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Giant cruise ships heading to Great Yarmouth loaded with thousands of passengers

The Seabourn Quest is heading to Great Yarmouth. Picture: Seabourn Archant

Great Yarmouth is set for a tourism spending boost after it was confirmed cruise ships will be docking with hundreds of passengers at the town’s port throughout the year.

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Great Yarmouth's harbour will welcome the cruise ships. Picture: Mike Page Great Yarmouth's harbour will welcome the cruise ships. Picture: Mike Page

American company Seabourn has arranged for five visits - including one during the Air Show - by two of its giant cruise ships between May and September with passengers able to spend a day in the resort on each occasion.

The cruise ships, called the Seabourn Quest and Seabourn Ovation, can carry up to 458 and 600 passengers respectively and they will be setting off from Dover, Copenhagen and Reykjavik on their tours of Europe.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council leader Graham Plant said the council will work with the town’s tourism authority to make sure the passengers have a full itinerary of sights to enjoy and places to eat and drink.

He said the council would also lay on welcoming committees and make sure passengers are given the town’s tourism brochures.

A couple meet an officer on a Seabourn cruise. Picture: Seabourn A couple meet an officer on a Seabourn cruise. Picture: Seabourn

He said: “If the port is working hard to ensure we get visitors then we have to make sure we have something for the passengers to see and do.

“When the ships arrive we need our market open, taxis available and arrange visits.

“What we have to do is show off Great Yarmouth and its cultural and tourism offer to make sure they want to come back.”

The cruise ships will be docking into the port on May 15, June 1 and 16 and September 1 and 15.

A couple enjoy a Seabourn cruise. Picture: Seabourn A couple enjoy a Seabourn cruise. Picture: Seabourn

The Seabourn Quest is 600ft long and can carry up to 458 passengers.

The Ovation, in her maiden year, can carry up to 600 passengers and is 690ft long.

In promotional literature Seaborn says passengers can enjoy the Yarmouth Minster, tour the Rows and Market Place and visit the house where Black Beauty author Anna Sewell was born. It also praises the virtue of the seafront by saying: “It is a span of real estate dedicated to froth and fun, precursor of Disney’s happiest place on earth by more than a century.”

Seabourn president Richard Meadows said: “We are very excited to begin taking reservations and building anticipation for the diverse range of itineraries for the maiden season of Seabourn Ovation.”