Friday, October 30, 2015 - 11:00 by ce-press
Liverpool is preparing to welcome a record number of ships in 2016. Liverpool Cruise Terminal will play host to 64 calls – 10 more than this year – bringing in more than 85,000 passengers.
The 2016 schedule includes five inaugural visits, including Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Magic, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, Phoenix Reisen’s Artania and Amadea and Ponant’s L’Austral. There will also be a number of overnight calls including Brilliance of the Seas, Celebrity Silhouette, Amadea and Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa.
Liverpool’s cruise industry brought in around £7m (E9.5m) to the local economy this year as the city welcomed 81,000 passengers and 37,000 crew. Each passenger spent an estimated £70 in the city, with crew members spending £30.
Assistant Mayor and cabinet member for culture, tourism and events, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “Over the last decade the city has experienced a remarkable cultural and economic renaissance which, combined with our famed hospitality, makes Liverpool a firm favourite with visitors from around the world. To have the three Cunard Queens back in their spiritual home on our beautiful waterfront was nothing short of majestic and showed a global audience that we are a world class destination.
P&O Cruises’ Britannia and Oceania Cruises’ Marina and Nautica all made inaugural calls which were marked by, for example, firework displays, quayside concerts and special cakes. Azamara Club Cruises recently confirmed that due to the success of their 2014 and 2015 ‘AzAmazing Evening’ at Liverpool Cathedral, it will be offering this experience again in 2016 but this time in St Georges Hall.
Angie Redhead, Liverpool cruise and operations manager, said: “We have a fantastic city-wide support network behind our cruise operation, a wealth of things to see and do in the region, award-winning attractions just a short walk away and a dedicated team of people ensuring every passenger has a great experience. When you combine all of these elements together, Liverpool’s appeal to the international passenger is unbeatable.”
