Over the last few years, Liverpool’s cultural and economic revival has seen it become a popular destination for visitors from around the world. And with its convenient position on the Irish Sea and exceptional hospitality, Liverpool Cruise Terminal has become the cruise destination for some of the most world-renowned cruise ships. So what do you need to know when cruising from there?
Interesting to know
- Liverpool Cruise Terminal sits just next door to the infamous Grade I-listed Liver Building.
- Liverpool Cruise Terminal is a 350-metre-long structure that floats on the River Mersey, allowing cruise ships to anchor and passengers to disembark without having to enter the enclosed dock system.
- In 2017, Liverpool Cruise Terminal celebrated its tenth anniversary, when it also had a record-breaking year with 63 cruise ships and 111,000 passengers passing through.
- With its headquarters in Liverpool and strong links to the area, Cunard Line celebrated its 175th anniversary at Liverpool Cruise Terminal in 2015, having its Three Queens (Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth) ‘dance’ together on the river.
Getting to Liverpool Cruise Terminal
Liverpool Cruise Terminal is easy to get to by road. Take junction 21a off the M6 and follow the M62 towards Liverpool Centre. Follow the signs for the Waterfront or docks until you see The Liver Building.
There are various easy-to-access parking options for passengers embarking on cruises from the terminal. Your cruise line may arrange parking for you, or you can go to the Cruise Parking site to book directly. For short-stay visitors, there is a multi-storey car park on Fazakerley Street, L3 9UA. Drop-off only is also available right outside Baggage Reclaim.
For passengers arriving by train, Liverpool Lime Street is the main station. It’s a 20-minute walk to the terminal. Alternatively, taxi rides take around 5 minutes.
Inside Liverpool Cruise Terminal
Liverpool Cruise Terminal consists of two fully accessible terminal buildings, where transport or wheelchair-adapted vehicles are provided for those who require mobility assistance. Refreshments can be purchased from the Passenger Lounge and Baggage Reclaim. There are toilets available in both buildings.
The Albert Dock is also a 10-minute walk from the cruise terminal, where you can find restaurants, bars, shops and museums.
Cruise Lines departing Liverpool Cruise Terminal
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has a number of itineraries sailing from Liverpool. In 2021, MSC Cruises and Disney Cruise also sailed from Liverpool and may make a return soon.
Where can you sail to from Liverpool?
You can sail to a variety of fantastic destinations from Liverpool, including Iceland, Norway and the Mediterranean. There are also cruise itineraries that visit different ports around the UK, including the beautiful Scottish Islands.
Visiting Liverpool
With Liverpool centre and Waterfront close to the terminal, it’s certainly worth exploring if you have the time to do so. You’ll find the main attractions around the historic Albert Dock, including restaurants, bars, art, museums and activities. You can also find several tours starting here, taking you to explore other city highlights.
Liverpool is famous for being the birthplace of The Beatles, and there are several places you can discover their story, including The Beatles Story Museum. And for football fans, Liverpool is the home to two iconic teams – Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C.
Future plans
There have been plans to build a bigger and more permanent cruise terminal in Liverpool, with the capacity to handle the largest cruise ships. However, schedules were delayed due to the pandemic. Plans for the new cruise terminal consisted of a 100,000 sq. ft. building over two floors, connected to the existing cruise ship landing stage via a link-span bridge. However, uncertainty around recovery from the pandemic and commitments to a net-zero carbon future has postponed any further developments.
