3 January 2025
Portsmouth International Port has officially launched its cruise schedule for 2025. Announcing its highest number of calls to date, 94 cruise ships will sail into Portsmouth harbour during the next 12 months.
Sustainability will also be a key feature of the new year, with the debut of the UK’s first shore power system to provide clean energy for multiple vessels across multiple berths at the same time.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said: “The international port is a vital part of our city’s infrastructure and history, generating £9.2million in profit, which goes directly back into council services.
“I am delighted to see that 2025 will be another successful year for cruise at the port. Every year cruise calls increase, boosting local tourism and continuing to raise the profile of Portsmouth among global brands.
“The port is also making bold steps in sustainability with an aim to be emissions free by 2050, through ground-breaking shore power technology. Portsmouth is at the forefront of the UK port industry.”
Each cruise call can generate up to £1.5million for the city’s economy through passenger spend and berthing charges – as a local authority owned port, profit goes back into Portsmouth City Council. This also means the port benefits from working with businesses and stakeholders to keep cruise tourism local and increase spend across the city’s attractions.
Andrew Williamson, head of cruise and ferry at Portsmouth International Port, said: “2024 has been a great year for the port. Our new terminal has now welcomed over 168,000 cruise passengers and we have worked hard to secure some long-term partnerships with our unique cruise offering. This was recognised when we were named Best Port at the prestigious Wave Awards, for the second year in a row.
“I am excited to launch our new cruise schedule and get started on our busiest year yet, as we continue to provide a premium service to our customers.”
Regular seasonal turnaround calls from Fred Olsen and Saga Cruises will continue to top and tail the year with Fred Olsen’s Borealis marking the first call of 2025 on Saturday 4 January, taking passengers on a voyage to the Caribbean.
The port has a number of maiden calls to plan for including Silverseas, Swan Hellenic and Crystal Cruises. Ritz Carlton’s ‘Ilma’ will also make her inaugural British Isles voyage from Portsmouth in July, treating guests to an exclusive luxury yacht experience.
Viking Cruises’ ‘Viking Vela’ will make her first call on 9 January, fresh from her inaugural voyage at the end of 2024 (12 December). The newest class of ship to join the fleet, Viking Vela carries 998 guests and redefines luxury cruising, an area of the industry the port is focusing on.
The schedule also features some familiar faces, including Virgin Voyages ‘Scarlet Lady’ which is set to return home for a series of calls in July, August and September. Scarlet Lady marked the start of Portsmouth’s partnership with Virgin Voyages in 2021, when the global brand launched from the city. 2024 saw Portsmouth become the first port in the world to welcome all three ‘lady’ ships when Resilient Lady made her UK debut back where it all began.
The full cruise schedule is now available at Cruise schedule – Portsmouth Port (portsmouth-port.co.uk).