Greenock-Glasgow (Clydeport, Scotland)

Greenock cruise ship terminal (officially "Greenock Ocean Terminal") is owned by Peel Ports (UK's largest port operator). The facility features a waterfront walkway connecting to downtown (at approx 5-min easy walking distance).

In early 2016, the cruise terminal was expanded by a GBP 14 million port development project.

In 2023 the terminal was updated (GBP 19,2 million project / ~USD 23,3M / ~EUR 21,9M) and a new visitor center (leisure complex) was inaugurated. The new complex consists of a museum (paying tribute to George Ralston Wyllie/1921-2012, Scottish sculptor), a restaurant, a hall (for arrivals/departures) as well as a roof terrace overlooking Clyde River.

The passenger terminal project was part of the government-funded "Glasgow City Region City Deal" (GBP 1,13 billion) grouping several large-scale infrastructure projects.

The Esplanade/waterfront promenade offers spectacular views over River Clyde. Taxis at the cruise port are also available. Lyle Hill's viewpoint features vistas of Argyll Hills, Gareloch, Holy Loch, Loch Long, Loch Goil, and a number of Munros on clear days.

From Port Greenock, Glasgow City can be reached by train (leaving every 20 min). Travel time (by road or rail) is 35 min. To the nearest railway station is around a 10-min walk. Glasgow is an interesting tourist destination for cruisers and is just a 35-min drive distance from Port Greenock. The city is compact and easily walkable. It offers a true taste of Scotland and boasts a range of popular attractions and architecture.

The cruise terminal's/Greenock Ocean Terminal's building houses tourist information areas, restrooms, currency exchange, several vendors. The local tour company Inverclyde had a dedicated seating area (in the middle) where tour information and maps are provided. Passengers can also sign up for the complimentary bus tours - led by local volunteers, and free of charge.

Traditionally, after docking, at the terminal cruise tourists are greeted by bagpipers performing popular tunes.

• The Terminal's address is "Greenock Ocean Terminal, Patrick Street, Greenock, PA16 8UU".
• Terminal's phone number is +44 (0) 1475 726 171.

Among the visiting vessels in 2015 was RMS Queen Mary 2 as part of Cunard Line's 175th-anniversary celebrations. The liner docked at Greenock Ocean Terminal on May 21st. To mark the arrival, Peel Ports commissioned a commemorative tartan (traditional patterned cloth) that was officially presented to Cunard at the onboard gala dinner and Captain's cocktail reception.

During summer, from both Greenock and Glasgow are offered regularly scheduled Scottish voyages on PS Waverley - the world's oldest (only one) original and still operational paddle-wheel steamship.

(NEW) Peel Ports Greenock Ocean Cruise Terminal

In July 2019 was proposed a GBP 19,193 million "Greenock Ocean Terminal" project, jointly-funded by Greenock City and Peel Ports (subsidiary of The Peel Groupfka Peel Holdings) - Greater Manchester-headquartered infrastructure, transport and real estate investment corporation (one of UK's largest investment companies) that owns several holdings (land/and property, transport/logistics, energy, retail, media).

For the new terminal, Glasgow (Inverclyde Council) approved funding of GBP 9,693 million (EUR 10,92M) from the city's overall GBP 1 billion annual budget. The balance is to be paid by Peel Ports (UK's largest seaport terminal operator company, GBP 8 million / EUR 8,93 M) and The George Wyllie Foundation (2012-founded non-profit) through Dunard Trust (GBP 1,5 million / EUR 1,67 M).

The port development project was initially scheduled for completion in summer 2020. However, due to the COVID crisis, the project was delayed and Greenock Ocean Terminal was completed and inaugurated in 2022. With the new facility, the expected annual cruise tourist traffic is ~150,000 (pax/crew), with estimated GBP 26 million in annual cruise spending ashore (passengers and crew).

The new berth has length 200 m (656 ft) and capacity to hande the world's largest passenger ships via a floating pontoon. The pontoon is made of four 1000-ton concrete caissons, pre-constructed at Inchgreen Drydock (Port Glasgow) then towed to the new passenger terminal and secured to piles driven into the seabed. At the new dock can berth vessels with max LOA length 340 m (1115 ft). The pontoons have height 5 m, width 8 m, and length 44 m (two structures) and 56 m (the other two). The pontoons are of steel-reinforced concrete filled with polystyrene for buoyancy.

The arriving cruise tourists disembark the ship onto the pontoon and then enter the modern terminal building.