Biggest cruise ship at Dover will help see 10% increase in 2008
Dover Cruise Port to see more and bigger ships next year



Dover Cruise Port is forecasting a record number of cruise calls in 2008 with an expected growth of nearly 10 per cent compared with 2007.

A new customer to the port will be Carnival Cruise Line who will be venturing into the Northern Europe market with its new SuperLiner class ships for the first time. Carnival Splendor, currently under construction, will become the largest cruise ship to berth at the port with her capacity for more than 3,000 passengers offering a programme of six cruises following her delivery voyage.

Four liners in the MSC Cruises fleet will be calling at Dover as the Italian operator increases its presence in Northern Europe, including MSC Armonia with a programme of 14 departures. MSC Poesia is also due to be christened at the port.

Swan Hellenic, re-entering the cruise market after a brief absence, will home-port its vessel Minerva at Dover next summer with a programme of seven departures.

Leading the way in terms of ship visits will be Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines with new fleet addition Balmoral plus Black Watch and Braemar operating a total of 39 departures. Saga Cruises retain a strong presence with Saga Rose and Saga Ruby offering 12 sailings.

Dover continues to be the major UK port for shore excursions with 36 port of call visits planned, nine by Costa Cruises. The port is a partner in a tourism initiative “Kent – where England began … and begins” which has been enthusiastically received by cruise line itinerary planners.

“The growth in the port’s cruise business reflects the increasing popularity in ex-UK cruise vacations. We are perfectly positioned to grow with the trend with our two dedicated liner terminals, which enjoy good access by sea and road, combined with a wealth of landmark tourist sites for shore visits,” comments Kate O’Hara, Head of Commercial and Marketing, Port of Dover.