Harbour Peel Ports Group Greenock Port of Cork Company Ltd. Cobh. Inaugural calls have been the flavour of recent weeks. Port of Dover has just welcomed Viking Saturn (also recently spotted in Falmouth Harbour, Cornwall) and Destination Plymouth has started a bumper year with Ambition’s arrival. Port of Aberdeen are expecting no less than 22 inaugural calls, the majority into the new South Harbour development. Portsmouth International Port is up for a sustainability award in the inaugural Sailawaze UK | Excellence Awards Voting - Sailawaze UK. Check it out - the only port in that category so good luck. And the team found time for a busy weekend with three cruise turnrounds on one day! It’s all change but still business as usual for Cruise Liverpool with the announcement that Global Port Holdings has signed a 50 year deal to operate services. Investment of up to £25m will allow for simultaneous berthing of two 300-metre ships and up to 7,000 passengers a day. Exciting times! #cruise #2024season #teamwork Thea George Gary Hall Fraser H. Craig Collins Peter Wright John Mawer Amanda Lumley Glen Gardner Miles Carden Andrew Williamson Ian Diaper Charlotte Saunders

The stardust is slowly settling from another Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami. Attendees and exhibitors are back at their desks and follow-ups are taking place. For Cruise Britain, the highlights of our week (apart from supporting our members) were the landmark signing of an MoU with Cruise Ireland to encourage joint working on developing our beautiful shared cruising region. Thanks Ian McQuade Conor Mowlds David Browne Gary Hall, and to our supportive Consul Generals Rufus Drabble Sarah Kavanagh Fabulous on-stand reception; so well-attended by Cruise Britain members, cruise lines and colleagues from across the world. Shout out to Plymouth Gin for amazing G&Ts and SMS Towage for the aprons (and all those who wore them and mucked in)! Thanks to our sponsors SMS International Shore Operations Port of Dover Inchcape Shipping Services Akorn Destination Management #CruiseEnglishRiveria SMS Towage. We were delighted to welcome Rufus Drabble, British Consul General in Miami to the show and introduce him to some of the Cruise Britain members exhibiting. Tourism is a key part of export earnings and cruise tourism into and around the UK is growing exponentially. Welcome to #cruise🛳 🚢! Andy Harmer Crystal Morgan Mark Barnes Mary Bond Alison Murphy Simon Clarke Martin Coffey Amanda Johns Marlene Mitchell Sonia Limbrick Peter Wright Christopher Blanchard Glen Gardner Andrew Hogg

The scores are in and 2023 was a record year for cruise in Britain. Ports and service providers around the UK welcomed record guest and call numbers from north to south, east to west. Landmark figures for guest and call numbers have toppled previous pre-pandemic records. 2499 calls were welcomed across the year, pushing the previous 2019 record into second place. Growth rates for guests were extremely marked with the number of passengers embarking on their cruise at a UK port exceeding 1.5 million for the first time; this record year shows 26% growth against the previous highest in 2018. In terms of transit passengers enjoying a day ashore in the UK, ports welcomed 2.16 million guests, representing 24% more than in 2019 which was itself a record year. And all just in time for Cruise Britain's 15th birthday! A 500% rise in transit guests since the early days in 2009. That's quite something. Read all about it here https://lnkd.in/enQS5xVP

February started with a blaze of lights, camera, action for Cruise Liverpool with the announcement that the naming ceremony for Queen Anne will take place in Cunard’s spiritual home in June. AIDA ships have kicked off the season for two Cruise Britain member ports Port of Dover and Portland Port & Portland Harbour Authority Ltd, UK. AIDAsol pulled up to Portland’s new deep water berth for the first of five calls; AIDAluna comes into Dover next week, the first of 21 cruise lines to come into the port this year. Moving north, Port of Tyne started 2024 with Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral operating Newcastle’s first turnround of the season. Up in Scotland, Port of Aberdeen regional economic contribution is forecast to be £4.5m this year for cruise with over 130% cruise growth since 2022. Back on the south coast, Portsmouth International Port have announced that ABB is appointed primary contractor for the Sea Change project charged with delivering operational shore power in 2025. Destination Plymouth will see a 40% uptick in cruise arrivals this year for the city with the Cruise Plymouth Partnership working hard behind the scenes. And a final note that Ambassador Cruise Line continues to work with ORCA (Organisation Cetacea), as do other cruise lines, to support the monitoring of the 25 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises that call the British Isles home. Just goes to show that everyone can need a little help to look after their home. Read all about it https://bit.ly/3UkE19F Angie Redhead John Mawer Peter Wright Sonia Limbrick Ian McQuade Tracey Younger Marlene Mitchell Ian Diaper Andrew Williamson Elly Toyer Stephen Watkyns Amanda Lumley Glen Gardner Steve Jones Bob McGowan Picture credits: Cunard. AIDA Cruises. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.

Having closed the year with two Cruise Critic wins for Cruise Britain members (Port of Dover for Best UK Departure Port and Belfast Harbour for Best UK & Ireland Port of Call), January has seen more exciting cruise news, this time along Britain's south coast. Portsmouth International Port is gearing up to welcome 90 calls, a record season and a full inaugural season for the new cruise terminal extension. Port of Dover is looking forward to an unforgettable year including some three ship days; and the Port of Southampton Associated British Ports made a record contribution of over £1bn to the city's economy in 2023. Read all about it https://bit.ly/3UkE19F #cruise #cruiseindustry Rebekah Keeler Thea George Gary Hall Sonia Limbrick Peter Wright Ian Diaper Andrew Williamson

Cruise Britain’s fifth Winter event chaired by Ian McQuade - what a great day at the association’s ‘spiritual home’ of Trinity House in central London (lovely views of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge – felt like we were on a shore excursion!). It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Petra Wilkinson, Director of Maritime at the Department for Transport, who really gave insight into the priorities around economic benefit, decarbonisation and skills. There is much work to be done but also much opportunity. The support of the Department for Transport is key to many of our avenues into government and it was great to have many colleagues in the room with us. Speaking of colleagues, what a pleasure to be joined during the day and evening by cruise execs from 17 brands, travelling from around the UK and Europe. Thanks to Ambassador Cruise Line Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard) Disney Cruise Line Explora Journeys Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines Hurtigruten Expeditions Marella Cruises MSC Cruises Noble Caledonia Princess Cruises Royal Caribbean International SAGA CRUISES LIMITED Scenic - Luxury Cruises & Tours Silversea Cruises TUI Cruises Vships Agency Inc And the Showcase… big thanks to Tim Reardon for masterful control of the legendary showcase. And to all Cruise Britain members who managed to encapsulate key messages into just 90 seconds. You wouldn’t think it was possible but it is! A unique ‘show and tell’ for businesses demonstrating their commitment to the cruise sector and plans for the future. Plenty of time for networking across the whole day and into the evening TheBrewery.co. Connections and reconnections are best made in person and that, in a nutshell, is what makes our Winter event such a success. Big thanks to all our invaluable sponsors 👏. Headline: Associated British Ports. Principals: Denholm Port Services Ltd Port of Tilbury London SMS International Shore Operations Solent Stevedores Ltd. Supporting: GAC Group Inchcape Shipping Services Intercruises Shoreside and Port Services