The biggest cruise ship ever to enter the River Tyne tied up at North Shields yesterday, bringing more than 2,350 passengers and almost 1,000 crew to the North-East.
At 92,500 gross registered tons, MSC Magnifica is six per cent bigger than the previous record holder, Holland America’s Eurodam – which took me to Port of Tyne two years ago – and is just a foot longer than Queen Elizabeth 2, which visited in 2008, shortly before sailing into retirement.
Magnifica, on a round-Britain voyage, is the first cruise ship in the Tyne this year; her next port of call will be Harwich.
A fleet of coaches took passengers – most of them from Europe but some from Japan, Korea and Brazil – on excursions to Alnwick Castle, Durham Cathedral, and the Beamish open-air museum. There ws also a shuttle service into Newcastle city centre.
A record 36 cruise ships visited the Tyne in 2012 and 32 are scheduled to arrive this year.
Port of Tyne chief executive Andrew Moffatt said: “We are really delighted to welcome the first cruise ship of the year to the Tyne. The fact she is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world highlights the Port of Tyne’s growing popularity as a destination for cruises.”
Great pictures – and a lovely soundtrack from Gallagher & Lyle
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
Lovely ship, nice music er er e r the bloody union jack is being flown upside down !!!!.
You would expect sailors to know something about flags!
Wasn’t the Costa Concordia Italian?