28 October 2019
Portland Port’s cruise season has now come to an end, but it has been a spectacular finale with the arrival of the enormous Norwegian Getaway. It is not only Norwegian Getaway’s inaugural call to Portland Port, but she is also the largest ship to visit this year.
Norwegian Cruise Line has a 50-year history in the cruise business and was responsible for introducing Freestyle Cruising that revolutionised the industry by giving guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal cruise holiday. They currently operate 17 purpose-built freestyle cruising ships which include some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea.
The arrival of the Norwegian Getaway is exciting for the port’s cruise business; she is the longest and heaviest vessel to dock at Portland Port this season. This cruise liner can accommodate up to 5000 people, so has brought with her the greatest number of passengers on one ship that the port has had to deal with so far. Portland Port have provided 12 shuttle buses to enable everyone on board to enjoy their time in Dorset and the surrounding area, and ensure they are all given a memorable experience.
Ian McQuade General Manager -Commercial said “The inaugural call of the Norwegian Getaway is very exciting; we welcomed her sister ship the Norwegian Breakaway in 2018 and hoped then that she would be the first of many similar sized cruise ships to visit us. Ending the season with such a momentous ship really has felt as if we have gone out with a bang, and everyone at Portland Port is already looking forward to 2020’’.
Over the last 10 years the number of cruise ships visiting the Port has grown substantially, and it’s been a record-breaking season with the greatest number of cruise calls and passengers to date. Overall in 2019 the port handled over 40 cruise ships bringing around 60,000 passengers to the area; this is great for the local economy and a trend that Portland Port is keen to continue for next year.