By
Rebecca Gibson |
Portsmouth International Port in the UK has already secured calls from 47 cruise ships next year, an almost 25% rise from the 34 vessels that visited in 2016.
Swan Hellenic’s Minerva will open the UK port’s 2017 cruise season on 23 March, marking the sixth summer season it has homeported in Portsmouth. Alongside All Leisure Holidays’ Voyager, she will be the most frequent visitor next summer.
In total, 29 cruise itineraries will start in the UK city in 2017. Highlights of the season will include a call from Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony in June, and maiden visits from Ponant’s Le Soléal in April, and Viking Cruises’ Viking Star in September.
Several vessels will also return to Portsmouth including National Geographic’s NG Explorer and NG Orion, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Explorer and Noble Caledonia’s Ocean Nova will make several visits next summer.
“The wealth of world-class attractions on the doorstep of Portsmouth International Port is a key factor for the rise in cruise ship calls,” said Rupert Taylor, harbour master at Portsmouth International Port. “Passengers can walk off the gangway, and within minutes’ step into a host of historic attractions, stroll through the streets of old Portsmouth, and enjoy high quality shopping, dining and entertainment.”