liverpool terminal

[bonniecharlie]

Any idea when the Liverpool terminal will be open to accept embarkation

and do they know which cruise lines will operate from there

The sooner the better for many I think

[Ray66]

Seems like it already is. Fred Olsen use it

 

http://www.fredolsencruises.com/before-you-cruise/before-you-cruise/cruise-departure-ports/cruises-from-liverpool

 

And the QM2 is doing a Southampton to Liverpool cruise and a Liverpool to Southampton cruise this month

 

http://www.cruise-liverpool.com/queen-mary-2-to-run-first-cunard-liverpool-sailings-in-45-years/

[John Bull]

Some small cruise ships are already turning round at the temporary terminal. QM2 is way too big for that temporary facility, but for a couple of cruises Liverpool is handling something like 200 embarkations as a secondary pick-up to the main turnaround at Southampton.

 

The dredging & pierhead, to create the port-of-call day visit facility, were done using about £20m of public Grants, £10m from the UK taxpayer & £10m from the EU. When Liverpool decided that they also wanted to handle turnarounds, the UK Govt required the return of their Grant because turnarounds were specifically banned since they compete with privately-funded ports like Southampton, Harwich, Dover, N'castle, etc . Liverpool have returned that UK Grant, but the EU has yet to decide whether turnarounds breach the terms of their Grant, and whether public funding breaches EU & international fair competition practice.

 

If the Grant doesn't have to be re-paid, its my understanding that Liverpool will press ahead with a proper terminal & facilities. If the EU want the Grant back, that will effectively push up the cost of a turnaround terminal by that £10m and doubtless Liverpool has already decided whether it will go ahead or abandon the idea - but naturally they're not saying until a decision is made.

 

Last year the EU promised they would announce their decision "early in the new year".

We're well into May ............................ we're still waiting.:rolleyes:

 

JB :)