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BRISTOL SET TO JOIN THE CRUISE CLUB IN 2008

18 july 2007

BRISTOL SET TO JOIN THE CRUISE CLUB IN 2008

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, recently voted the World's Leading Luxury Cruise Line in the 2006 World Travel Awards, has announced that its newest ship the Seven Seas Voyager is to berth in the Port of Bristol in September 2008 as a part of a round Britain cruise starting in Copenhagen and finishing in Southampton.

The ship which is 670 feet long and carries 700 passengers and 450 crew will be carrying is passengers on a luxury cruise that takes in the Northern Isles, and ports in Ireland on the Irish Sea coast before making the trip into Avonmouth Dock on September 7th, and then on to Southampton.

The cruise, with prices from $6,995, is aimed at the upper end of the market and John Hallett, managing director of Destination Bristol believes this is where the city should be pitchng itself in this highly competitive market.

He said, 'This is very exciting news indeed. The cruise market has been growing at an amazing rate for some years now, both in Europe and in the USA and we have been very keen to get a toe hold in this very lucrative market. It's particularly important at present since it enable US visitors to get better value for money while the pound/dollar exchange rate is working against us. The Seven Seas Voyager is unquestionably one of the world's best cruise ships and this visit offers us a great opportunity to showcase the city by providing shore excursions for its passengers'

'We have yet to finalise details but this single visit will certainly result in a major increase in visitor spend. While the ship will only be here for a day, the fact that it is finishing its trip in Southampton also presents us with an opportunity to encourage passengers to extend their trip with a post cruise tour here. It has also been shown that many cruise passengers return to spend holidays in places they have sampled as a part of a cruise and this is where huge potential lies in years to come if we get it right'.

And as for the future, John Hallett is hopeful that this visit will result in cruise ships returning in seasons to come. 'We recognize that Bristol is a commercial port and cruise ships have not been regular visitors. If we can secure just a small number of the top-end cruise ships each year, then that will provide a huge boost to our tourism economy'

Bob Harrison Director of Cruise Operations for Destination South West, the cruise ship initiative for the SW of England said. 'Bristol has always been on the radar as a marquee destination for cruise ships calling the UK. We have to ensure that the passenger welcome is superb and that all involved in the call offer the level of service guests onboard the Voyager will have received in other ports of call. Bristol has to exceed expectations, we are competing in a very lucrative business that can bring revenue to the City, both now and in the future'.

Patrick Kearon of the Bristol Port Company said "We will be delighted to receive Seven Seas Voyager. It is always wonderful to see cruise ships in Bristol."

- Ends -

Notes to Editor

For more information please contact:

Kerrie Grist
Marketing Executive
Destination Bristol
Tel: 0117 946 2205
Email: kerrie.grist@destinationbristol.co.uk
Web: www.visitbristol.co.uk

1. Destination Bristol, formerly the Bristol Tourism and Conference Bureau is a not for profit partnership between Bristol City Council and Business West. Destination Bristol is the destination management partnership for Bristol and South Gloucestershire and leads the marketing of the area as a travel destination. The aim of the organisation is to work with members and partners, to increase business competitiveness, support employment and economic growth, and raise the profile of the Bristol city-region as a European-class travel destination.