An extraordinary month at the Port of Southampton has ended with the busiest cruise weekend at Northern Europe’s cruise capital.

The port welcomed more than 60 cruise calls during August bringing 340,000 passengers – and a multi-million-pound boost to the local economy.

The month culminated in a mammoth operation for 18 cruise calls across four days.

It is estimated that every time a cruise ship visits Southampton, the economy benefits by up to £2 million.

ABP Southampton Director, Alastair Welch, said: “As the cruise capital of Northern Europe, we are used to welcoming a large number of cruise ships throughout the year and, with the team’s wealth of experience and expertise alongside our cruise line partners, this has become business-as-usual for the city.”

August highlights included:

• Three Queens visit on 10 August – Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2

• Five cruise ship day on 11 August

• Azamara Pursuit christening on 28 August

• Six cruise ship day on 31 August

Across the month, highly skilled teams, including the cruise lines ensured the ships were safely serviced to allow a swift turn-around within the working day, handling the disembarkation and embarkation of thousands of passengers and stores.

During September, the port will welcome more than 50 cruise calls including MS Koningsdam on her first visit to the port. The ship, which is operated by Holland America Line, will be welcomed with the traditional plaque and key exchange.

In 2017, the port welcomed two million cruise passengers and more than 500 cruise ships.