Dover concludes 2024 cruise season

AIDALuna started and finished another highly successful year for cruising at the Port of Dover, leaving earlier this month for Spain, before spending the winter in the Caribbean. 

AIDA Cruises visited Dover six times as a port of call throughout 2024, joining 20 other cruise lines sailing there this season as a destination or turnaround hub.

‘This year, we visited the beautiful coastline of Dover in total six times with three ships: AIDAbella, AIDAdiva and AIDAluna,’ said a spokesperson for the cruise line. ‘Our guests particularly enjoyed the White Cliffs Country and the warm welcome and hospitality at the port itself. We are looking forward to being back in 2025.’

Further highlights 

Additional highlights included inaugural calls from Viking's Viking Saturn, Compagnie Française de Croisières’ Renaissance, Seabourn’s Seabourn Venture, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 4, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Borealis and Crystal Cruises’ Crystal Symphony. 

There were two days with three cruise ships in port simultaneously, with the WD4 berth providing direct access to the Marina Curve and wider waterfront by foot.

Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam had a special visit in April.  The ship will return to Dover, its UK homeport, for a full season in 2025. 

Related:Port of Dover Regatta 2024 raises £10K for charities

Peter Wright, head of cruise at the Port of Dover, said, ‘It’s been a brilliant season, which has seen us welcome a diverse range of cruise ships of all sizes, multiple berths in use, wonderful inaugural call celebrations, and our long-standing customers returning for large sets of calls. 

‘I’d like to thank our brilliant team here for working so hard to provide our guests with an exceptional welcome and to our cruise lines for choosing Dover. We are excited for what 2025 will bring.’ 

The port will release details on what’s in store for 2025 in the New Year.