News

01/07/2025

New member: Cruise Plymouth

Cruise Plymouth, represented by Evie Smith, business support officer at Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, Plymouth, has recently joined the Cruise Europe family. Plymouth offers a unique experience for cruiselines and their passengers with designated cruise ship anchorages, just an eight-minute tender ride to the Barbican Landing Stage, managed exclusively by Cattewater Harbour. Upon arrival, passengers will find a comprehensive range of amenities including security, free toilet/shower/accessible and baby change facilities. The Tourist Information Centre, cafes and shops are also conveniently located nearby. Passengers are minutes away from the city’s historic Barbican. In 2024, Plymouth welcomed 12 calls, bringing approximately 12,000 passengers, with similar numbers expected this year. This marks significant growth from 2019, which saw three calls and around 2,000 passengers. A recent highlight was a call from Norwegian Pearl (May 2025), marking the first time a Norwegian Cruise Line ship has anchored in Plymouth Sound. Smith says: "We are delighted to report that the feedback from the guests, and crew, onboard has been 'out of this world' as one guest told me.” Plymouth's operational efficiency means cruise lines can call at short notice. She says: "We can mobilise a cruise call into Plymouth with two hours' notice.” Passengers disembarking in Plymouth will discover a wealth of attractions, from the historic Mayflower Steps to the Plymouth Gin Distillery. Beyond the city, Buckland Abbey and Dartmoor offer a wide range of experiences. While anchorage is the more popular option for cruise calls to Plymouth, an alongside berthing option is available at ABP Millbay, just a 10-minute shuttle bus ride from the city.

01/07/2025

New associate member: Cruise Tours Benelux

Cruise Tours Benelux was set up as a private company in early 2019. With 10 office staff and 15 on the ground, it operates mostly in The Netherlands and Belgium, handling about 30 ocean calls and hundreds of river calls annually. Owner and managing director Claudia Luisini has a background in ocean cruise, having previously worked for a global destination management company, where she dealt with many of the cruiselines. The company offers all the usual services, from pre and post extensions to transfers and turnaround support to shore excursions. Luisini says: “We joined Cruise Europe to give us more visibility in the ocean cruise industry. We are keen to expand this segment of our business, having already been successful with river cruise ships.” One of the challenges CTB is facing in The Netherlands is that of mass tourism on the one hand and a shortage of services on the other. Luisini says CTB is addressing the problem, together with its clients and sub vendors, by looking for the best ways to optimise the services, for example through offering multiple excursion start times and putting on two walking tours instead of one during a half day call.