By
Rebecca Gibson |
Portsmouth International Port (PIP) in the UK is set for a busy year in 2015 and has already scheduled 38 cruise calls.
Opening on 1 March, the season will end in November and include calls from several repeat visitors. The port will also welcome an increased number of turnaround calls, prompted by recent investments in its passenger facilities.
“2015 is shaping up to be another successful year,” said Captain Rupert Taylor, harbour master at PIP, who is in charge of cruise ship bookings and operations. “I’m particularly pleased to see the number of turnaround calls is up next year, a vote of confidence in the cruise services that we offer operators and passengers alike. It also means more work for the outside companies that provide services to cruise ships at PIP.”
PIP will also welcome a number of maiden calls in 2015, including Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2, which will visit in June carrying 516 passengers, mainly from Germany. At 225 metres in length, Europa 2 will be one of the longest vessels to dock at Portsmouth, made possible by investment in new berthing facilities.
Other new visitors to the port include Portuscale Cruises’ Funchal, which will call four times during the season, and Noble Caledonia’s Sea Explorer, which will sail between the Channel Islands and Portsmouth in May.