Record ex-UK cruises for a year
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A record number of cruises will depart from the UK this year, with 666 planned for 2012.
Initial estimates from Cruise Britain show a 17% year-on-year increase in ex-UK departures following capacity rises from Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Round Britain cruises are also on the up with more than 100 calls for the first time. This 33% increase will see calls to Tyne, Isles of Scilly, Kirkwall, Liverpool, Milford Haven and Jersey.
The 666 cruises scheduled to depart from UK’s ports will carry holidaymakers as far afield as South America, the Caribbean, Baltic, Mediterranean and North America. The main departure ports continue to be Southampton, Dover and Harwich.
“The increasing appeal of Britain as a cruise destination can be seen both in the rise in cruise numbers and also in the variety of cruise lines,” said Kate O’Hara from Cruise Britain. “Britain’s ports will host some of the world’s largest cruise ships from lines such as Royal Caribbean, mid-size vessels from Crystal and Saga, boutique cruise lines such as Silversea and expedition ships from Voyages of Discovery and Noble Caledonia”.