Earlier this month we launched our 2025 Cruise Passenger programme with our amazing meet-and-greet volunteers.
How fantastic to host our 2025 launch event at The Mary Rose museum with so many of our volunteers in attendance. Since 2019, cruise arrivals in Portsmouth have grown by an impressive 115%, highlighting the city’s rise as a key destination for cruise tourism.
Last year saw 63 of our dedicated cruise meet and greet trained Portsmouth Ambassadors deliver 2351 volunteer hours at Portsmouth International Port greeting 39 transit call ships. What’s more our incredible volunteer lead Vanessa Busfield attended every single one of those 39 shifts.
That work saw 29,480 passengers receiving a warm welcome to our city on the quayside and any advice on visiting Portsmouth that they wanted. 2025 will see even more cruise ship passengers visiting our city.
Huge thanks to the Sandra Isailovic and the Mary Rose Museum team for hosting us and Andrew Williamson and Charlotte Saunders from Portsmouth International Port, and Julie Horrocks from Hovertravel Ltd for joining us.
Marian Glover, Business Pillar Lead at Shaping Portsmouth, said “What a joy to see so many familiar faces and new volunteers coming together!
I’ve lived in Portsmouth for a few years now and there’s something special about the people here. That spirit of looking out for each other, of going the extra mile for a stranger, it’s not something you find everywhere. And our Cruise Ambassadors? They embody this spirit perfectly.”
With 2025 promising even more cruise ships and visitors to Portsmouth, we’re looking to grow our team. If you would like to join us and participate in the Cruise Ambassador Programme, please complete the form here.
