Liverpool loses second cruise line

Liverpool is about to be snubbed by a second cruise line, as disputes grow over berthing facilities.

It is expected that Fred Olsen will pull out shortly as the operator is unable to dock at the Pier Head Cruise Liner Terminal. Currently, it is forced to tie up in Bootle’s docklands, alongside the unsightly scrap yards.

According to the cruise company, it cannot expect its customers to begin their dream voyage from such a dismal industrial area.

It was just a few weeks ago that Thomson Cruises backed out of a 30-voyage agreement after giving the Langton Dock berth a trial run.

Both cruise lines have said that they believed the city’s waterfront terminal would be available for use, but neither the necessary baggage-handling facilities nor Customs arrangements were available. Currently, the terminal at the waterfront is only suitable as a port of call.

Nigel Lingard, the marketing director at Fred Olsen, said the company had chosen to operate a cruise ship out of Liverpool a couple of years ago with the understanding that new facilities were to be made available in the near future.

“We made it clear to everyone that long-term success would require improved passenger and ship operating facilities,” Lingard said.

He added: “Our success in building up a local market is not something we wish to sacrifice lightly, but it’s not satisfactory to start anyone’s dream holiday with a scrapyard for scenery and abysmal passenger facilities. We find it virtually impossible to explain to potential customers why Liverpool has a much-heralded new cruise berth while we are berthed in a dismal industrial area.”

Thanks to www.ldpbusiness.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.fredolsencruises.com