It seems there is a growing demand to cruise Wales along with other British ports, to the extent that Wales could come to emulate some of the top European cruising destinations in a popular leisure cruise market.
This was among the conclusions of a recent report prepared by a committee of legislators in the House of Commons, the British Parliament. The report notes the strong growth in the UK cruise market over the last ten years or so, and recommends action is taken so that Wales can share in this exciting growth, and thereby help to strengthen economies around Welsh ports.
NEWPORT
But keen ocean cruise travellers looking to cruise Wales should note that at present there are insufficient docking facilities and infrastructure at many Welsh ports to facilitate the increasingly bigger cruise liners cruising North European waters.
A m campaign called the "Celtic Wave" and led by Anglesey has started, covering ports in Ireland and Wales, with the objective of getting more cruise visitors to these locations and then to visit attractions in the nearby areas.
In Cardiff the Welsh Assembly Government has urged the UK government to put their weight behind extra infrastructure funding to get these ports, including Holyhead, Anglesey, Swansea, Newport and Milford Haven, up to the high standards expected by the cruise liner firms.
Looking further out the prospects look good for Welsh ports to have similar success to that enjoyed by Baltic ports where there is already a strong and popular cruise market.
From the port of Holyhead in north west Wales to Swansea and Newport in South Wales, Welsh ports can act as locomotives of economic recovery when they encourage travellers to cruise Wales.
The first cruise ship visited Newport in Summer 2009, where the nearby Celtic Manor Hotel will host the 2010 Ryder Cup.Among the nearby attractions cruise passengers from Newport could visit were the Millennium Centre and Cardiff Castle.
Equally when a cruise ship arrives at Holyhead on Anglesey, visitors can be bused to excellent attractions such as World Heritage Castles of Wales at Beaumaris and Caernarfon, Llynnon Mill and South Stack Lighthouse, as well as walking along the excellent nearby coastal path.
To upgrade docking facilites for the expected increase in cruise ship arrivals at Holyhead, the Welsh Assembly Government will make finance available to strengthen the jetty used by the former Anglesey Aluminium smelter. This offers an excellent sheltered berth and convenient disembarkation point for cruise line passengers.
When this upgrade is finished it should see the Holyhead outer harbour jetty capable of accommodating mega liners such as the Westerdam, a 2,000 passenger carrying, 285 metre liner.
There is a promising and exciting future for visitors to the UK looking to cruise Wales during their west European tour experience, and as a part of this Holyhead port will no doubt play its part as guests set out to explore the many varied island attractions.
Cruise Wales, Visit Holyhead Port on Anglesey NEWPORT
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