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Capital Cruising

London - as cruise destinations go, it's hard to beat! Cruise ships can head up the Thames and straight into the heart of the capital, offering their passengers an unforgettable experience, with unrivalled views of historic buildings and modern icons alike.

A cruise liner moored at HMS Belfast, in the heart of London

In recent years, London has welcomed a series of prestigious cruise callers, including 'The World' and, at Tilbury, become firmly established on regular cruise schedules. And now, with the 2012 Olympics putting the spotlight firmly on London, there is huge renewed interest in what this unique city can offer the cruise sector.

The Port of London Authority provides a variety of mooring and terminal options for cruise ships, including the use of the world's first floating cruise terminal, the 'Welcome'.

The Greenwich Ship Tier can accommodate vessels up to 240 metres in length, while specialist, smaller vessels, can continue even further upriver to the Pool of London - sailing through Tower Bridge and mooring alongside HMS Belfast, directly opposite the Tower of London.

 With 2012 in mind, the PLA has been working to identify additional moorings for cruise ships, to complement those already available. Some of these will be temporary to meet the increased demand for the Olympics, but the PLA is also assessing locations where permanent new facilities might be

"The World" at Greenwich Ship Tier

Alongside this, of course, remains the determination to make the most of what London and the Thames already has; the PLA continues to promote the river to the cruise industry, and works closely with cruise operators to identify their needs and ensure that the very best package of services is provided.

This includes offering general advice, planning support, security information and on-berth services, as well as coordinating the range of marine services such as pilotage, vessel traffic services, towage and mooring.

London handles every type of cruise business, from short package-style cruise "hops" to the most exclusive vacation voyages.

The city is served by five international airports - Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City - and also benefits from excellent transport connections by road and rail, including direct Eurostar rail links to Paris and Brussels.

The "Marco Polo" prepares to berth at Tilbury

Cruise activities upriver are complemented by those at the Port of Tilbury, where cruise ships call at the listed 1930s-built London International Cruise Terminal.

Tilbury is an established port of call for cruise ships, both for day calls and turnround calls (the start and finish of a cruise).

The terminal handles between 25 and 30 calls a year, and is also getting ready for a big increase in the London Olympics year, with plans for a major refurbishment in time for 2012.