Another First for Portland - Holland America Line’s “MV Prinsendam”

Portland Port was pleased to welcome the cruise ship "MV Prinsendam" for the very first time on Wednesday July 15th 2009.

 "MV Prinsendam" is the first ship operated by U.S. cruise giant Holland America Line Inc., part of the Carnival Corp. group, to visit Portland. A second vessel operated by Holland America, MV Westerdam, is already booked to call in August 2010 and it is hoped that the success of these two calls will lead to numerous future bookings by the line.

"MV Prinsendam" carries as many as seven hundred and eighty passengers and four hundred and fifty crew. Approximately half of the passengers took excursions to Stonehenge, Salisbury, Corfe Castle, Athelhampton House and Sherbrne Castle. The other half took advantage of the courtesy shuttles provided by the Port and visited Weymouth.

Portland Mayor Councillor Richard Paisley was on hand to meet and greet the disembarking passengers and the Nothe Fort Artillery accompanied by the musicians from local ensemble, Weymouth Concert Brass, gave the vessel a memorable send off, playing the ship out with a "bang".
Portland Port has been working hard to market its facilities and the region in the last few years to increase the volume of cruise traffic. These efforts are now bearing fruit with five calls this year and ten calls booked for 2010.

Portland Port Commercial Manager, Ian McQuade, said, "We have devoted a lot of time and energy to expanding Portland's profile within the cruise industry and the increase in bookings for 2010 and beyond are testament to this. We are very aware of just how important the ships' visits are both to the Port itself and to the wider local economy. It has been estimated that each cruise passenger spends an average of £60.00 on each trip ashore which lends a much needed boost locally to revenue from tourism. This is especially important at this time of worldwide financial crisis."

For further information, please contact: Portland Port Ltd. Tel: 01305 824 044