ARCADIA, one of the many cruise ships to call

Importance of Southampton cruise ship trade reinforced
Berths were completely full over last five weekends



The importance of the cruise trade to Associated British Ports' (ABP) Port of Southampton and the surrounding area was reinforced recently when 12 cruise ships – collectively handling over 56,000 passengers – called at the port over a seven-day period.

The most concentrated activity was during the three-day period between Friday, 31 August, to Sunday, 2 September, when 28,319 passengers were transferred on and off seven vessels belonging to the Carnival fleet. These vessels comprised, on Friday, Cunard's QE2, on Saturday, P&O Cruises' Oceana and Oriana and Princess Cruises' Sea Princess and, on Sunday, Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess and P&O Cruises’ Arcadia and Aurora.

The port's three cruise terminals were also completely full of vessels for five successive weekends, between 25 August and 22 September.

Doug Morrison, Port Director, Southampton, commented: “This is yet another example of the increasing popularity of cruising through Southampton. It also demonstrates the capability of the port community to respond to the requirements of around 12,000 passengers, their baggage and ships' stores, all within a normal 10-hour port stay”

Carnival UK, Chief Executive Officer David Dingle said: “This is a spectacular result, both for our cruise brands and for the Port of Southampton. It seals Southampton’s rightful place as the home of UK cruising. With some of our passengers being less than a year old, it also demonstrates the popularity of cruising across the generations.”