Liverpool Cruise Terminal - 2018 Album

Another busy year has come to an end at Liverpool Cruise Terminal, which saw 57 ships calling during the season, bringing over 100,000 passengers and crew to the city. 

Included in this year's schedule were five ships - AidaAura, Berlin, Ocean Dream, Seabourn Ovation and Viking Sun - sailing into the Mersey for the first time.

This selection of just some of our beautiful visitors starts in May with the morning arrival of the German ship AidaVita

Aida Cruises "AidaVita" 20th May

AidaVita guests setting off on a cycling excursion around the city

The following week it was a step back in time to the days of sail, for the Tall Ships Regatta

Tall Ships in the Mersey 27th May

on board "Belem"

From sail to one of the most modern, and largest, ships in the cruising fleet, Princess Cruises, "Royal Princess" on the first of her four visits in 2018.

Cruise Ambassador Frank offers guidance to our visitors on board Royal Princess

Liverpool Waterfront from Deck 17, Royal Princess

on board Royal Princess

Celebrity Cruises "Celebrity Eclipse" 13th June

CMV's "Magellan" 1st July

our Stevedores securing Magellan alongside the berth

"Prinsendam" arrived on 8th July on what will be her final call under the Holland America Cruises flag, she has now been sold to Phoenix Reisen, although I'm sure she'll return in her new colours as "Amera" since Phoenix are regular visitors.

Prinsendam 8th July

Princess Cruises "Royal Princess" was back on the Mersey on 28th July, at the same time as the returning Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.  Swinging a 142,000 tonne, 330m long ship in the fast flowing Mersey amid a yacht race is just one of the challenges faced by our highly skilled river pilots, and of course successfully completed without so much as a ripple on the coffee cups of her breakfasting passengers.

Princess Cruises "Royal Princess"

After a day in the city, Royal Princess departs for Dublin

Oceania Cruises "Marina" visited on 4th August

One of our Pilot Launches, the "Razorbill" heads off for another assignment

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises "Europa" one of the most luxurious ships at sea visited on 18th August.  Europa was built in 1999 and for twelve years in a row was awarded the title "best cruise ship in the world" by the Berlitz Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships

Hapag-Lloyd's "Europa"

Hapag Lloyd's "Europa"

One of our maiden callers to Liverpool in 2018 was Viking Ocean Cruises "Viking Sun"

"Viking Sun" 19th August

"Viking Sun" 19th August

Aida Cruises "AidaAura" 2nd September

Earlier, I mentioned that Hapag-Lloyd's "Europa" was "best cruise ship in the world" for 12 years, she eventually lost that crown to her younger fleetmate, the equally luxurious, albeit more relaxed and casual ship "Europa 2" which called at Liverpool on 9th September

Hapag-Lloyd's "Europa 2"

Hapag-Lloyd's "Europa 2"

Another Maiden caller this year was Seabourn Cruises "Seabourn Ovation" on her first year in service.  She called at Liverpool on 19th September

"Seabourn Ovation"

An unusual visitor on 16th October was "Ocean Dream".  She operates for the Japanese organisation Peace Boat, a non-profit organisation which works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment.

"Ocean Dream"

The 2018 season closed on 10th November with the departure of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines "Black Watch".  She not only opened the season back in April, but was our most frequent visitor with 17 calls during the year.

I hope you've enjoyed this brief look at the some of the ships that graced the Mersey this year.  2019 is expected to be the busiest year yet for the Cruise Terminal, with 82 ships scheduled including 12 maiden calls including Costa Mediterranea, Celebrity Reflection, Viking Jupiter, AidaBella, Norwegian Spirit, Spirit of Discovery and Mein Schiff 5.  Plus construction work will begin on the new terminal and hotel. Busy, busy, busy!