Liverpool Cruise Port is forecasting unprecedented activity for its 2026 season, with bookings indicating that 118 cruise vessel calls will bring approximately 350,000 passengers and crew to the city’s River Mersey berth.
Underlying this projection is the port’s ongoing expansion of its cruise infrastructure and the increasing frequency of deployments by international operators who treat Liverpool as a key call in Northern European itineraries.
The figures for the upcoming season represent a marked rise over recent years, during which total annual visitor numbers at the terminal — historically around 200,000 passengers and crew — have climbed as facilities and services have been enhanced under new management arrangements.
Port officials have characterised the city as an increasingly attractive destination for cruise passengers from overseas, citing Liverpool’s cultural heritage and connectivity via two international airports within an hour’s drive as factors in its appeal as both a port of call and a gateway for round-Britain and Northern Europe cruises. The anticipated influx of visitors is expected to provide a significant economic stimulus to the Liverpool City Region, supporting hospitality, retail and transport sectors as passengers disembark to explore the city and its surrounds.
Seasonal operational days at the terminal are also set to increase, reflecting the expanded number of calls and the port’s growing role in cruise deployments that span the British Isles and the wider North Atlantic region. Concurrent infrastructure plans remain under development to further augment capacity, including provisions that would allow concurrent berthing of multiple ships and accommodate a higher annual call volume beyond the current projections.