Comment: City centre berth a better bet for cruise passengers

Oct 25 2008 by Haydon Wood, Liverpool Daily Post

THE vista of Bootle Docks is not, perhaps, one of Merseyside’s more celebrated views. Nor is it one you would expect to have ample time to take in as a cruise ship passenger bound for Ireland.

Yet the fates have conspired to ensure that more than 1,200 revellers aboard the Thompson Celebration have the opportunity to study Bootle Docks, the car scrapyard and its environs at length.

For their mini-cruise around the Emerald Isle has been cancelled due to inclement weather, and the holiday-makers have instead opted to stay aboard their floating – albeit stationary – hotel, to enjoy their four-day break.

The holiday-makers, who were due to travel on a four day mini-cruise to Ire- land, will not get a refund from Thomp- son as the trip was abandoned due to cir-cumstances beyond the company’s control.

Perhaps this is why only 75 passengers decided to head for home; some might say it is they who are missing out.

This is a wonderful time for a mini-break in Merseyside; whether these marooned travellers want to spend time soaking up Biennial ambience and cult- ural treasures in the European Capital of Culture, walking among the Iron Men of Crosby Beach, or shopping their time away in Liverpool city centre, there is plenty of entertainment to tempt them.

We hope these impromptu guests of our region enjoy their stay and get the most out of their visit.

But it is sad that they could not stay at the more attractive berth of the Pier Head’s cruise liner terminal. This was ruled out due to the lack of baggage handling and Customs facilities. How sad that the needs of the ship are met by Liverpool, but not those of its passengers. These facilities must be added as a matter of urgency.