Cruise calls to Wrenhaven double, but residents ask for limits

Cruise ship visits to Wrenhaven have doubled in two years, according to the Port of Wrenhaven, which expects 64 calls by the end of this season. Passengers spent an estimated €14m in the city last year, the port says, much of it in cafés, shops and on coach trips to the Asher Valley and the Greyling Hills.

The growth follows the opening of a dedicated cruise berth at the eastern end of Harbourside, with a small terminal building, a bus stop and a walking route into the old town. Ships now call between April and October, with the largest carrying around 3,000 passengers.

Traders in Old Quay have mostly welcomed the extra custom. Gareth Lyle, who runs a gift shop on Ropewalk Lane, said cruise days could be worth as much as a busy bank-holiday weekend. Tour operators have also taken on seasonal guides, and the cathedral and the Museum of the Sea report record visitor numbers on days when ships are in port.

Busy streets, short visits

Not everyone is convinced. The Old Quay Residents' Association says that on the six days this year when two large ships were in port together, narrow streets became so crowded that residents struggled to get to their own front doors. Chair Lindsey Marwood said residents were not against cruise visits but wanted a limit of one large ship a day.

We want visitors to enjoy the city. We just do not want our streets to feel like a queue for six hours at a time.

The port says it already avoids double bookings where possible and will publish a calendar of expected ship arrivals so residents can plan ahead. It is also exploring shore power, so that ships can switch off their engines while berthed. The city council's tourism committee is due to discuss a voluntary daily limit and a small per-passenger visitor levy early next year.