Liverpool Cruise Terminal Update

Almost 4,000 passengers visited Liverpool during the sun-soaked weekend as one of the largest cruise ships replaced one of the smallest at the city cruise liner terminal.

On Saturday, the liner m/v Discovery docked in time for the Armed Forces Day event at the Pier Head, providing a poignant moment for the many service veterans on board to enjoy the cruise’s maritime memories theme.

Discovery carries around 750 passengers and was built in 1971 as the Island Princess. It was one of the original two liners operated by Princess Cruises and became world famous when she featured as locations for the US TV series Love Boat, made between 1977 and 1986.  Discovery Captain Derrick Kemp, from Formby, was joined on the round-Britain cruise by his wife, Bernadette.

He said it was a very special day and supported calls for Customs facilities to be introduced at the Pier Head terminal. “I have not sailed out of the Mersey since 1982 and bringing this cruise liner into Liverpool has been one of the most emotional days of my seafaring career,” he said. “It's utterly ridiculous that you cannot start and end any cruises at this fabulous berth by the Liver Building.”

And yesterday the city welcomed the largest in the latest Princess Cruises fleet, the m/v Crown Princess. Weighing in at 113,000 gross tons, Crown Princess is six times the weight of its predecessor, at 17,700 gross tons, and carries 3,100 passengers.

Among those visiting Liverpool for the first time yesterday were Ramona Gallos and Pat Chorney, from Winnepeg, Canada. Ramona said: “We saw the two cathedrals, went to a beautiful museum and thoroughly enjoyed it. “Being Roman Catholic, I found it very moving and was very pleasantly surprised – our expectations were exceeded.”

Managing the arrival and departure of two ships meant a busy time for staff at the cruise terminal. Angie Redhead, Liverpool cruise terminal manager, said: “The Discovery passengers are predominantly British, with an average age of 71. Then, a day later, we went to the other extreme, from the smallest ship in operation to the largest one, which is Crown Princess. This was really the test of what we can deliver. “We’ve had 3,100 passengers and also, as an additional consideration, the ship didn’t arrive with its gangways out until 11pm. So we had every single passenger on board, having eaten their breakfast, wanting to come off at the same time. It was all hands on deck.”

A total of 28 coaches were prepared and waiting to take passengers on official excursions as they disembarked. Huge ships like the Crown Princess have vanquished the idea that cruises are stuffy, once-only treats for the elderly. Instead, they have been reinvented as family holidays with ships providing a variety of activities onboard.

The massive expansion of cruising has put Liverpool back on the map. A decade ago, round-Britain cruises were rarities aimed at North Americans who wanted to see the Celtic fringes in comfort. Now they are a staple of every cruises liner’s summer season, to the huge benefit of ports like Liverpool. And with the sun bouncing off the Three Graces, there can be few more dramatic places to arrive.

Angie Redhead said: “Liverpool is becoming more and more popular with the US market, which speaks volumes about the fact that Liverpool is perceived internationally now as a real city destination with a broad cultural offer. Everywhere is accessible, Liverpool One and the Albert Dock are hugely popular. “Some of the comments you just couldn’t make up, it’s just really heart-warming and makes me really proud of the city.”

Crown Princess was on the first of four summer visits to the city this year.