UK port will host more than 60,000 passengers and 44 ships, including 11 newcomers
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Portland Port in Dorset, UK will host a record number of cruise passengers and ship calls in 2019, continuing a 10-year trend of cruise traffic increases.
This year, Portland will host more than 60,000 passengers and 44 cruise vessels, including 11 that will call for the first time – another record for the port.
Costa Cruises’ Costa Mediterranea will kick off the 2019 season off with an inaugural visit on 9 April, before returning for a second call on 23 April. Other first-time visitors include Pullmantur’s Zenith, AIDA Cruises’ AIDAaura and AIDAcara, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Nature and Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess, Sea Princess and Pacific Princess. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Spirit and Norwegian Getaway will also make their Portland debut, with the latter calling on 6 May and returning to close the season on 25 October.
Another highlight of the 2019 season will be the maiden visit from Saga Cruises’ soon-to-launch vessel, Spirit of Discovery, which will call on 20 July. This marks the first time that the port has been included on a cruise ship’s inaugural itinerary.
“2019 is going to be an exciting year all round for the port’s cruise business, and the visit by Spirit of Discovery on her inaugural cruise, is the icing on the cake,” said Ian McQuade, the port’s general manager of commercial operations.
Returning visitors in 2019 will include AIDA Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Phoenix Reisen, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Seabourn.