By
Alex Smith |
Wales will receive its highest number of cruise calls during 2023, with 91 ships expected to call at ports in the country.
More than 80,000 passengers and 39,000 crew will visit Wales onboard cruise ships, which the Welsh government estimates will equate to a potential passenger day spend income of £8.3 million ($10 million) for the Welsh economy.
Hurtigruten Spitzbergen will be the first ship to arrive when it sails into the port of Fishguard on 6 April, while Viking Venus will arrive in Holyhead on the same day. Holyhead will also receive Cunard’s Queen Victoria in June for the first time since Stena Line took ownership of the port’s deep-water berth.
“It’s so positive to see a return and growth of cruise ships and guests to the ports at Holyhead and Fishguard, bring growing numbers of visitors to see North and West Wales,” said Ian Davies, head of UK port authorities at Stena Line. “We believe that through the investments in port facilities, working with Welsh Government and the local communities collaboratively, this growth will continue , spreading the economic benefit to the wider region."
Cruise Wales has worked with its partners to develop and promote new onshore tour itineraries for passengers, such as a Coal, Coin and Cheers tour developed by the Rhondda Heritage Park, the Royal Mint and Hensol Castle in South Wales. It will also attend the Seatrade Global conference and exhibition in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to meet cruise line executives.
“It’s excellent news that we’re seeing such significant growth in the number of cruise calls to Wales this year,” said Dawn Bowden, deputy minister for arts and sport for Wales. “Of course, the past few years have been challenging, but to see the highest number of calls to date is fantastic bounce-back and a testimony to the hard work of the Cruise Wales partnership. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming visitors from across the world to Wales in the year ahead.”