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Dover port claims niche luxury status

Dover Cruise Port says it is carving out a niche as the preferred UK port for luxury cruise lines.


Lines such as Crystal, Seabourn and Oceania are catering for a renaissance in premium cruising around Northern Europe from Dover while Hebridean Princess will operate cruises from the port to the Western Isles or Northern France.


The port will also be welcoming Aida, Ibercruceros, Pullmantur, Fred Olsen, Saga and Princess Cruises as well as Oceania’s new ship Marina in February 2011 and Holland America Line’s Ryndam on its first visit to the UK.


The Kent port is often overshadowed by its larger near neighbour Southampton, which can handle much larger mainstream ships and is the UK largest cruise port. MSC Cruises is moving its UK operations from Dover to Southampton for summer 2011.


The port’s head of commercial and marketing Kate O’Hara said: “Dover is carving out a niche as the port that caters for the discerning traveller as well as contributing to the popular growth in European cruising that is winning new converts each season.


“First-class facilities at the cruise terminals and improved transport links are also encouraging new audiences to try a cruise holiday from Dover.


“It’s promising news that UK cruise is bucking the trend in the holiday market with over 1.65 million expected to have holidayed on board this year.”

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