This summer sees Port of Tyne celebrate a key milestone in regional tourism – 25 years of welcoming cruise ships from around the world.
Cruising at the Port of Tyne began when the Cunard’s Royal Viking Sun sailed into the Tyne in 1999, one of the highest-rated ships afloat in the 90s. Since then, the International Passenger Terminal at the mouth of the River Tyne has welcomed many iconic vessels over the years.
One of the grandest ships ever built, the iconic QE2 visited the Port of Tyne twice – once on her lap of honour around the UK in 2007 – and a year later in 2008 during her farewell tour before the ship became a floating hotel in Dubai.
The QE2 was launched on September 20 1967 by Queen Elizabeth II and carried 1,700 passengers on her maiden voyage, from Southampton to New York City. At 70,327 tonnes with a top speed of 32.5 knots, the 963 ft vessel built by the John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank, Scotland, was one of the largest and fastest passenger vessels afloat.
Before it was sold, the QE2 had circumnavigated the world 25 times, crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and carried more than 2.5 million passengers, including royalty, Prime Ministers and Presidents, astronauts and The Beatles.
Another memorable moment in the history of cruising at the Port was in 2021 when the Disney Magic cruise ship visited. The Disney Magic vessel boasts 875 staterooms, and multiple dining options alongside a huge variety of facilities including theatres, boutiques, family pools, waterslides, whimsical kids’ clubs, adult-only retreats such as a secluded pool and spa among a whole range of other activities to keep children and parents busy.
Matt Beeton, CEO at the Port of Tyne, commented: “We’ve gone from welcoming the Cunard’s Royal Viking Sun on 30 August 1999 as our first cruise ship to Fred Olsen’s The Balmoral coming in on 29th August 2024 – the day before it all started 25 years ago. Our offer has grown year-on-year, with a record number of cruise ship calls this year.
“We’ve upgraded our facilities over the years to ensure the region remains a top destination for cruise passengers. We are currently extending our 5G network, making us the first smart port in the UK, which will open up even more opportunities for passengers coming into the Tyne.”
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said: “Port of Tyne is synonymous with the North East and welcomes passengers from all corners of the globe to experience the very best our region has to offer. It plays a crucial role and is vital to making our area the fantastic place we know it is – to live, work, invest and visit.
“The North East has unrivalled access to the North Sea and as Mayor I’m determined to harness all the opportunities this presents, to attract more investment, create jobs and strengthen our visitor economy – firmly placing the North East where it belongs: proudly on the world stage.”
Ian Thomas, Director of Visitor Economy at NewcastleGateshead Initiative and lead delivery partner for Destination North East England, said: “Anyone who is from here or has visited here knows North East England is a fantastic place to visit, offering unrivalled landscapes, world-class cultural experiences, a proper canny welcome and great value for money. We’re very fortunate to have the fantastic facilities at the Port of Tyne which allows visitors to explore everything from our vibrant food and drink scene to UNESCO world heritage sites like Hadrian’s Wall. The Port of Tyne remains one of the country’s premier
international gateways and it’s amazing that it’s on our doorstep as we continue to work closely alongside Visit Britain to amplify the region’s story to attract more visitors from abroad.
“The growth and further investment from the port in its International Passenger Terminal will support us to reach our goal of doubling the value of the visitor economy over the next decade, supporting numerous jobs and contributing significantly to the regional economy.”
Demand for cruise services at the Port continues to grow, reaching a new record of 61 cruise calls carrying 710,000 passengers in 2023, an increase of 91% compared with 2022. These record-breaking figures reflect the increasing number of holidaymakers coming from abroad to visit the North East. In a recent report, Destination North East England reported an 80% increase in overseas visits in 2023 and the impact of tourism bringing £6.1 billion into the local economy.
For more information on Port of Tyne, visit www.portoftyne.co.uk
