The number of cruise passengers visiting Britain continues to rise for the tenth consecutive year, with passenger day calls having quadrupled to 1.415 million in the last decade, including an increase of 17% over 2016, according to figures released by CruiseBritain.
Highlights
- Cruise passengers arrived through 68 cruise ports in 2018 and stepped ashore for the day from 120 individual ships, with many ships calling on multiple occasions.
- 56 different cruise lines visited UK ports as diverse as Douglas (Isle of Man) and Dover, Tyne and Torquay, Forth and Fishguard.
- Strong regional growth can be seen for a number of ports including Douglas (Isle of Man), Kirkwall (Orkney), Portland and Tyne.
- Round Britain and Irish Sea cruises continue to develop as an ideal way of exploring Britain’s diversity of coasts, castles, cities and countryside with a plethora of activities and attractions ashore.
James Stangroom, Chair of CruiseBritain, commented:
1.415 million is a fantastic figure to reach and the strength of the growth trend is testament to the increasing popularity of Britain as a cruise destination. The jump from just 365,000 day call passengers in 2007 to nearly quadruple that number in 2017 is a remarkable trajectory and one we are doing everything to support. All our members work tirelessly to develop the British cruise industry, and to provide cruise lines and their guests with a seamless product ranging from an efficient port-side operation to developing new and varied shore excursion choices.
As the global cruise market continues its growth trend, we are confident that Britain’s appeal as a cruise destination will mirror that trend.
