| Latest ABP Southampton Port information shows that there are 289 cruise calls currently booked for 2008 (an 18 per cent increase on last year) with well over 900,000 cruise passengers forecast to come through Southampton. With each cruise ship call estimated to contribute 1m Pounds to the local economy, Southampton is expected to benefit by up to 300m Pounds in 2008. Not only that, of the 34 cruise vessels using the Port this year, 12 will be first time visitors including four brand new vessels: - P&O's Superliner, Ventura
- Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas (the largest passenger ship in the world)
- Holland America's Eurodam
- Celebrity Cruises' Solstice
Doug Morrison, Port Director, comments, "This is the most exciting cruise year ever and not just because of increasing passenger numbers. The events happening at the Port this month such as the arrival of Ventura, the meeting of the Three Queens for the last time ever, and the arrival of the Independence of the Seas will really highlight the importance of the Port as something Southampton as a city should be extremely proud of." With ABP soon to commence construction of a fourth dedicated Cruise Terminal to cater for continued growth within the UK market, Southampton's future as the cruise capital of Britain and Northern Europe will be well served in the years to come. |
