Historic time for Southampton as upgraded terminal opens
Not since the 1950's has the port seen such an era
 

At the height of one of the most exciting periods in the Port of Southampton’s commercial history, Associated British Ports (ABP) today saw the official opening of the port’s upgraded City Cruise Terminal by Ms Susan Hooper, Senior VP (International) & Managing Director, Royal Caribbean International & Celebrity Cruises.

The opening marks the culmination of 23 weeks’ work and £9 million of investment, enabling the Terminal to host even the largest of the modern generation of cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, which arrived at the Terminal this morning and is based at Southampton during 2007.

In order to accommodate vessels of this size (Navigator of the Seas is over 300 metres long, and carries up to 3,800 passengers), ABP has upgraded City Cruise Terminal in all respects. The Terminal now has a new, wider entrance lobby, an enlarged reception area with 50 check-in desks, and enhanced security capabilities.

The opening comes during an extremely exciting period in the Port of Southampton’s cruise business. Over the course of 10 days, starting on April 21, the port will have had 26 cruise ships on berth, including a four-day celebration launch for the world’s largest and newest cruise ship, Liberty of the Seas, as well as visits from such illustrious vessels as QM2. The period has also included the naming of Ocean Village Two. Partly as a consequence of this very busy April, 2007 looks set to be a record-breaking year, with the number of passengers passing through the port likely to exceed 800,000, far more than the annual average in the port’s first heyday in the 1950s.

Susan Hooper said: “Royal Caribbean is delighted to be growing its business in Southampton, and the upgraded Terminal is a fantastic landmark in the success story of the port. The city is rapidly becoming a major hub for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, which is due to the strong relationship we have with Associated British Ports. We are proud to be increasing our commitment to the Port of Southampton in 2008 with the arrival of Independence of the Seas.”

Doug Morrison, ABP Port Director, Port of Southampton, added:

“The ongoing revival of Southampton’s cruise business is a triumph, not just for us and our partners, but also for the maritime culture of the city of Southampton and the economy of the whole South-East. Every single passenger makes a meaningful contribution to the regional economy, and this year we are expecting 800,000 of them, more than ever before.

“The cruise market has changed a lot over the last 20 years, but Southampton has remained the home of the industry in the UK. This is never more true than now, as this extremely busy period shows. We are working flat out to handle this exceptional number of cruise ships, but it is an honour for the port and the city to do so. By opening this Terminal, in which we have invested £9 million, we are showing our commitment to the industry and our belief that it will continue to grow in the future.”