A new cruise terminal is being built in IJmondhaven in IJmuiden. The opening is planned for May 4 when MSC Opera calls the Dutch port for the first time. 

The entrance to the IJmondhaven was dredged in spring 2011 which means that vessels up to 295m can be accommodated. The port is now investigating the possibility of extending this to 320m.

The address of the new cruise terminal will be Cruiseboulevard no10. The building will be situated at the back of the harbour basin and will cater for the two available berths. 

Windstar Cruises’ Wind Spirit became the fist cruise ship to stay overnight at IJmuiden’s Felison Terminal on July 12. Passengers and crew visited both Amsterdam and Haarlem.

The owners of IJmuiden Port have awarded the contract to dredge out the entrace to its IJmond harbour to Dutch company, De Vries & van der Wiel.

IJmuiden received permission from the government at the end of January to dredge the outer harbour entrance enabling vessels of up to 290m in length to call in future.

A number of member ports benefited from Christmas calls in December as passengers visited Christmas markets.

Ijmuiden has 10 confirmed calls and 25 on option for 2011.

Amsterdam and IJmuiden played host to Cruise Europe’s annual general assembly last week.