The Port of Dover has announced that it expects 156 calls in 2012 and more than 250,000 passengers.

According to Kate O’Hara, head of commercial & marketing for the port, there will be inaugural calls by the AIDaluna and AIDAmar, as well as Oceania’s Nautica, All Leisure Group’s Discovery, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, the Costa Fortuna, and Saga’s new Sapphire, calling for the first time in May 2012.

Other highlights include the Azamara Journey, making its Dover debut early next summer and the return of MSC’s Lirica and Poesia on four occasions during the season operating four-night mini cruise itineraries to and from Amsterdam and Hamburg. Hapag Lloyd’s Europa and Windstar’s Windsurf will also make calls