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Isle of Portland (Weymouth, Dorset England)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Ireland - UK - British Isles

Local Time 2024-04-27 06:31

Port Isle of Portland cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Isle of Portland, Weymouth, Dorset England. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Isle of Portland is located in the English Channel and on Dorset's southern coast (southern England). Portland Island is connected to mainland Dorset (at Abbotsbury) via a narrow piece of land (named Chesil Beach, aka Chesil Bank) with a length of approx 29 km (18 mi). Enclosed between Chesil Beach and Abbotsbury is the freshwater lake Fleet.

The island is most famous for the white limestone quarried here. After WW2 (1939-1945) a British naval base was built at the peninsula's northern tip - Portland Bill (now closed). Pennsylvania Castle (currently a hotel) was built during the 18th century for John Penn - grandson of the founder of the USA's Pennsylvania state Admiral William Penn. Here are also the remains of the 11th-century Rufus Castle.

On the island's southern tip is located Portland Bill (lighthouse). From here, cruise passengers can visit Abbotsbury Swannery (nesting Mute Swans colony), Bovington Camp's Tank Museum, and the seaside resort Weymouth (Dorset).

Portland Port (UK) has locode GBPTL.

Portland UK cruise port

Portland Port's cruising season runs from April through late October / early November.

Mein Schiff 5  (one of  TUI Cruises newest ships / launched January 2016) made an inaugural visit on September 12, 2016. During the port call, a large number of passengers went on shore excursions, with over 75% of them visiting the popular Dorset attractions Jurassic Coast, Portland Bill, Corfe Castle, Minterne House, Abbotsbury Swannery. On September 20, 2016, another new (2016-built) cruise liner - ms Koningsdam ( Holland America ) visited Portland England for the first time.

In April 2017 was announced the near-completion of the new GBP 3 million cruise berth extension project allowing docking of bigger-sized ships (more info in the "terminal" section below). The total number of scheduled ship calls for 2017 was 24 (of which 10 first-time visiting ships) bringing over 36,000 passengers. In 2017, Portland UK reported a record-breaking year with handled nearly 36,000 passengers in 24 cruise ship calls. Also in 2017, an inaugural call made the ship Disney Magic  (on May 23).

Port's most regular customer is Phoenix Reisen . Port's largest passenger liners so far are the NCL -owned sisterships Norwegian Breakaway , Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Escape (LOA length 326 m, GT 145600 tons, max passengers 4820). Port's record-breaking day was July 15 (2018) with two simultaneous dockings ( RSSC Regent -owned ships Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Navigator ).

During season 2018, the cruise port had scheduled 44 ship calls (38% increase over 2017), including maiden visits from  Pullmantur  and  Princess Cruises . The number of passengers (based on berth bookings for 2019) was 62,000. For 2020, Portland Port reported a record-breaking season with scheduled 46 ship calls (berth bookings) and estimated 80,000+ cruise tourists (passengers and crew).

New / first-time calling ships and companies in 2020 included Silver Whisper ( Silversea ), Celebrity Reflection  ( Celebrity ), Amera ( Phoenix Reisen ), CMV Columbus ,  Island Princess and  Regal Princess ( Princess ), Pullmantur Monarch , Seven Seas Splendor ( RSSC-Regent ).

Following the COVID crisis, in 2022 Portland Port had scheduled a total of 62 cruise ship calls. The season (April 21st through November 14th) started with Hanseatic Inspiration ( Hapag-Lloyd ) and ended with AIDAvita ( AIDA ). Maiden port calls were booked for Emerald Princess, Enchanted Princess, MS Maud (Hurtigruten), Disney Magic (DCL-Disney).

In August 2022 was announced Isle of Portland's GBP 26 million (~EUR/USD 30M) berth development/expansion project to result in ~16000 m2 additional docking space.

Isle of Portland cruise terminal

Cruise ships to Portland (England UK) dock in Portland Harbour, at the Outer Coaling Pier located on the island's northern coast. The harbor is a former British Navy base, and the pier is close to the causeway. There are free bus shuttles (complimentary provided by the Port Authority) transporting passengers right from and to the dock.

In 2017, Port Portland completed a GBP 3 million cruise pier extension project to allow docking of larger vessels. The upgraded terminal facility allows berthing of boats with max LOA length 340 m (1115 ft). The previous berth had capacity to dock vessels with max LOA length 300 m (985 ft). The first cruise ship to dock at the extended pier was Disney Magic  (on May 23, 2017).

On July 6, 2019, NCL 's liner Norwegian Spirit became the first passenger vessel to use Portland Port's new gangway (mobile passenger bridge) system. It was installed as part of an investment plan for improving and extending the Port's cruise docking/mooring arrangements on Deepwater Berth and Outer Coaling Pier.

In August 2022 was announced Portland Port's GBP 26 million (~EUR/USD 30M) berth development/expansion project for adding ~16000 m2 of docking space.

During the cruise port development, the existing Deep Water Berth was removed and replaced with a new berth. The new ship docking facility is actually an upgrade of the Outer Coaling Pier that was extended by adding a 74-m/243-ft long solid quay. The new Deep Water Berth (length 250-m/820-ft, water depth 12-m/39-ft) is fitted with 150-ton bollards (short, vertical posts for the mooring cables) and can handle vessels with max LOA length 350 m/1148 ft. The Outer Coaling Pier was expanded to 250 m (solid berth face) and water depth 11 m/36 ft. Piling works started in October 2022, and the project was completed in April 2023 (fully operational by May 1st). Final quay surface finishing works were scheduled for the period Oct 2023 thru Feb 2024. For the project were used ~380K tonnes of infill material (locally sourced) and ~4800 tons of steel.

The Port's deepwater quays redevelopment resulted in improved handling capabilities (of both cruise vessels and cargo ships) as well as enhanced services to RFA vessels serving the Royal Fleet Auxiliary that provides logistic and operational support to the British Royal Navy's operations worldwide.

Currently, Portland Port can accommodate passenger ships with max LOA length 350 m (1148 ft).

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Portland, England cruise ship schedule

Portland, England  cruise calendar 2023 provides the opportunity to search arrival and departure schedules of cruise ships arriving in port.  The timetable displays dates and times cruise ships are scheduled to dock in port in two separate columns for arrivals and departures with the name of the ship, cruise operator, and maximum passenger capacity.  Please note, the following cruise port schedule is created on updated itineraries from the following cruise lines: Azamara, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Regent Seven Seas, Oceania Cruises, Marella Cruises, TUI, P&O Cruises, Aida Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, Cunard Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Viking and Fred Olsen Cruise Lines. Here you can  view cruise ship Itineraries  classified by cruise lines.

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Cruise ships set to dock in Dorset in 2022: From Emerald Princess to Disney Magic

Cruising season has begun with thousands of people expected to visit

• 15:15, 23 APR 2022
• Updated 10:31, 11 MAY 2022

The cruise season has officially kicked off in Dorset as an influx of multi-million commercial ships are set to come and go from Portland Port. The port is a large docking area and can take cruise ships and HMS vessels given its infrastructure, gives passengers an easy way to depart the ship and explore Dorset and excursions across the South West.

The visit of multiple cruise ships offers a boost to the local economy, with coach drivers, port staff and hospitality figures benefiting from helping accommodate passengers in Dorset and beyond.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, cruising was cancelled due to ongoing restrictions, as several cruise lines made use of anchorages along the south coast to wait for the opportunity to welcome guests back on board. During this time, the sight of up to ten cruise ships anchoring in Weymouth Bay became a tourist attraction and Portland Port was able to offer its services and berths in support.

Read more - Things you need to do in Weymouth that you won't find in guidebooks

The cruising season has begun with the arrival of Hapag-Lloyd's Hanseatic Inspiration, which arrived at around 6am on Thursday (April 21) and sounded its horn as she sailed away.

What ships will we see at Portland Port?

With the cruise industry continuing to recover from the pandemic, 62 cruise ships are set to moor at Portland Port between April and November this year. This includes impressive ships of Emerald Princess, Disney Magic, Norwegian Star and MSC Virtuosa.

The cruise ships are expected to dock in the morning, and spend several hours in port before departing in the evening. Passengers onboard can either stay on the ship and enjoy its entertainment, or take shuttle coaches away from the port and enjoy local landmarks in Dorset, take an early trip to Stonehenge or simply have a wonder around Weymouth and Portland.

According to Portland Port's website, here are the cruise ships set to arrive at the port throughout 2022:

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4 Expensive Disney Cruise Options That Are Worth the Cost (and One That Isn’t)

T aking a Disney  cruise  lets you be the prince or princess of a Disney story. Everything from your meals to onboard entertainment is taken care of, leaving you free to explore everything the ship offers.

Learn More:  11 Expensive Vacation Destinations That Will Be Cheaper in 2024

Find Out:  How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Things You Already Buy

Understanding  what’s included  in your package can help you decide where it might be worth splashing out a bit more cash for an even more enchanting experience.

While every Disney cruise comes with its share of pixie dust, some experiences are so spectacular they justify the extra investment. From princess makeovers to adult-only fine dining, prioritizing the right upgrades can elevate your cruise from memorable to once-in-a-lifetime.

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Magical Makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique/Pirate’s League

The  Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique  offers an opportunity for your children to transform into their favorite characters, whether that’s a prince, princess or pirate. Since you likely chose a Disney cruise for the unique Disney experience or because you or your children are fans of a character or two, it makes sense to take part in this one-of-a-kind makeover option.

Princess makeovers range from $100 to $450, with the basic “Deluxe Carriage Package” including hairstyling, shimmering makeup and face gem, princess sash and cinch sack, nail polish, and t-shirt. Pricier packages also include princess gowns, accessories, tiaras, and more. To give your princess a special experience at a lower cost, you could pack a princess dress rather than paying for the more expensive package that includes one.

For those who would like to become knights or captains, you can select a package that includes a costume, sack or backpack, hairstyling and gel, confetti, and either a sword and shield or a captain’s hat and an autograph book. These packages cost $100 for the knight and $120 for the captain. Pirate makeovers are available on special Pirate Party nights.

Beer Mug or Drink of the Day Savings Package

Although Disney Cruise Line doesn’t offer an all-inclusive alcohol drink package, they do have alternatives that could be a good value if you plan to drink on your cruise. You can purchase a $17 souvenir glass beer mug that allows you to buy 21 oz of draught beer or hard cider for the price of a 16 oz beer or hard cider. This will pay for itself if you have more than around a half-dozen drinks, and you get a nifty keepsake that you can use on future cruises.

There is also an option to purchase a Drink of the Day cocktail souvenir cup that you may refill at a discounted price (and drinks of the day are already discounted). You can use these cups for drink discounts at Disney Castaway Cay as well, so don’t forget to pack your cup when you go ashore. Speaking of going ashore…

Port Adventures

A big part of cruising is going ashore during the port stops along the way. You may want to upgrade your trip by opting for  port adventure packages . These packages can include equipment rentals like bicycles, snorkels, and water tubes. They may also include cultural experiences, sightseeing, or even nature experiences like swimming with dolphins.

Booking your port adventures through Disney also offers the convenience of pre-set pricing, saving you the hassle of haggling or currency exchange. Not all the experiences are super expensive, and even splurging on a mid-range adventure will be a memorable upgrade to your cruise that reduces stress during port days.

Adult-Exclusive Dining

Every Disney Cruise ship offers dining options for adults only, so you can have a peaceful date night with your spouse while sailing. These dining options are only available for people 18 and older. The restaurant options include (depending on your ship) Palo, Palo Steakhouse, Remy, and Enchante.

After recent price increases in 2023, brunch and dinner at Palo and Palo Steakhouse will cost $50 per person for a fixed menu. Base dinner prices at Remy and Enchante are $135 per person. A la carte options are available for an 18% charge on top of the price of each item. While these meals are fairly pricey, especially considering other meals in the Dining Room are included in your ticket cost, you can’t put a dollar amount on an amazing adult-only date night.

Skip This Upgrade: Royal Court Royal Tea

One upgrade option you may have heard about is the Royal Court Royal Tea. While it’s a charming idea, especially for fans of Disney princesses, the cost is steep at $220 per child and $69 per adult.

While the description makes the Royal Tea sound charming, attendees have found it an expensive disappointment. Although it’s a popular add-on, popularity isn’t always synonymous with value. Besides, there is a completely free Princess Gathering where you can meet and greet your favorite Disney Princesses.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 4 Expensive Disney Cruise Options That Are Worth the Cost (and One That Isn’t)

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