On 28th July 2010, Inverclyde welcomed the majestic Queen Victoria on her maiden visit to Greenock Ocean Terminal. The passengers were greeted by the traditional sounds of bagpipes and received a warm welcome from the local Tourist Group, who provided them with assistance and information.
In recent years, Greenock has had the pleasure of hosting several of the Queens, including Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary II. The visit of Queen Victoria continues the connection with Cunard, whose early vessels were built here in the Clyde.
The call of the Queen Victoria coincided with a visit from the film crew for the BBC programme ‘Three Men in a Boat’, bringing comedians Dara O’Briain, Rory McGrath and Gryff Rhys Jones to Greenock for a day of filming. The grandeur of the Queen Victoria against the backdrop of the picturesque settings around Greenock Ocean Terminal ensured that they were provided with plenty of quality footage for their show.
This year is shaping up to be the most successful year yet for cruises into Greenock, with 35 vessels and 53,000 passengers scheduled to call into the terminal this year. This will be 20% increase in the number of calls and a 27% increase in the number of passengers on the previous year. Throughout the 2010 season, Greenock will play host to 13 cruise ships which have never previously visited the port, such as Fred Olsen’s Boudicca and P&O’s Oriana.
