P&O newbuild brings 5,000 passengers to Scottish capital as part of British Isles tour
By
Rebecca Gibson |
P&O Cruises’ newest ship Britannia made inaugural call at Forth Ports’ new anchorage point in Newhaven, near Leith in Edinburgh on 8 July.
Launched this March by Her Majesty the Queen, the 141,000gt ship called at the Scottish port as part of her first British Isles tour and was welcomed by river tugs firing water cannons. At midday, the vessel participated in a ‘ships’ horn welcome’ with various other ships in Newhaven and the Port of Leith.
Meanwhile, Britannia’s captain Paul Brown welcomed Steve Cardownie, Deputy Lord Provost of Edinburgh, onboard the £43 million ship to exchange commemorative gifts.
Brown also welcomed guests from the ship’s royal namesake and former floating residence of the Queen, The Royal Yacht Britannia, which is now permanently berthed in Leith as a tourist attraction. These guests were taken on a tour of Britannia ship, before welcoming Brown onboard The Royal Yacht Britannia.
“The two Britannias – one with 5,000 passengers and crew onboard and the other with 300,000 visitors a year in Edinburgh and indeed the UK’s number one attraction – is great news for the capital’s ports,” said Cardownie. “The new deepwater anchorage that has been opened at the site is a positive step towards further reinvigorating the Newhaven and Leith area, and the city will certainly benefit from the increase in visitor footfall. It really is a spectacle to see them so close in Edinburgh’s waters.”
While in Newhaven, Britannia’s 5,000 passengers enjoyed various bus tours to the Falkirk Wheel, the Kelpies, the golf courses of St Andrews and the city of Edinburgh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Others visited The Royal Yacht Britannia.
Forth Ports’ new cruise ship anchorage, which was opened this season to accommodate larger liners, is set to handle three more calls this year.
“Forth Ports’ cruise business is an important economic generator for Scotland with the draw of Edinburgh being very attractive for cruise operators around the world,” said Charles Hammond, Forth Ports’ chief executive. “We have opened this anchorage this season as a permanent option for larger liners to call into the Forth and we look forward to welcoming more vessels this year.”