Harwich International Port has announced a busy cruise season in 2014 with a total of 43 cruise ship calls at the Essex port.
Costa Cruise's, 1,504-cabin Costa Pacifica kicks off the new season on 28 April 2014. As well as Costa Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Thomson Cruises, Voyages of Discovery and Saga Cruises are amongst those returning in 2014 for what promises to be another healthy year for cruising at Harwich International Port.
Award winning cruise operator Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines returns to Harwich again this year, with the inaugural call of its 23,000-ton, 929-passenger vessel, Braemar on 13 May 2014 followed by three further turnaround calls in May and June. Saga Cruises and Noble Caledonia both also have inaugural calls in May and August. German cruise company AIDA Cruises will make its first ever call to the Essex port with the AidaStella on 7 May 2014, transiting en route to Hamburg.
Commenting on the 2014 cruise programme, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK) Limited, owners of Harwich International Port, said:
"Harwich continues to be one of the major UK ports for cruise and ferry tourism. Ever increasing numbers of cruise lines are choosing Harwich as their port of call. Its excellent transport links to Cambridge and London, and its proximity to Constable Country and historic Harwich, offers visitors an array of things to see and do. Continuous investment in passenger facilities and services keep Harwich International Port the passengers', as well as the cruise operators', port of choice."
Cruise & Maritime Voyages' cruise ship Astor ends its mega 40 night cruise spanning Australia, Mauritius, South Africa, Canary Islands, Portugal, France and many others along the way in Harwich on 11 May 2014.