Portsmouth International Port is kicking off the 2023 cruise season on January 5 with an epic 78-day cruise aboard Fred Olsen Cruises’ Balmoral. 

This journey will give adventurers a chance to capture the landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula. The port has released the 2023 cruise schedule with more maiden calls than before as well as some cruise lines’ comebacks, according to a press release. 

“We can’t wait to get started with the 2023 cruise season, as the travel industry continues to recover following the global pandemic,” said Andrew Williamson, passenger operations manager at Portsmouth International Port.

“We’ve been working very hard behind the scenes to show the cruise industry what we and the city have to offer, and they like what they have seen, leading to a bumper number of scheduled calls this year.

“With such an exciting range of luxury, boutique and expedition vessels visiting the port in 2023, the only way is up for Portsmouth.”

Apart from the Balmoral’s 78-day cruise, the schedule also features multiple calls from the Saga, as they begin using Portsmouth as a seasonal homeport. The Spirit of Adventure will make numerous visits to the city, along with her sister ship the Spirit of Discovery.

Travelers will be able to explore a wide range of destinations, including South America, New England and the Caribbean. There are also cruises to the Mediterranean and the Republic of Ireland. 

TUI’s Mein Schiff 3, accommodating 2,500 passengers, will also visit the port on May 26, July 8 and August 1.

Numerous other ships will make their maiden calls to the port including Viking’s latest ship Viking Neptune, Ambassador Cruise Line’s Ambition, Silversea’s Silver Endeavor, Oceania’s Riviera and others.