CROWDS FLOCK TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES AT UK’S CRUISE CAPITAL

CROWDS FLOCK TO SEE BEHIND THE SCENES AT UK’S CRUISE CAPITAL – WHILE RAISING FUNDS FOR CHARITY

On Sunday, 23 April, Associated British Ports’ (ABP) and Southampton City Council teamed up to provide open-top bus tours, offering members of the public the chance to get a close-up view of the five cruise ships that were calling at Southampton on the day.

These tours were an undeniable success, with 26 fully occupied buses taking an estimated 1,700 visitors around the port. ABP used the opportunity to encourage visitors to make donations to charity, which resulted in an impressive £1,500 being raised. The money, which comprised donations from both the visitors and the port itself, will be donated to local charity Naomi House Children’s Hospice, a cause that ABP has supported in the past.

Throughout summer, Solent Blue Line will continue to run an expanded bus tour on a commercial basis, which will include points of interest within the city as well as the port. The tours will take place every weekend from 29 April to 1 September, and daily from 30 May to 2 June and 24 July to 1 September.

Doug Morrison, ABP Port Director, Port of Southampton, said: “It is always a pleasure to give people the opportunity to see ‘behind the scenes’ at ABP’s Port of Southampton. The port is such a fascinating place, and means a great deal to so many people – visitors and locals alike – that it’s no wonder the tours prove so popular.”

26th April 2006

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