£6m investment in Southampton terminal as UK ports prepare for a busy 2015

An artist's impression of the re-designed Mayflower Cruise Terminal

The Mayflower Cruise Terminal in Southampton is to get a £6 million regeneration in preparation for the arrival of P&O Cruises' Britannia and Princess Cruises' Royal Princess next year.

The work includes a complete re-design of the departure, check-in, security and passenger lounges as well as drop-off and pick-up areas.  The construction work will see 100 tonnes of block-work walls and floors removed and 500 tonnes of new steelwork frames installed. A team of 200 will be involved in the project and it is scheduled to be completed in April

Nick Ridehalgh, director of ABP Southampton, said: “The benefits of the improvements will affect a much wider group than just those heading off on cruises. Businesses across the city, such as taxis, hotels and restaurants for examples, all benefit from the cruise industry. We must ensure we continue to work with the cruise lines and their guests to ensure Southampton remains the UK cruise port of choice.” According to ABP each cruise ship turnaround is worth £2 million to the local economy.

Liverpool Cruise Terminal is preparing itself for a busy 2015 with 54 cruise ship visits planned, welcoming in excess of 80,000 international visitors to the city over the year. The port will also host two landmark events to celebrate Cunard Line’s 175th anniversary. All three Cunard Line vessels – Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria – are scheduled to call at Liverpool on 25 May and on 4 July Queen Mary 2 will return to the city to commemorate the transatlantic departure of RMS Britannia from the port exactly 175 years ago.

Portsmouth International Port is also preparing for the new year with 38 ship visits scheduled so far between March and November. The first cruise liner to call into the port next year will be Voyages of Discovery’s Voyager on March 1. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ luxury vessel Europa 2 will also be calling into the port in June. Europa 2 is one of the most modern vessels to dock at the port and at 225 metres is also one of the longest. The visit has been made possible by investment in new berthing facilities.

(Photo credit to Associated British Ports)

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