Unscheduled cruise calls boost Portland Port’s economy

So far, five ships have visited the port in Dorset at late notice after being unable to stop at their scheduled destinations: Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambience, Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess, Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Adventure and Plantours’ Hamburg. The latter – the first of the line's ships to call at Portland – arrived with 360 passengers on board. In total, more than 8,500 passengers arrived on these additional ships from mid-May to July. 

Portland expects to receive 50 cruise calls carrying more than 110,000 passengers by the end of 2024. 

£750K boost

Ian McQuade, GM commercial at Portland Port and chair of Cruise Britain, said, ‘…The unscheduled calls total five to date this year, out of 10 enquiries. They reflect the area’s increasing popularity for cruise calls and represent a further valuable boost of circa £750,000 for the local hospitality and tourism industry [based on Cruise Lines Industry Association figures]. 

‘Our location, new deepwater berths which allow the largest cruise ships to moor alongside, and our reputation for pulling out the stops to accommodate visiting vessels make the port an attractive proposition for cruise lines on both scheduled and unscheduled visits.’ 

McQuade added, ‘Our thanks go to our dedicated and responsive team, including our contracted shuttle bus operators and welcome team, who have been able to help us accommodate the unscheduled ships and their passengers at very short notice.’ 

Portland Port’s cruise calls bring in circa £10m per year to the local economy, based on CLIA statistics for spend per head.

Queen Mary 2

Queen Mary 2 was operating a short cruise comprising French and Belgian ports when the vessel was diverted to Portland due to strikes in Le Havre, France. McQuade explained, ‘The feedback we have had is that the crew and passengers on the Queen Mary 2 were very happy with their visit, which coincided with the popular Wessex Folk Festival on Weymouth harbourside. 

‘Although she has been to the port before, during Covid, this was her first transit visit and the first by a Cunard ship. It represented another milestone in the development of the port’s cruise business and its support for local businesses and the supply chain.’