Representatives of businesses based at the port were invited by Portland Port for a tour of the 330m-long Princess Cruises ship, which can accomodate 3,560 passengers and 1,346 crew.
It stayed in port for 12 hours before setting sail once again, capt. Paolo Arrigo at the helm.
‘Businesses at the port have seen our cruise activity grow and develop over recent years – this was a lovely opportunity to provide our customers with a tour of the Regal Princess, with lunch onboard,’ said Ian McQuade, Portland Port’s commercial GM and chair of Cruise Britain.
A number of passengers were transported via the port’s shuttle bus service, or took tours, to local attractions such as Abbotsbury Swannery, Athelhampton House, Bovington Tank Museum, Cerne Giant, Corfe Castle, and Weymouth harbour as well as further afield to Forde Abbey in north Dorset and Stonehenge.
Dorchester-based Durnovaria Silver band, founded in 1936, played as the ship departed with the traditional celebratory cannon salutes from Nothe Fort in Weymouth.
£26m investment in infrastructure
McQuade went on to confirm that bookings from cruise lines are already being taken for next year, 2025 and 2026.
A total of 57 cruise calls and 130,000 passengers are expected for 2023.
‘The £26 million investment in our newly redeveloped deep-water berth, officially launched in June, also means cruise ships of up to 350m in length can now be accepted rather than having to go elsewhere,’ he explained.
‘Regal Princess was berthed at the facility which has been in regular use since it opened to shipping.'
He continued, ‘In the last eight years the port has invested more than £40m in developing infrastructure and more than £3m in repairs and maintenance; it is this investment that has enabled the port’s continued growth and development, not least in the growth of the cruise business.’
Delegates came from across the country for the two-day programme hosted in partnership with Princess Cruises, including representatives from cruise lines, ports, tour operators and service providers.
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