Plymouth is expected to receive an economic boost from 11 cruise ships visits in 2022 as the city steps up its ambition to become a leading destination for visiting vessels.
Plymouth’s cruise industry has seen a positive restart with seven cruise calls to Britain’s Ocean City during the summer of 2021. The city has welcomed visits from vessels including the Golden Horizon of Tradewind Voyages, the world’s largest square rigged sailing cruise ship; the boutique cruise ship Hebridean Princess; and most recently the of Germany’s Nicko Cruises, part of the Mystic Cruises Group.
The 2021 visits were warmly welcomed after all planned visits during 2020 were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With a further 11 cruise calls already scheduled to take place in 2022, Amanda Lumley, executive director of Destination Plymouth, said: “We’ve been working hard to grow the number of cruise visits to the city and develop the offering for passengers so we were delighted to welcome seven ships this year.
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“Cruise tourism is a huge opportunity and provides a real economic boost for local businesses as many passengers will choose to remain in Plymouth and explore our attractions, shops and eateries.
“We’ve pledged to get serious about cruise, increasing the number of visits and the financial and reputational benefits that each of those visits brings.”
In July 2021 Plymouth appointed Glen Gardner as cruise development manager shortly after announcing Trinity Pier is set to become a major berth for cruise ships.
The city’s Visitor Plan envisages Plymouth becoming a “premier destination” for cruise ships during the next five years with key locations for boats to arrive and leave at Millbay Docks.
Trinity Pier, where a huge warehouse was demolished early in 2021, is earmarked as a berth for vessels up to 150m in length. West Wharf pier, at the opposite side of the dock, ships as large as 220m are able to pull alongside
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Even larger vessels are able to be anchored in Plymouth Sound from where passengers can be brought ashore in tender boats. Excursion passengers will usually be tendered into the recently enhanced facility at Associated British Ports Millbay port, while independent guests are tendered ashore to the Barbican Landing Stage.
Throughout 2021, extra effort has been made to improve the welcome that cruise visitors receive when they arrive in Plymouth. A team of cruise ambassador volunteers have been on hand to provide a warm welcome and share information and advice about what to see and do. In addition, town crier John Pitt and deputy town crier David Green have joined the welcoming parties.
During the call of the Vasco da Gama on Sunday, September 26, a newly-refurbished Destination Plymouth cruise caravan trailer was set up at Commercial Wharf to provide “pop-up” tourist information, staffed by the cruise ambassador volunteers. Material provided for the guests included maps and information written in German, as well as leaflets and flyers about city attractions. Tasty samples of locally produced food and drink were also on offer, thanks to donations from Plymouth Gin and Burts Snacks.
A plaque exchange also took place in the harbour master’s Cattewater office, where senior officers from the Vasco da Gama were presented with a City of Plymouth plaque by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Cllr Terri Beer. In return, the staff captain of the ship presented its plaque to the city.
This is a tradition going back centuries, whereby a port representative will hand over a plaque of the port of call and in exchange the ship’s captain, or senior officer, will present a ship’s plaque to the port city.
Prior to calling at Plymouth, Vasco Da Gama had been cruising around the British Isles with stops in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
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For most of the ports, including Plymouth, it was the first time an international cruise ship has visited since the pandemic began in 2020. Strict protocols were in place for all guests and crew on board, with access only being allowed at each port after stringent checks including a full testing regime and other safeguards.
Plymouth Cruise partnership is led by Destination Plymouth working in partnership with Associated British Ports, Cattewater Harbour Commissioners, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Plymouth City Centre Company and Plymouth Cruise Volunteers. The main objective is to grow cruise sector business to the city for the benefit of the economy.