The small but growing Port of Plymouth, England, is looking ahead to its 2025 season and predicting a roughly 12% increase in cruise arrivals compared to 2024.
Situated along the pristine Devon coast in southwest England, Plymouth, also known as Britainโs Ocean City, estimates that 11,700 cruise passengers will visit the destination in 2025.
In 2024, the port welcomed nearly 10,000 cruise guests, which reflected an eye-opening 40% spike compared to 2023.
โPlymouth has been working tirelessly to cement its reputation as a must-visit port for cruise liners, and countless individuals are working behind the scenes to ensure the success of these visits,โ said Amanda Lumley, chief executive of Destination Plymouth.
โThe city’s cruise industry has continued to grow, boosting the economy and we are delighted to see the results of this collective effort,โ added Lumley.
Cruise tourism is an economic boon to the region. In 2024, guests from the 14 ships that called spent about ยฃ1.5 million ($1.9 million USD). Port data showed that each cruise passenger who went ashore in Plymouth spent roughly ยฃ90 ($117 USD) on local purchases.
Local businesses that benefit from visiting cruise ships include tour guides, retail shops, and restaurants. Operations at the port itself, such as harbor fees, berthing, security, local harbor pilots, and others, add more revenue.
The cruise season at the Port of Plymouth runs from March through September. In 2025, several ships will make their inaugural calls to the destination, including Norwegian Cruise Lineโs 2,400-guest Norwegian Pearl and Oceania Cruisesโ 1,200-guest Oceania Vista.
“We are excited to announce that this year we will welcome Norwegian Cruise Line to Plymouth for the very first time. This milestone has been years in the making, and we are really looking forward to hosting the stunning Norwegian Pearl on May 6, as part of its transatlantic cruise between New York City and Southampton,โ said Glen Gardner, new business development manager for Destination Plymouth.
Other ships scheduled to call in 2025 include Ambassador Cruise Line’s 1,200-guest Ambition, Phoenix Reisen Cruisesโ 740-guest Amera, Crystalโs 740-guest Crystal Serenity, Saga Cruisesโ 1,000-guest Spirit of Discovery, Hebridean Island Cruises’ 48-guest Hebridean Princess, Silversea Cruisesโ 600-guest Silver Dawn, and Oceania Cruisesโ 670-guest Sirena.
The Port of Plymouth, which is a regional hub for cargo and ferry operations, can berth cruise ships up to 984 feet long (Norwegian Pearl squeaks by at 965 feet).
Managed by Associated British Ports, the Plymouth facility and its operations represent a ยฃ95 million ($117 million USD) contribution to the UK economy.
Arrivals Increase Mirrors Activity at Other UK Ports
The Port of Plymouth is not alone in celebrating notable increases in cruise tourism during the last few years.
Portland Port, a larger facility about 100 miles east of Plymouth, is looking ahead to a robust 2025, when 60 ships are scheduled to call โ an increase from the 52 cruise ships that delivered about 117,000 cruise passengers to the destination.
Cruise guestsโ onshore spending in 2025 is expected to reach about ยฃ10 million ($12 million USD).
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In southeast England, the Port of Dover is gearing up for a strong season, thanks to the homeporting of Holland America Lineโs 2,660-guest Nieuw Amsterdam starting on April 19, 2025. The ship will be based at Dover through mid-October 2025, offering a series of British Isles and Canary Islands itineraries.
Even the UKโs most northerly port, Lerwick Harbour, Scotland, set new records in 2024, with 134 cruise ships calling at the destination, which lies in the Shetland archipelago. Total cruise passengers exceeded 138,000, representing a 21% spike compared to 2023.
In 2025, 135 cruise ships are expected to call at the Scottish port.