By
Rebecca Gibson |
Liverpool’s Cruise Terminal at Albert Dock has joined with Marketing Liverpool to provide visiting cruise passengers with a free and direct bus link from the cruise terminal to the city centre.
Marketing Liverpool is the latest of the city’s tourism organisations to join Albert Dock’s privately-funded Cruise Connector Bus programme, which is now entering its fifth year of service. Albert Dock has already partnered with Liverpool ONE, a shopping, residential and leisure complex; Liverpool Cathedral; City Central BID, which represents around 630 retail and leisure business; and the Commercial BID District.
The Cruise Connector bus provides a regular free service to passengers during the ship’s visit, transporting them to Liverpool’s main public areas, including Albert Dock, Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool ONE, the town hall and the commercial district, and central station. As part of the programme, City Stars volunteers greet visiting cruise passengers as they arrive in Liverpool, providing maps of the city and guided tours.
“Not many cities have the advantage of cruises docking right at their heart, so it’s important we maximise the opportunity and connect some of the city’s key sites in the easiest way possible,” said Chris Brown, director of Marketing Liverpool. “The specially-designed Cruise Connector bus is the perfect vehicle to make exploring the city simple, and encourage return visits in the future. As well as creating a good lasting impression, it has an important immediate role too. Cruise passengers tend to have significant spending potential, and guiding them through the city makes it much more likely they will spend here rather than in other ports of call.”
Bill Addy, City Central BID, said: “Cruise passengers are a vital part of our summer economy and a free bus service is a great way to showcase what the city centre has to offer.”
Around 50 cruise ships and 70,000 passengers are expected to visit Liverpool in 2014.