What a year it’s been for the cruise season! On October 31st, we wrapped up our final cruise call, and 2024 has truly been a fantastic year for our Cruise Passenger Programme. It’s been a milestone of growth, achievement, and collaboration.
Since 2019, cruise arrivals in Portsmouth have grown by an impressive 115%, highlighting the city’s rise as a key destination for cruise tourism.
This year not only saw an increase in cruise calls but also a record number of passionate volunteers joining our Cruise Ambassador team, bringing the total to 63 dedicated ambassadors. The ambassadors were at the Port for every transit call this year welcoming passengers and crew as they stepped ashore.
Whether it was pointing them towards the best places to visit or sharing local tips, the ambassadors were always there to make sure passengers got the most out of their time in the city. The goal of this initiative is to create such a great experience that visitors can’t wait to come back to Portsmouth again!
Vanessa Busfield, who co-leads the Cruise Passenger Programme, summed it up perfectly: “I couldn’t be prouder of our Cruise Ambassadors. Hearing passengers, crew, and even the port staff talk about how friendly and helpful they are fills me with joy. A huge thank you to everyone for their incredible effort this year!”
This year, the port’s complimentary shuttle bus service, which takes independent passengers into the city, added Hovertravel as a new stop. In addition to stops at Commercial Road, The D-Day Story, and Gunwharf Quays, passengers now have the option to hop on the hovercraft for even more exploring. From historic sites to modern shopping areas, the shuttle service has made it easier than ever for visitors to experience everything Portsmouth has to offer.
2024 has also been an outstanding year for Portsmouth International Port. The port scooped up some of the most prestigious awards in the industry including “Best Port” at the Wave Awards (for the second year running!), often referred to as the “Oscars of Cruise” and ” Port of the Year” at the Seatrade Cruise Med Awards. These accolades firmly place Portsmouth on the map as a world-class destination for cruise ships and their passengers. These accolades are not just a mark of excellence but also reflect the substantial economic benefits cruise tourism brings to the city, with a total spend projected to reach £7–£8 million in 2025. A huge congratulations to the team at the port for these well-deserved achievements!
Cruise tourism plays a vital role in Portsmouth’s economy. Passengers and crew spend money at local attractions, shops, and restaurants, while the port generates revenue and creates jobs. It’s a win-win for the city, supporting local businesses and providing valuable employment opportunities.
In 2025, Portsmouth’s cruise visitors are expected to contribute over £7 million to the local economy, with transit passengers spending £1 million on attractions, shopping, dining, and transport, and homeport passengers adding nearly £6 million, largely benefiting hotels, dining, and shopping.
We are incredibly grateful to our fantastic partners, including The Queens Hotel, Hovertravel, Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays, Visit Portsmouth, The Mary Rose Museum, and the D-Day Museum Your contributions have been invaluable in making this season such a success – thank you!
Now, we’re setting our sights on 2025 – and it’s already shaping up to be a bumper year! With an exciting line-up of new and returning ships, the Port is set for its busiest cruise season yet. With sustainable growth of 5-10% year on year, Portsmouth is gearing up for another record-breaking season. Planned infrastructure upgrades, including expanded passenger terminals and cold ironing-ready berths, will help us accommodate larger ships and even more visitors. We can’t wait to welcome back familiar faces and meet new ones. The schedule will be announced soon, and we’re ready to build on this year’s achievements.
Shaping Portsmouth CEO Dave Humphries said “We are so grateful to our cruise volunteers for the amazing job they do in welcoming visitors. We frequently receive great feedback on how great the welcome is at Portsmouth to cruise visitors. This is important as this year the visitors just from call ships have spent £1 million in our city and we want those cruise lines to keep coming back.”
We’re always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our Cruise Ambassador team. If you’d like to help showcase Portsmouth and be part of the team, get in touch with Marian Glover at marian.glover@shapingportsmouth.co.uk.
Here’s to another brilliant year of making unforgettable memories for our visitors – and showing the world what makes Portsmouth so special!
