Cruise ships will soon be able to dock in the heart of London

Updated
New terminal will bring cruise ships to heart of London
New terminal will bring cruise ships to heart of London




Large cruise ships could soon be making an appearance in London under plans to open a new passenger terminal on the Thames at Greenwich.

It would be the first passenger terminal in London for at least 35 years, reports the Times.

The dockside hub is expected to open within two years and could allow ships more than 650ft long to stop near the Old Royal Naval College and the Cutty Sark.

At the moment, there are two moorings for small cruise ships in the capital: a small floating pontoon in Greenwich, which requires passengers to board or disembark via a launch, and another at Tower Bridge.

Silversea's Silver Cloud and Windstar Cruises' newest ship Star Legend are among those mooring at Tower Bridge this summer, while Greenwich will accommodate MS Europa, Hebridean Princess and Viking Ocean Cruises' first ship, Viking Star, reports the Telegraph.

The terminal was originally meant to be used solely as a stopping point for cruise shops, but new plans suggest it could also be used as a "turnaround". It is expected to lead to a rise in the number of liners sailing into the capital.

"We have increased the size of the terminal building to accommodate baggage handling for passengers embarking and disembarking, and to improve the overall experience within the terminal. We have altered the access for vessel servicing, as longer stays mean that the cruise ships will need to load and unload stores and provisions," Jonathan Manser, the lead architect on the project, told The Times.



Related stories

Cruises 2015: Where to find the best deals

Is this the world's most luxurious cruise cabin?



New Cruise Ship Suite Costs More Than $65,000
New Cruise Ship Suite Costs More Than $65,000

Advertisement