Liverpool Cruise Season 2020

2020 certainly turned out very different to how we anticipated it would at the start of the year. We had over 100 ships scheduled into Liverpool this year, it was due to be our busiest season yet, with over 120,000 passengers and thousands more crew expected to explore the city and region, not to mention spending money in our shops and attractions.

Even as the first visitor of the year, Virgin Voyages "Scarlet Lady" sailed into the Mersey in February, the pandemic storm clouds were already gathering on the horizon, with cruises being curtailed and cancelled, but even then we didn't think the disruption would last for the entire year, and beyond.

As I've said the 2020 season started as expected on 25th February with the northern media launch for the new Virgin Voyages brand. The striking grey and red liveried "Scarlet Lady" arrived after a overnight sailing from Dover with a complement of social media influencers and journalists. The upper cruise terminal had been transformed into a setting more nightclub than passenger lounge, and hundreds more invited guests arrived for lunch and ship tours during the day, and for a dinner and overnight experience. 

The following day they were replaced by guests who were to sail out into a winter north Atlantic bound, they thought, for New York where further media events were planned. However with the Covid19 pandemic getting worse Virgin cancelled the New York programme whilst the ship was mid Atlantic and she changed course and headed for her home port of Miami.

With "Scarlet Lady" having put to sea it was time for the scaffolding lads to decend on the floating landing stage to build two towers to enable 13,000 ticket holders to board the next newcomer to the Mersey as the second of the Royal Navy's new Aircraft Carriers "HMS Prince of Wales" made her public debut.

The carrier is enormous, and of course easy access for members of the public wasn't high on the architects plans hence the shore towers from which gangway access could be made to the starboard side aircraft lifts, and then into the vast hanger were various ships departments had set up stalls to explain how their work contributed to the effective operation of the vessel.

Although "Prince of Wales" was only open to the public during the weekend, she remained in port all week as trade visits were made as the many companies involved in her construction tried to secure further work and sales.

The following week was the turn of a smaller but equally impressive new ship, the Norwegian exploration cruise ship "Fridtjof Nansen" to visit as she launched with a series of 5 day cruises around the British Isles, one of these cruises ended in Liverpool, and the next sailing embarked here.

One of the interesting aspects of the Hurtigruten ship is her ability to run on battery power, and it was noticeable how silent she was coming alongside the stage.

"Fridtjof Nansen" and her sisters have a team of scientists onboard and laboratories where their guests can learn about the flora and fauna of the environment.

Unfortunately Nansen's departure on 11th March also marked the final passenger movements of the year, although not the final ship. Whilst cruising is the main purpose of our terminal, we have a flexible berth that can handle most ships coming into the river, and is especially useful for ships needing a berth for maintenance and crew changes, with those employed on the Irish Sea windfarm and gas rig sectors frequently handled.

The otherwise empty berth was used by the Cammel Laird shipyard as a handy facility for ships waiting to gain access to their Birkenhead yard, with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary replenishment ships "Tiderace" and "Tidesurge" both spending time alongside

A high profile ship visiting twice was the Antarctic Research ship "Sir David Attenborough", aka Boaty McBoatface

Her first call in August was unexpected due to the drydock not being prepared correctly, then she made another call in October for final adjustments to be made before she headed into the Irish Sea for sea trials

Another unexpected caller appeared on 4th July when Viking Ocean Cruises "Viking Sun" sailed in. She had been laid up in Belfast but the Harland and Wolff berth she was occupying was needed for an incoming ferry refit, so the plan was that she would anchor off the Isle of Man for a week, however with unseasonably bad weather incoming her captain went for the safer option and headed into Liverpool instead.  

Viking Sun, and her sisters have become frequent visitors to the Mersey so it was good to see her again, although of course she had no guests onboard and even her crew were not allowed to leave the ship. The seventh vessel in the series, Viking Venus, currently being fitted out at the Fincantieri yard in Ancona is scheduled to call here seven times next year, in addition to two return calls from Viking Sun.

Sadly 2020 has also been an awful year for our cruise terminal family, as we lost three of our dear friends and colleagues.  In April, Alan, the team leader of our volunteer Ambassadors died, and then in August we lost Paula too.  Alan and Paula were both incredibly kind, warm and entertaining characters, who lived life to the full, and were so proud of their city. Their enthusiasm and love of people was inspirational to the whole team and we will miss them with all our hearts.  In February we were shocked to hear that Roy from the security team had unexpectedly passed away, Roy would always go above and beyond to ensure that our guests came first and received a warm Liverpool welcome.  Rest in Peace dear friends.

So as we wind down what remains of this most unusual years, we hope that those working so hard to combat this dreadful illness enjoy continued success and it won't be too long before we are able welcome new and returning guests to Cruise Liverpool.