Liverpool sees second cruise line pull out
Ferry Online Travel News 01/12/2008
A second cruise line will relocate from Liverpool due to an unresolved dispute over berthing facilities.
Fred Olsen is preparing to pull out of Liverpool because it is being forced to dock its cruise ship alongside the Bootle’s docklands scrapyard, rather than at the Pier Head Cruise Liner Terminal.
The cruise operator said that passengers on a dream holiday can’t be expected to start out from such a dismal environment.
Thomson Cruises pulled the plug on its 30- voyage arrangement with Liverpool after using the Longton Dock berth on a trial basis.
Both cruise companies say they believed that the waterfront terminal would be available for their use, but it still does not have the necessary Customs facilities or the required baggage-handling capacity necessary. At this time, the waterfront terminal is only usable as a port of call.
Nigel Lingard, the Fred Olsen marketing director, commented that the company decided to operate one ship out of Liverpool a couple of years ago, when they were told that the new facilities would be made available to them.
“We made it clear to everyone that long-term success would require improved passenger and ship operating facilities, Lingard said. “Our success in building up a local market is not something we wish to sacrifice lightly, but it’s not satisfactory to start anyone’s dream holiday with a scrapyard for scenery and abysmal passenger facilities.”
He explained: “We find it virtually impossible to explain to potential customers why Liverpool has a much-heralded new cruise berth while we are berthed in a dismal industrial area.”
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