Scotland’s latest cruise facility, the Greenock Ocean Terminal Customer Centre, hosted a go to from HRH The Princess Royal, marking a big second for the terminal and the area people of Inverclyde. The go to comes six months after the terminal’s official opening, and simply forward of a busy cruise season forward.
Operating from April until September, Greenocks cruise season will see round 44 ship visits, from the smallest cruise ships round to among the largest, comparable to Celeb Apex, Regal Princess, Queen Mary 2, and Carnival Legend.
A Royal Go to at Greenock Ocean Terminal
The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, obtained a heat welcome from native officers, neighborhood volunteers, and the maritime and tourism sectors throughout her go to to the Greenock Ocean Terminal Customer Centre on March 14, 2024.
The Greenock Ocean Terminal Customer Centre, on the entrance of the River Clyde and near Scotland’s largest metropolis, Glasgow, is the latest cruise terminal in Scotland. The £20.1 million growth undertaking has been developed to considerably enhance customer numbers to round 150,000 per yr, and supply a £26 million enhance to the Scottish financial system.
That includes an arrivals/departure corridor, museum, customer heart, and artwork gallery, the terminal serves as a gateway for cruise friends and a cultural hub celebrating native heritage.
Accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, The Princess loved a particular reception aboard the MV Hebridean Princess, a vessel celebrating its sixtieth anniversary, earlier than touring the brand new services.
The go to included conferences with representatives from Inverclyde Council, Peel Ports Clydeport, the Inverclyde Vacationer Group, and the George Wyllie Belief. The Princess Royal’s presence underscored the significance of the terminal to Scotland’s tourism business and the collaborative effort that introduced the undertaking to fruition.
Provost Drew McKenzie: “I used to be delighted to welcome The Princess Royal to Greenock Ocean Terminal Customer Centre. Though it was a cloudy Scottish day, the great shoreline of Inverclyde speaks for itself and Greenock Ocean Terminal customer centre is among the greatest locations to view it.”
“This undertaking was a advantageous instance of partnership working and that continues with varied companies and pursuits all concerned within the operating of the constructing. I’m certain I converse for a lot of in Inverclyde who’re wanting ahead to the return of the luxurious cruise ships to Greenock and this Royal go to was a beautiful method to prepare for an additional bumper season.”
A Bustling Season Forward
The Greenock Ocean Terminal is gearing up for a busy cruise season, with a formidable lineup of visiting ships confirmed for the yr. The season formally kicks off in April, with the arrival of the Regal Princess and Ocean Cruises’ Sirena, amongst others.
All year long, the cruise port will welcome greater than 49 cruise ship calls from internationally working cruise traces, comparable to Celeb Silhouette in Might, Cunard’s Queen Anne in June, Carnival Legend in July, and lots of extra ships from Princess Cruises, AIDA, Azamara, TUI Cruises, and Norwegian Cruise Line, in addition to quite a lot of smaller and native cruise ships.
Learn Additionally: Scottish Port Expects to Double Cruise Ship Arrivals by 2027
Greenock supplies easy accessibility to Glasgow, a metropolis steeped in shipbuilding historical past; Scotland’s capital metropolis Edinburgh; Stirling, identified greatest for its connection to Scotland’s struggle for independence; in addition to stunning nature spots comparable to Loch Lomond.
Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport: “It’s been an actual honor to welcome the Princess Royal to Greenock at this time. We’re anticipating one other sturdy yr for cruise numbers, constructing on final yr’s document numbers, as we proceed to look to develop vacationer numbers to the terminal within the years forward.”
With a schedule that spans from April by September, the terminal is ready to welcome hundreds of friends, contributing considerably to the native financial system and tourism sector. The varied variety of ships visiting Greenock highlights Greenock and Scotland as an entire as a premier cruise vacation spot.
