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A political work group has formed to investigate cruise infrastructure at St Peter Port harbour after multiple operators shared concerns about passenger embarkation and disembarkation in the island.
The major cruise lines Princess and MSC have pulled out of the Guernsey market until at least 2026, citing issues with tendering services and congestion on Albert Pier – particularly when multiple large ships call on the same day.
The ships operated by these liners have been among the largest visiting Guernsey in recent years, and last year they accounted for around two thirds of all landing passengers.
P&O has also reduced its visits to the island, with route relocation and post-Brexit duty free rules blamed.
The fall in cruise visits has led the States to investigate actions to see their return, with some tourism business warning that collapse is likely if passenger numbers don’t return to 2019 levels, according to the Tourism Management Board’s vision for the industry.
Now, Economic Development member Deputy Simon Vermeulen said the Committee is working with Guernsey Ports to “look at our current harbour infrastructure, including the pontoon".
“It is considered that a revised design might help increase the number of passengers able to arrive and depart, which will also reduce the queues of passengers looking to return to the ship.
“We are currently investigating the full benefits and how this might be able to be progressed."
He said investment is key to “help the island attract more ships from other cruise lines, including higher capacities”.
Pictured: A Princess ship in the Little Russell in 2019.
Princess Cruises originally told the States it would stop visiting due to fuel consumption concerns, with Economic Development saying it would target smaller, luxury liners instead which fit better with the island’s product.
But the TMB’s report instead described the issue with tendering and wait times as being the key concerns of the companies.
It also described how work was underway to re-attract the liners with the largest ships.
Economic Development chose not to respond to questions about this discrepancy.
The pool marina project, led by the States Trading Supervisory Board, included plans to double capacity of the cruise pontoon and improve landside facilities. But little has been said about these plans after they were published at the end of 2022.
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