The arrival of TUI's Mein Schiff 3, a massive cruise ship measuring 294 m / 964 ft in length, marks a significant moment for a coastal city. The vessel, carrying ~2000 passengers from Germany, arrived in Portsmouth England from Liverpool, at ~5:30 am on Friday, May 26th. The ship has been on a 12-day roundtrip from Bremerhaven.
The Schiff 3's size is remarkable, surpassing both Virgin's Scarlet Lady (274 m) and HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier (284 m) in length. With 15 bars/lounges and 9 restaurants, the passenger liner offers an abundance of amenities to its passengers. To put her size into perspective, it is equivalent to placing the Elizabeth Tower on its side 3 times or positioning two and a bit London Eyes side by side.
Portsmouth International Port has set its sights on becoming the destination for 80% of the UK's cruise ship calls in the coming years, solidifying its position as a major port in the country. The city is preparing for a bustling 2023, welcoming maiden voyages from several passenger liners such as The World, Oceania Riviera, and Hurtigruten's MS Spitsbergen.
To accommodate the growing demand, a new cruise terminal with a price tag of GBP 11 million is under construction. This terminal will facilitate the arrival of an additional 250,000 passengers annually, contributing an estimated GBP 70 each to the local economy.
After departing at 7 pm on Friday, TUI's Schiff 3 will head back to homeport Bremerhaven. Schiff 3 will return to Portsmouth UK in July and August during the summer season, bringing further excitement to the port city.