AS part of a 12-day ‘Easter British Isles Discovery’ round trip, the first of Plymouth’s cruise liner season begins on Thursday 11 April, and the first ever visit of MV Ambition (Ambassador Cruise Line) and presently cruising in the North East Atlantic.
The visit of the MV Ambition will signal the beginning of what promises to be a bumper year for Plymouth’s cruise sector with 14 ships expected, and bringing more than 10,000 passengers from April to October.
A BIG YEAR FOR CRUISE TOURISM
The 2024 Cruise Liner Schedule will highlight the city’s global reputation for its welcome ceremonies and as a ‘must-see cruise destination’ say tourist bosses.
The Cruise Plymouth Partnership said bookings have leapt by 40% from last year and the surge in cruise calls reflects the collaborative efforts made between the local partners in the city.
(Visited last year)
The impressive list of visiting ships also includes Ambassador Cruise Line Ambience, and expedition vessels such as Seabourn Venture, Explores One, Star Legend, and Le Dumont D’urville.
Westward Shipping News will capture the first images of the beautiful ships as they arrive in the city during the course of the year, and especially the return of the luxury cruise ship the Silver Dawn.
Other cruise liners includes Silver Spirit, Sirena, Seabourn Sojourn and along with other cruise lines from the USA, Germany, France, and Britain.
Plymouth’s burgeoning cruise line business adds to the city economy and additional employment opportunities, with passengers and crew members spending locally.
Shore handlers, visitor attractions, boat trips & tours, Barbican and town centre retail shops, cafés, restaurants, berthing, pilotage and harbour fees all benefit the Plymouth economy.
THE CRUISE AMBASSADOR VOLUNTEERS
The couple are the driving force behind the Cruise Ambassadors with Douglas, a former cruise ship steward, who served on the QE2 and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
The city’s famous Cruise Ambassador volunteers meet and greet the guests as they come ashore, from the town crier, and the rousing performance of Plymouth Maritime Corps of Drums, and support from the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership.
The Cruise Plymouth Partnership was created in 2021 with a shared vision to increase the number of cruise ships visiting the Port.
The partnership includes Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, Associated British Ports (ABP) Millbay, Destination Plymouth, The BID (Business Improvement District) – Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, and Plympton, Plymouth City Centre Company, and Plymouth City Council.
CONFIRMED SHIP VISITS TO PLYMOUTH IN 2024
AMBITION (Amassador Cruise Line): 7am to 6pm, Thursday, April 11
SIRENA (Oceania Cruises): 8am to 6pm Thursday, May 2
SEABOURN VENTURE (Seabourm Cruises): 8am to 7pm, Thursday, May 9
SILVER DAWN (Silversea Cruises): 8am to 5pm, Wednesday, May 15
EXPLORIS ONE (Exploris Cruises): Noon to 7pm, Thursday, May 16
AMERA (Phoenix Reisen Cruises): 8am to 7pm, Friday May 31
SILVER SPIRIT (Silversea Cruises): 8am to 5pm, Wednesday June 12
STAR LEGEND (Windstar Cruises): 3pm, Thursday, June 13, to 5pm, Friday, June 14
SEABOURN SOUJOURN (Seabourn Cruises): 8pm Tuesday, July 9, to 6pm, Wednesday, July 10
SILVER SPIRIT (Silversea Cruises): 8am to 5pm , Saturday, July 27
AMBIENCE (Ambassador Cruise Line): 8am to 6pm. Thursday, August 1
AMADEA (Phoenix Reisen Cruises): 8am to 6pm, Saturday, September 14
LE DUMONT D’URVILLE (Ponant Cruises): 8am to noon, Friday, September 20
ARTANIA (Phoenix Reisen Cruises): 8am to 5pm, Tuesday, October 15
