21 November 2024
AIDALuna kick-started and closed another successful year for Port of Dover Cruise, leaving earlier this month for Spain, before spending the winter in the Caribbean. AIDA Cruises visited Dover six times as a port of call throughout 2024, joining 20 other cruise lines sailing there this season as a destination or turnaround hub.
Highlights included inaugural calls from Viking Saturn, Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) Renaissance, Seabourn Venture, TUI Mein Schiff 4, Fred. Olsen’s Borealis and Crystal Symphony. There were two days with three cruise ships in simultaneously, with the WD4 berth providing direct access to the Marina Curve and wider waterfront by foot.
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam had a special visit in April, before she returns to Dover, her UK homeport, for a full season in 2025. Dover’s flagship community event, the Regatta, was sponsored by Fred. Olsen, which is the first time it’s been supported by a cruise line.
Peter Wright, Head of Cruise at the Port of Dover said: “It’s been a brilliant season, which has seen us welcome a diverse range of cruise ships of all sizes, multiple berths in use, wonderful inaugural call celebrations, and our long-standing customers returning for large sets of calls. I’d like to thank our brilliant team here for working so hard to provide our guests with an exceptional welcome and to our cruise lines for choosing Dover. We are excited for what 2025 will bring.”
AIDA Cruises added: “This year, we visited the beautiful coastline of Dover in total six times with three ships: AIDAbella, AIDAdiva and AIDAluna. Our guests particularly enjoyed the White Cliffs Country and the warm welcome and hospitality at the Port itself. We are looking forward to being back in 2025.”