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Calls to expand Liverpool's cruise terminal

Calls to expand Liverpool's cruise terminal
Liverpool's Cruise Liner facility is set to be expanded to enable it to handle larger vessels – while the council looks at options for a permanent building.

The terminal opened in 2012, with 54 ships expected this year bringing with them over 80,000 passengers – a 40% increase on last year. It is expected to contribute around £5.8m to Liverpool City region’s visitor economy in 2015, up from £1.3m when it was a port of call destination.

A report to Liverpool City councillors, due to be considered on January 9, is recommending that the council purchases the temporary structure which it is currently renting, and extends it so that it can deal with up to 1,800 passengers per vessel.
 
In the meantime, the council will continue to explore the building of a permanent facility on the waterfront.
 
If approved, the improvements will see: 400sq mtr of new floor space to deal with 350 extra passengers/700 bags; new toilets; permanent early arrivals area for passengers on smaller ships so people embarking don’t have to wait for others to disembark and improvements to the gateway which links the terminal to the main pontoon berth.
 
Assistant Mayor of Liverpool and Cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said, 'It is going to be an amazing year for the Cruise Liner Terminal with the arrival of the three Cunard Queens on the River Mersey and Cunard recreating the original transatlantic voyage of Britannia of 175 years ago.
 
'The work we are carrying out will mean we are able to enhance the experience of passengers, who we know already rate the city highly as a cruise destination.'
 
The highlight of the 2015 cruise season will be two very special events to celebrate Cunard’s 175th anniversary.
 
On May 25, the Cunard fleet will create an unprecedented Three Queens spectacle in Liverpool and a once-in-a-lifetime event that will make maritime history.
 
On July 4, tQueen Mary 2 will return to Liverpool to celebrate Britannia’s transatlantic departure exactly 175 years earlier.