Portland Port is anticipating a busy year ahead, having welcomed more than 117,000 passengers on a total of 52 cruise ships in 2024.

It hosted calls from 18 different lines carrying travellers from all over the world, marking one of the most successful 12-month spans for cruise visits in the port’s 28-year history.

Highlights included the first call by Princess Cruises’ 345-metre-long Sun Princess, with 4,300 passengers in her maiden season.

Altogether, the calls are estimated to contribute roughly £10 million to the local economy.

Now Portland is gearing up for the 2025 season, with 60 cruise ships provisionally scheduled to call with over 100,000 passengers.

Those include inaugural visits from luxury cruise line Silversea as well as Albatros Expeditions.

Ian McQuade, Portland Port general manager commercial and chair of Cruise Britain, said: “It’s been another highly successful cruise season and one of our best so far.

“Positive feedback from cruise lines and their passengers demonstrates just how much they enjoy coming to Portland for the array of local attractions and warm welcome they receive.

“The sustained demand for calls and the record number of short-notice visits is testament to relentless work behind the scenes by a dedicated team to attract and accommodate ships.

“It also justifies the faith shown to open our £26 million deepwater berth in 2023 to accommodate some of the world’s largest vessels of up to 350 metres in length.

“We’re very grateful to all those who have contributed to the success in 2024 and have made passengers feel so welcome, including our dedicated welcome team, shuttle bus operators and all those in local shops and businesses.

“We are looking forward to another busy season in 2025 and further ahead as Portland continues to grow in popularity.”

Ian was re-elected at the end of last year to serve a further three-year term as chair of Cruise Britain.

He initially took the reins of the trade group in April 2023 on an interim basis before being confirmed in the role full time.

Ian added: “It’s a great honour to be chair, and I’m delighted that my tenure has been extended.”

Typically, around half of visiting cruise guests go on organised excursions, the majority of which stay in Dorset and contribute to the local economy.

Most of the remaining passengers explore the local area using the port’s complimentary shuttle bus service, either choosing to stay on Portland or travel into Weymouth.

• portland-port.co.uk