World cruises to start at Pier Head terminal.
LIVERPOOL’S new cruise liner terminal was given a massive boost last night as it prepared to welcome the world’s greatest liner, the QE2.
The terminal has been built only as a port of call landing stage, but the region’s leading economic agency wants it upgraded into a full terminal within two years. It will mean world cruises can once again start from the historic Liverpool waterfront.
Northwest Regional Develop-ment Agency chief executive Steve Broomhead believes allowing liners to start and end cruises on the Mersey waterfront will enable the city’s tourism industry to take a giant leap forward.
Informal talks have already started about vital arrangements that will need to be in place before full cruise facilities are bestowed on the city.
Baggage handling, passport control and security checks will all be needed to switch from a simple port of call facility.
Cruises currently start on Merseyside, but they depart from Langton Dock where baggage and customs facilities are already available.
But that terminal, owned and run by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, is within a working docks system sur-rounded by heavy freight ter- minals, rather than the prest- igious Liverpool city centre arrival and departure which the cruise firms would prefer.
One possibility is to use the baggage handling and pass-port check controls at Liver-pool John Lennon Airport.
Cruise passengers would then be driven to the new £19m terminal alongside Princes Parade.
The yet to be built Mersey Ferry Terminal at the Pier Head could also accommodate smaller cruise handling, and there is scope for one of the large hotels to be used as a baggage handling centre.
Last night, Riverside MP Louise Ellman promised to ensure the Government backs the upgrade plan.
“The cruise liner terminal is already going to make a vast difference to Liverpool and Merseyside, but adding the city’s waterfront as a departure point will really up the ante. I will do all I can to make this happen.”
Mr Broomhead said: “The new terminal will be a lasting legacy for Liverpool’s Capital of Culture. There are already 23 ships booked in for visits. They will bring in thousands of visitors to our region.
“I want to see the terminal used as a full-blown cruise terminal and I believe that will happen in around two years’ time. I cannot see any obstacles to upgrading the facility. The cruise holiday sector is growing at a fast pace and Liverpool will be an attractive departure point.
“We have put in £10m – more than half of the cost – because we can see the enor-mous benefits of the cruise industry for Liverpool.”
Martin King, director of tourism at The Mersey Partnership (TMP) said: “The economic benefits of a full-blown cruise liner terminal could be immense.”
The QE2 will be arriving around 7am this morning and will remain tied to the new terminal until she sets sail at 3am tomorrow.
The Duke of Kent will be officially opening the new terminal at 11.30am today, and there will be a spectacular firework display at 10-45pm.
Originally Posted by PhilipG
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