Jersey Grows As Premier Cruise Destination

by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London

27 September 2010

The Jersey government has welcomed the announcement that several high profile cruise ships are to visit Jersey in 2011. It is hoped that their attendance will give the island an economic boost.

Luxury cruise ship, the Hebridean Princess will stay in Jersey for three days in July 2011 as part of a UK, French and Channel Island cruise. The Queen has leased the ship in the past for several Royal Family cruises, including the celebrations to mark Princess Anne's 60th birthday, Prince Andrew's 50th birthday and the Queen's own 80th birthday in 2006.

The Hebridean Princess's visit is among a growing list of bookings the Port of Jersey is already taking for cruise ships next year and for 2012. Another cruise ship, billed as one of the world's best, will also visit Jersey next year for the first time. Regent Cruises' luxury vessel the Seven Seas Voyager is the world’s second all-suite, all-balcony ship with capacity for up to 700 guests and 447 European and international crew. Jersey will be her last port of call on August 18 next year, during a 10-night ‘Celtic Charms’ cruise around the British Isles, which will take in the coasts of England, Scotland and Ireland.

The unique luxury ‘apartment’ cruise ship The World will also visit Jersey in 2011, as will P&O’s Adonia, a small premium cruise ship with capacity for 710 guests on its inaugural cruise season out of the UK. Another ship, the Ocean Nova, will operate two turn round cruises out of Jersey in 2011.

The Port of Jersey has also had its first bookings for 2012 with Ocean Nova and Holland America Line's the MS Princedam, which is a classic 4-star plus ship with a passenger capacity of 835 passengers.

These bookings are the result of work by the Port of Jersey promoting the island as a top cruise destination at one of the largest cruise UK travel trade events, the government said.

Jersey Harbours Commercial Director, Myra Shacklady, who represented Jersey at the ACE UK Cruise Convention in Southampton in June, commented:

“It is a huge success for us to have secured a visit from these prestigious cruise ships. The convention was the second of its kind in the UK and brought together more than 700 delegates. Over the three days we were able to highlight and promote Jersey as a top European destination to many different markets.”

"Cruise vessels of these types will attract high calibre, high spending passengers, visiting attractions, shops and restaurants when they go onshore, each cruise ship brings additional business to the island."

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