Greenock (Glasgow, Scotland)

Greenock is a major port city located at the entrance to Firth of Clyde on Scotland's western coast. The port (officially Clydeport) is also the cruise port to Glasgow - Scotland's largest city, with population over 600,000 (metro 2,3 million).

The port has a deep-water quay, no tidal or lock restrictions, and is accessible the whole year-round for ships of all sizes. Greenock has population around 50,000. It was originally established as a herring fishing port, which in the 19th-20th centuries developed shipbuilding industry, bringing prosperity to the area.

• According to CLIA data (abbrev "Cruise Lines International Association"), each cruise passenger contributes around GBP 80 to the local economy.
• The port's statistical data shows in handled just 20,253 passengers in 2007. In 2014, their number was 92,678.
• On July 12, 2015, UK’s biggest passenger ship MV Britannia (P&O Cruises UK) docked in Port Greenock as part a 12-night British Isles cruise itinerary (visiting ports in Ireland, Channel Islands and the UK). The ship berthed at the Ocean Terminal at 5 pm, with around 3600 passengers. Its arrival marked a record year for the cruise port, becoming Scotland's first seaport to handle over 100,000 cruise tourists in a single year. This was 14% increase over 2014. In 2015, the port received a total of 56 ship calls and handled 108,866 passengers. It was estimated that each cruise ship tourist contributed around GBP 80 to the local economy. The 108,866 passengers in 2015 brought GBP 8,7 million (EUR 12,4 million) to the local economy.
• Port Greenock works in partnership with Inverclyde Tourist Group (local tour operator) greeting disembarking passengers and offering tour and travel information at the cruise terminal. The memorable Greenock port experience is also marked by the Glasgow's cow mascot Hamish.
• Inverclyde Tourist Group organizes unique land tours guided by local knowledgeable volunteers. Each tour (with duration about 2 hours) starts and ends at Greenock Ocean Terminal. The company offers three different tours (starting from 9:15 am onwards) by using small coaches. Bookings can be made through the company's website and also at the cruise terminal (via its tartan clad volunteers or call at its ticket desk at the terminal). The 3 tour options include Greenock (city tour), Gourock (countryside scenic tour) and Port Glasgow and Newark Castle (shipbuilding and sugar manufacturing in Port Glasgow, and to Newark Castle / owned by Historic Scotland).

The port is visited by a great number of cruise shipping lines, including: Princess, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Cunard, P&O UK, Fred Olsen, Holland America, CMV (Cruise & Maritime Voyages). Maiden port visit in 2015 did Disney Cruise Line. Greenock is homeport to Hebridean Island Cruises (UK-based luxury travel company), whose ship Hebridean Princess has been chartered twice by HM Elizabeth II.

Greenock cruise terminal