By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port of Tyne in North East England marked its 20th anniversary as a cruise port on 30 August 2019.
Since welcoming its first-ever cruise call (from Cunard’s Royal Viking Sun) on 30 August 1999, the port has hosted more than 700,0000 cruise passengers during 450 calls from 60 different cruise lines.
Highlights have included a visit from residential cruise ship The World in 2011, the start of homeporting calls from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ in 2015 and the first calls from Disney Cruise Line in 2016. The same year, the port also handled a record five passenger ships in one day. In 2019, the port expects to host a record 59 cruise calls.
Over the past 20 years, the port has invested almost £8 million (US$9.7 million) to upgrade its passenger facilities, including £5 million in transforming Northumbrian Quay into a purpose-built cruise berth by 2007. In 2008, the port carried out a £1.2 million refurbishment on the International Passenger Terminal, improving the passenger lounge, check-in desks and car parking facilities. This year, the port opened a new car park and baggage terminal for Marella Cruises, and it has embarked on a £500,000 project to widen Northumbrian Quay.
“The combined economic contribution of the Port of Tyne cruise and ferry operations adds some £56 million to the North East economy and supports thousands of jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector,” said Graeme Hardie, head of Operations at Port of Tyne.