The Thomson Celebration arrived for the first time at Portsmouth International Port on November 11 – marking the largest number of passengers to ever have disembarked from a single cruise ship at Portsmouth International Port.

Agents on hand were there to learn what makes the terminal so special, before heading off to visit the new Mary Rose exhibition at the Historic Dockyard.

The visiting agents were taken to the quayside to get a closer look at the ship.

2013 has been a year to remember at the port, with more cruise ships coming and going than at any other point in its history.

The arrival of Thomson’s cruise was a fitting end to the year, and a demonstration of how investment in new ship and passenger facilities has boosted business at the Port. Thomson Celebration is 215 meters long and used the recently extended Berth 2 to safely dock and disembark passengers. The enlarged turning circle, created at the entrance of the Port by moving the Royal Navy training ship HMS Bristol, also made for an easy and efficient arrival and departure.

Thomson is a new customer at the Port, the well known travel company recognising how convenient Portsmouth is for its passengers. Situated on the UK motorway network and with good links to airports and rail transport too, arriving passengers can easily get home wherever they live in the country.

Despite the record number of passengers disembarking, Celebration isn’t quite the largest cruise ship to have visited Portsmouth International Port this year. That honor goes to the Artania from Phoenix Reisen. Measuring 231 meters it is the longest commercial vessel to have ever docked at Portsmouth, and visited twice during 2013 bringing hundreds of passengers to visit the local area.