Capital Cruising, the only port operator to service the British capital cities of London and Edinburgh, celebrates the launch of its most successful cruise ship season. 2016 vessel visits are up 15% compared to 2015, with 144 cruise ships docking at Capital Cruising ports.

Capital Cruising, part of Forth Ports Limited, will welcome 91 vessels to its Scottish ports this year, up from 74 in 2015, while the London International Cruise Terminal at Tilbury will also welcome an increase from 51 to 53 vessels. This will amount to approximately 200,000 passengers arriving in the ports. The increased number of vessel visits in 2016 follows Forth Ports’ continual investment in its ports, increasing capacity and facilities, allowing passengers to get unrivalled access to key locations across Great Britain.

On top of a rise in vessel visits, 2016 brings an extended season for Capital Cruising in Scotland, beginning with the arrival of the Magellan this month and ending with a new ship docking in Edinburgh for the city’s world famous Hogmanay celebration.

Rob Mason, Head of Cruise Scotland at Capital Cruising said, “We are extremely proud to welcome the Magellan back to Dundee for the second consecutive year. 2016 is a very exciting year for the company, as we continue to invest in our ports across the country to ensure visitors receive world class service and unique access to the fantastic tourist attractions our locations have to offer.”

Steve Lyons, Head of Cruise at London International Cruise Terminal said, “We work closely with cruise liners to ensure we deliver tailored experiences for visitors to get an exciting and authentic trip. With more vessel visits at our locations in 2016, we believe it is clear our customer service offerings and capital locations are welcomed by the cruise operators.”

The season officially began on Sunday with the arrival of the Magellan, which will dock in Dundee. The 1,250 passenger cruise liner is owned by Cruise and Maritime Voyages and will initially depart from Dundee for Aldbeck.

Mike Hall, Head of Marketing for Cruise and Maritime Voyages said, “We are delighted the Magellan is back in Dundee for the second year for an increased programme of sailings. The service at the Dundee port last year was first class and the new route was highly successful. Not only was the support from the port exceptional, but also the local travel trade and businesses were great at supporting the voyages.”

Capital Cruising is a union of cruise terminals that gives passengers unrivalled access to the heart of London and Edinburgh, allowing passengers more time to enjoy the finest attractions in the cities. The London International Cruise Terminal, based at Port of Tilbury on the river Thames, is uniquely situated as the closest deep water port giving access to London, while the Edinburgh ports are all within 15 minutes of the city centre.