The Inaugural Call Of The Mein Schiff 5 At Portland Port, UK
The Mein Schiff 5 made its inaugural call to Portland Port on 12th September 2016. The 99,800 ton, 2,534-passenger cruise ship, cost US $625 million to build and is the newest member of the TUI Cruises fleet.
She was launched on 15 January 2016 at Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland
During Mein Schiff 5’s call at Portland Port, a large number of passengers went on excursions. It was pleasing to see that more than 75% of the trips were visits to the Jurassic Coast and other attractions in Dorset. The passengers took in beautiful countryside and the rich history of the region whilst visiting places such as Portland Bill, Corfe Castle, Minterne House and Abbotsbury Swannery.
Ian McQuade, General Manager (Commercial) for Portland Port, commented “It is fantastic that TUI Cruises new flagship chose to call at Portland Port during its first year of operation and is proof that the port’s cruise business is going from strength to strength”.
On 20th September the port will welcome another new flagship when Holland America’s Koningsdam also visits Portland for the first time. The Mein Schiff 5 and Koningsdam have more than 2500 passengers on board each of them, which is a big boost to the port and the local economy.
Previously a naval dockyard for over 150 years, Portland Harbour is now a thriving and successful commercial facility. It still maintains a close relationship with the past through its ongoing contract to support the RFA, as well as being home to the activities of Global Marine and Portland Bunkers UK. It has almost 2,500 hectares of water at depths of up to 15m (C.D.); and provides vessel services from long term lay- ups to brief maintenance calls, luxury cruise liner docking facilities to industrial cargo shipments.
