By
Rebecca Gibson |
Has Sunderland got any more scheduled cruise bookings for the rest of 2015 or 2016?
MS Gann, which is the fifth cruise ship to visit Sunderland in 40 years, called this June after our port impressed its shipboard team during an unscheduled visit last April. It was a real vote of confidence for them to return with passengers, we were delighted with how it went, and do see opportunities to develop this part of our business. We’re in positive discussions with tour operators for organised trips to visit the port next year and expect to welcome a larger cruise ship in 2016, so we’re gearing up for that now.
What changes will you make to encourage more cruise ships to berth in Sunderland?
Sunderland is already well equipped to host port-of-call visits and we’ve invested heavily in our infrastructure since 2010. We’ll consider further improving our facilities when we’ve fully explored the cruise market.
Why should cruise operators visit Sunderland?
We’re in a prime location for day calls because we’re less than ten minutes from open sea and within walking distance of the city centre and various tourist attractions. There are also plenty of options for tours to nearby cities like Durham and Newcastle. The Tall Ships 2018 race will also start in Sunderland, making it a great time to visit.