This season, Visit Isle of Man hopes to build on its ‘record-breaking' 2025 as the island prepares to welcome 45 cruise ships to its shores.
Last year more than 26,000 passengers visited the Isle of Man, calling to Douglas Harbour and other smaller ports, generating an estimated £2.3 million in tourism spend.
The calculated spend figure is based on the conservative end of what Cruise Britain has estimated with an average passenger spend at £80 per passenger. This also includes an estimated total port spend.
This season, however the cruise ship passenger estimate will be lower, at around 19,600 visitors to the 221 square mile island. The reduction in visitors is down to the smaller sized ships.
The Isle of Man is to welcome seven maiden visits including the Douglas Mawson (Aurora Expeditons), SH Diana (Swan Hellenic), and Sea Dream II (Seadream Yachts). The trio will all call to the island capital.
In addition to these first-time callers is the arrival of the Island's 500th cruise ship, marking a 'major milestone' in the development of the local cruise industry.
Manx Radio had more on the story.
