CRUISE SHIPS RETURN TO MILFORD FOR NEW SEASON

Some familiar travellers will be returning to Milford Haven next year in the shape of cruise ships which have made the Haven a regular port of call in recent years.

The programme of cruise ship visits for 2007 unveiled by Milford Haven Port Authority reveals that of the six calls being made, five will be by ships which have brought passengers to the Haven before.

Milford Haven Port Authority commercial director Myra Shacklady said the repeat business was confirmation from some of the leading names in the cruise world that the port was well and truly on the circuit for boutique cruise ships.

Almost 4,000 passengers and crew are expected to be carried by the five ships which will make six calls to Milford Haven between May and September next year.

The German ship Deutschland, operated by Peter Deilmann Cruises, is visiting for the second year running, in May and September.

In August, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines will be bringing 839 British passengers on Boudica, and Europa, operated by Hapag Lloyd, will bring 400 passengers – both ships on their second annual visit. A new arrival in August is Orient Lines’ Marco Polo, which will be carrying 850 American, Canadian and British passengers.

Finally, Holland America Line’s Prinzendam, with its American, Canadian and British passengers, will call in September, again visiting the port for the second time.

Myra Shacklady said the Authority would be continuing its successful working partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council and Pembrokeshire Tourism Association to encourage passengers to come ashore and spend money in the local economy.

“The Port Authority began marketing Milford Haven as a cruise destination five years ago, and it’s very gratifying to see that the team approach has obviously met with the approval of so many cruise operators,” she said.

“We will capitalise on this endorsement in our continuing drive to get more cruise visits here – they all mount up to a significant extra boost to the local economy.”

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