Outside of Southampton, it could be argued that Liverpool is perhaps the busiest cruise terminal in England. The city welcomes a number of ships every year, with 2018 expected to see the arrival of Disney Magic, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria, Seven Seas Explorer, Celebrity Eclipse and many more. Not only this, but the current terminal offers enviable access to and from the city centre, enabling passengers to enjoy direct entry into one of the UK’s most iconic cities. Despite all of this, however, the city currently only has a temporary cruise terminal in the form of Princes Jetty.
The historic prowess Liverpool represents certainly would certainly justify the calibre of ships arriving in the Merseyside city. From football to the Beetles, the city offers plenty to see and do and has enjoyed a rise in tourism since enjoying the status as European Capital of Culture. With so much to see and do and more and more lines making the decision to dock their ships in the city, there would certainly be justification for a new larger cruise terminal – and it looks like their wish has been granted.
This week, plans for a brand new £50 million permanent cruise terminal were announced. The plans will see the demolition of Princes Jetty, which will subsequently pave the way for a new suspended deck on the River Mersey. Features of the new facility will include a passenger and baggage facility, passport control, a lounge, café, toilets, taxi rank and a vehicle pick-up bay.
While the new terminal is said to be costing £50 million, additional funds have been set aside to upgrade the supporting infrastructure. £32 million will be used to upgrade the A565 road, while a further £20 million will be used to build an extending link road onto the waterfront from Leeds Street. All of this is thought to bring with it a significant boost to the local economy, with many new jobs also being generated.
Head of City Assets for Liverpool City Council, Angie Redhead, described the decision as “a major step forward" for "one of the city's most important regeneration schemes". She is hoping that the new terminal will attract “thousands more visitors” aboard some of the world’s largest super liners.
This newly announced investment is just one of the many indications that cruising is a booming industry. Liverpool is one of the many cities where new terminals are in the planning, with Hull also looking to build a new building following its status as the UK City of Culture in 2017. New ships are being built all the time in a bid to supply the increasing demand and the fact that there is investment in new supporting infrastructure is certainly an encouraging prospect.
With all of this considered, there really has never been a better time to be a part of this exciting growing industry. More holidaymakers than ever before are seeing the appeal in embarking on a cruise and, as a franchisee with GoCruise, you can earn commission on every booking you secure.
For more information about this exciting opportunity, contact us via the number above or complete an Online Enquiry Form.
