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Liverpool notching up record-breaking summer season

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Disney Magic called in Liverpool in July and will return again on September 7, 2018
Liverpool’s Cruise Terminal is notching up a record-breaking summer season – with a 150% rise in visitors compared to last year.

From April to the end of July 2018, the facility at Princes Dock has welcomed 57,990 international passengers and crew – with 12 more weeks of visits still to come.

So far this year the terminal has had 15 turnaround calls and 20 day visits, generating a £4m boost to the tourism economy, with highlights such as Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth visiting on the 80th anniversary of the second Mauritania leaving Camell Laird’s.

In the last decade Liverpool’s Cruise Terminal, has welcomed over 400 ships, 600,000 visitors and brought around £60m to the local economy by the end of 2018.

AIDAaura, Seabourn Ovation and Ocean Dream are all making their Mersey debut in coming days and weeks.

Disney 'Magic on the Mersey' event

Disney Magic is set to return to the Mersey on September 7 after an earlier call in July. A second Disney ‘Magic on the Mersey’ event will see a free family friendly garden party take place on Princes Parade to celebrate Mickey Mouse’s 90th birthday.

Councillor Wendy Simon, deputy mayor of Liverpool and cabinet member for Culture and Events, said: ‘Liverpool’s appeal to the cruise sector continues to grow and we’re now welcoming more vessels with a larger capacity, hence our record number of visitors this summer.'

New cruise terminal planned for 2020

A new cruise terminal is planned which could be open by mid-2020.

‘What is really exciting is that the new Cruise Terminal will enable us to accommodate these larger vessels more frequently which is going to provide a great boost to our visitor economy over the coming decade,' Councellor Simon added.

Pete Murney, Liverpool’s head of cruise and marine operations, added: ‘It’s been a pleasure and an honour to welcome almost 60,000 passengers and crew to Liverpool so far this cruise season.’