Port prepares for a record breaking year
Portland Port say the 2018 cruise season is going to be another record breaker with the greatest number of cruise calls and passengers to date. Overall the port is expecting to handle 32 cruise ships bringing nearly 39,000 passengers into Portland.
Over the last 10 years the numbers have grown substantially from just 4 calls and 2,000 passengers in 2009 to the record breaking figures for 2018.
The Port's cruise season starts on the 3rd April with the visit of German cruise line Phoenix Reisen's Albatros. Phoenix Reisen is Portland's most frequent visiting cruise line, with the 3rd April being their 21st call.
Ian McQuade, General Manager - Commercial at Portland Port commented that "whilst it is always exciting to see new cruise lines and new ships calling at Portland the return of such important customers as Phoenix Reisen, Norwegian Cruise Line and TUI, is testament to the great experience their guests had when they previously called. This is essential for the long-term success of the business. Phoenix Reisen have been regular and frequent visitors to Portland and we are looking forward to seeing their vessels call a total of 4 times this year".
The second cruise call of 2018 for Portland Port is on the 25th April and marks an exciting point in the development of the port's cruise business; the inaugural visit of Norwegian Cruise Line's, Norwegian Breakaway.
The Breakaway will be the longest and heaviest vessel to ever dock at Portland Port and will bring with her the greatest number of passengers on one ship that the port has dealt with to date. The ship can accommodate in excess of 4,000 passengers on board and the port is looking to forward to welcoming them to Portland and the surrounding area.
Ian McQuade, said "The inaugural call of the Norwegian Breakaway is very exciting for the port and would not have been possible without the berth extension that was opened in April last year. We hope that she will be the first of many similar sized cruise ships to visit Portland Port."
The port has 7 inaugural cruise calls booked for 2018 which vary in size and include Regent Seven Seas ship's, Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Navigator, TUI's Mein Schiff 3 and Seabourn's newest vessel the Seabourn Ovation.