• 2 min de lectura
• 2 min de lectura
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' Hanseatic Spirit called at the Port of Ipswich on October 3, marking the largest-ever cruise visit to the port.
The 230-passenger capacity PC6 ice class vessel arrived as part of a 13-night voyage from Reykjavik in Iceland to Hamburg, Germany.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises provided a city walking tour to explore the town's rich history, whilst the itinerary also gave passengers the chance to cruise along the River Orwell and experience Ipswich's historic waterfront and town centre.
ABP's Neal Birkett, commercial and agency manager, met captain Claas Fischer who presented ABP with a plaque during the visit.
The visit offered a different perspective on the Port of Ipswich, which is best known as the UK's leading grain export port and handles more than two million tonnes of cargo each year. Sitting at the head of the River Orwell and less than a mile from the town centre, the port gives visiting passengers direct access to one of the UK's oldest waterfront communities.
Paul Ager, ABP's divisional port manager for the East Coast, said: "The arrival of Hanseatic Spirit is a significant moment for the Port of Ipswich and demonstrates the growing appeal of regional destinations within the cruise market.
"Cruise calls bring more than visitors. They support local businesses, showcase places such as Ipswich to new audiences and help generate wider economic benefits for the communities they visit. This visit highlights the role regional ports can play in helping more destinations share in the benefits of the UK's growing cruise sector.
"We were delighted to welcome passengers to the town and look forward to continuing to work with cruise operators and local partners to attract further opportunities in the future."
Beyond its Southampton cruise operation, ABP's ports in Swansea, Plymouth and Barrow also receive cruise vessels.
The arrival follows the recent visit of the paddle steamer Waverley, another less common vessel to call at Ipswich. The Waverley recently brought around 450 passengers to the port for a sailing along the River Orwell and onwards to London.
