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Oh Bouy! Liverpool’s cruise team making a splash with a bumper 2023 season

Fred Oslen's Borealis. Credit: Stratus Imagery

6 February 2023

A record number of turnaround calls, two cruise ships on the berth at once and a 20th anniversary celebration are just some of the highlights of this year’s Cruise Liverpool schedule.

Cunard’s Queen Victoria is also set to return to the city, the first time a Cunard ship has been back in Liverpool since before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 2022 cruise season has been heralded a huge success, generating a £14 million economic boost to the city courtesy of the 107 cruise calls and 200,000 passengers and crew who travelled through our port last year.

Not content with coasting, Cruise Liverpool will continue to push the boat out in 2023, to make sure this year’s season breaks new records.

Detailed highlights of the 2023 Cruise Liverpool schedule include:

  • 15 calls from Viking’s luxury cruise lines including the latest addition to its fleet – the Viking Saturn – complete with infinity pool and Nordic thermal spa
  • Eight overnight calls, allowing around 25,000 visitors to explore the city and beyond during their extended stay
  • The return of the AzAmara Journey for an overnight call during the Open Golf at Royal Liverpool
  • Two calls from Cunard’s Queen Victoria in June and August.
  • A new turnaround operator – Ambassador Cruise Line – the UK’s brand new cruise line, will begin regional departures out of Liverpool in June
  • Celebrating Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s 20th anniversary sailing out of Liverpool in August.
  • Liverpool’s cruise terminal is also set to welcome two ships at once, as Silver Moon and Island Sky will be berthed at the same time in September in what is a first for the Cruise Liverpool team.

The full schedule of cruise visits for 2023 is now available to view on the Cruise Liverpool website.

John Mawer, Head of Cruise Operations for Cruise Liverpool, said: “We are constantly working to make Liverpool’s cruise offering bigger and better than ever. We put operators and passengers at the heart of our planning, to maximise their experience when they come to Liverpool, whilst ensuring their visits reap dividends for the city’s restaurants, hotels and tourism sector.

“And while we continue to look to the future, I am absolutely delighted to be welcoming back a piece of our past in the shape of the Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria, and I know this will be a show-stopper for many a cruise-fan, not to mention our residents who will no doubt want to catch a glimpse. It’s shaping up to be our best season on record.”