Dover is expecting 156 calls in 2012 bringing more than 250,000 to the port. This represents a 14.7% increase on 2011.

Of the 136 calls in Dover this year, 84 were full turnarounds, 14 partial, one embarkation only and 37 transit calls. Turnaround passengers will reach 138,656 and transit 84,095. 

Royal Caribbean International, P&O Cruises and TUI Cruises all called alongside Liverpool for the first time this year.

Ships on first calls included Albatross, Saga Pearl, Marco Polo and AIDAcara. About 27,000 passengers on 15 calls called the UK port with 30,000 on 20 calls forecast for 2012.

Oslo is expecting six calls this October and Christmas calls in December are quite possible due to the port having no problems with ice. Next year there will be only four months without cruise calls.

By the year end, Oslo will have welcomed an estimated 310,000 passengers on 174 calls. The nationality split is different this year compared to former years. About 100,000 passengers are from Germany with AIDA Cruises making 39 calls, of which 29 have been overnight stays.

On September 5 Costa Cruises’ Costa Magica called Le Havre’s new cruise terminal for the eleventh time this year, ending the 2011 series of turnarounds at the French port.

On July 19 Cork accommodated three ships in one day for the first time in its history, carrying about 7,000 passengers and crew.

Five ships will make inaugural calls to Liverpool this year.

Amsterdam is expecting 84 turnaround calls in 2012 compared to 58 this year, a 45% increase.

Goteborg has seven turnaround and 52 transit calls this year carrying 4,000 and 65,000 passengers respectively.

Bilbao is expecting 15,000 passengers on turnarounds this year compared to 2,808 in 2010, a 434% increase.

MSC Cruises is positioning MSC Opera in Cherbourg this year bringing nine turnaround calls to the French port.