By
Rebecca Gibson |
Cowes Harbour Commission, Destination Cowes and Visit Isle of Wight have joined forces to encourage more cruise operators to call at the town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
Although Cowes already welcomes several small- and medium-sized ships on Northern European voyages, the new initiative aims to promote the town as a ‘cost-effective stopping point’ for European and UK itineraries.
“We are excited at the prospect of welcoming more visiting cruise ships to Cowes, one of the world’s most famous sailing destinations,” said Stuart McIntosh, harbour master at Cowes. “However, a visit to Cowes puts cruise guests within easy reach of a multitude of landmark attractions and diverse excursion choices on the Isle of Wight, hence why our island is often referred to as England in miniature.”
Cruise ships of up to 150 metres in length anchor at the Cowes Anchorage in the Solent, and passengers can then take a five-minute tender to Trinity Landing to start their shore excursions. Vessels longer than 150 metres anchor at ABP Anchorage, from where their passengers can take a 15-minute tender to the shore.
Cruise visitors arrive onto The Parade, which is next to King Henry VIII’s Cowes Castle, which is home to the Royal Yacht Squadron. Popular tourist attractions for cruise visitors include the historic old town of Cowes, the Sir Max Aitken maritime history museum, restaurants and cafés, boutique shops, beaches and Osborne House in East Cowes, which was built for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Nearby in Newport is Carisbrooke Castle, an Elizabethan artillery fortress, a king’s prison and royal summer residence.