A LUXURY cruise ship sailed into Barrow's port for the first time in five years.

Operated by Grand Circle Cruise Line, The Corinthian arrived from Douglas on the Isle of Man with passengers enjoying a full day of sightseeing and tours of the area.

The vessel is scheduled to make a number of further calls to the port in August and September.

THE Port of Barrow, operated by Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s leading ports group, welcomed the luxury ship.

ABP North West Divisional Port Manager Bryan Davies said: “Our team did a fantastic job of ensuring cruise guests arrived safely and were able to explore the natural beauty of the area. It is the Port of Barrow’s proximity to the Lake District, combined with excellent transport links, which make it such an appealing destination for cruise passengers.”

The Port of Barrow can accommodate vessels up to 160m in length and offers easy access to the beauty of Lake District National Park, the UNESCO recognised World Heritage site. In 2018, the port won the ‘Port of the Year Award’ at the 10th annual UK Ports Conference in London, in recognition of its high levels of customer service.

Across the UK, ABP’s ports, which include Southampton, Europe's leading turnaround cruise port, have a proud history serving the cruise sector, offering a warm welcome and access to an exciting range of destinations. Find out more by reading the ABP Cruise Brochure.

Sue Clarke, sales and marketing manager at Cumbria Tourism, said: “We are delighted to welcome the luxury cruise ship M/V Corinthian into Barrow and it’s great to hear passengers had a fantastic day filled with sightseeing and tours throughout the surrounding area. 

"Cumbria Tourism works hard alongside ABP and Barrow Borough Council to attract more cruise ships into the county and promote the Port of Barrow as the gateway to explore the English Lake District UNESCO World Heritage Site and beautiful surrounding landscapes.

"Efforts have focused on targeting smaller expedition cruises where passengers are seeking those unique and immersive experiences, so many of which can be enjoyed here in Cumbria.”