Plymouth eyeing bumper year for its flourishing cruise line business

Plymouth is celebrating its flourishing cruise line business, with over 10,000 passengers expected to arrive in the city this year and bookings from liners up 40% on 2023.

Among the 14 vessels already confirmed for this year is a first visit by Ambassador Cruise Line and their ships Ambition and Ambience.

Also due to arrive are expedition vessels such as Seabourn Venture, Exploris One, Star Legend, and Le Dumont D'urville.

Luxury liners pulling in include Silver Dawn, Silver Spirit, Sirena and Seabourn Sojourn along with visits by German operator Phoenix Reisen with Artania, Amadea, and Amera.

"Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City has been working hard to cement our reputation as a must-see port of call and a great many people are busy behind the scenes to make these cruise visits a huge success," said Amanda Lumley, Destination Plymouth's chief executive.

"We recently hosted a two-day familiarisation visit by some cruise industry representatives, including cruise line executives, cruise media and a cruise line ship management representative, to showcase some of the top attractions we have to offer."

The tour included visits to the National Marine Aquarium, Mount Edgcumbe House and Gardens, the Mayflower Museum, the Elizabethan House living museum and Plymouth Gin Distillery, she said.

There was also an exclusive visit to the Royal Citadel, an overview of Plymouth Hoe and a trip aboard a pilot boat to the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.

The port is also enjoying growing fame for its warm welcome, thanks to Cruise Plymouth Ambassador volunteers meeting guests, greetings from the Town Crier and performances by the Plymouth Maritime Corps of Drums plus the support of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership.

"We’re also delighted to say the city has already achieved a reputation within the industry as one of the most welcoming ports for cruise ship visits," continued Lumley.

"One passenger from Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery said that, having been on over 50 cruises around the world, the welcome provided in Plymouth was ‘one of the best’ they had seen."

Glen Gardner, Destination Plymouth’s cruise new business development manager, added: "The familiarisation visits have proved very popular, and were incredibly well-received, with more already planned, and we are delighted to have also been able to offer the opportunity to visit the facilities at Millbay Dock, owned and operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), which are currently undergoing upgrades through a multi-million investment programme to improve berthing and passenger facilities that are due to be in place before the 2025 season."

The Cruise Plymouth partnership started in 2021 in a bid to increase the number of cruise ships visiting the city.

This partnership includes Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, ABP (Associated British Ports) Mill Bay, Destination Plymouth, The BID (Business Improvement District) – Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and Plymouth City Centre Company, and Plymouth City Council.

Destination Plymouth is a private/public sector partnership aiming to increase visitors to the city and surrounding area, grow visitor spend and tourism-related jobs.