Passengers and crew bring extra £1.5m to Plymouth

Plymouth recorded seven cruise calls in 2022. This year, bookings doubled to 14 equating to a potential 10,500 passengers and more than 5,000 crew. 

10 of the ships were calling at Plymouth for the first time. 

So far, 10 calls are confirmed for next year and a further four are pending. 

Economic boost

‘This is a fantastic boost to the local economy and it is growing by the year,’ stated Amanda Lumley, chief executive, Destination Plymouth. ‘We’re delighted to see so many passengers and crew enjoying our city and spending on everything from visiting the attractions and taking tours, to the gift shops and other retail outlets, cafes and restaurants.’ 

The calls came from ‘German, British, American and French cruise operators with brands representing the premium, luxury, and expedition markets,’ according to Glen Gardner, cruise new BDM, Destination Plymouth. 

From a capacity of less than 300 passengers to upwards of 1,500, the ships varied in size. 

Highlights 

‘The city is really well received with its distillery, museums, local shops and tours in the countryside and maritime history,’ said Susanna Carpaccio, manager destination experiences, Silversea Cruises. ‘The majority of passengers – 70% – are Americans interested in the Mayflower connection. Plymouth is a beautiful location.’

One of the businesses to benefit from cruise calls is Plymouth Gin, whose brand home manager, Harriet Dailey, said, ‘The growth in the number of cruise visits Plymouth is receiving has had a positive effect on our business and the city as a whole. 

‘There is always a really nice buzz in the air on the days a ship is in. We have such a lovely city with great things to offer and I think arriving at The Barbican, with the mixture of shops and restaurants, is a fantastic first impression. 

‘We often give out samples of our products to welcome the guests as they arrive and do benefit from them visiting for tours and to buy souvenirs.’