By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port of Tyne in north-east England hosted a record five international passenger ships on 16 August.
Visitors included AIDA Cruises’ AIDAvita, which berthed on 15 August and departed on 16, as well as Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Voyager, DFDS King Seaways and Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Astor. Holland America Line’s 99,500gt Koningsdam also brought almost 4,000 passengers and crew, becoming the largest cruise ship to ever visit the Port of Tyne. The combined length of all five vessels is 1,043.90 metres.
An estimated 10,000 passengers and crew also passed through the port's International Passenger Terminal. They were able to take coach tours to attractions such as Alnwick Castle and Gardens, Hadrian's Roman Wall, Durham Cathedral and City, and the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
“The port has worked hard to increase the number of cruise ships coming into the region and this year we expect a record 43 cruise calls, up from 29 last year,” said Andrew Moffat, CEO at the Port of Tyne. “While this is good news for the Port of Tyne, it is also very good for the region – the impact on the local economy is estimated at around £50 million each year, supporting 1,700 jobs.”