England’s most northerly port is eyeing a major expansion into the niche cruise market. David Calder, chief executive officer of the Port of Berwick, has signalled a strategic shift toward increasing passenger traffic, according to a report by the BBC.
“I’d love to see 10 or 20 coming into the port each year,” Calder said. “The cruise ships are not only good news for the port, they are also good news for the town and wider area.”
While the port has served as a vital maritime hub for over a millennium, its foray into modern cruising is a relatively recent development. The momentum began in the summer of 2021 when the port welcomed its first-ever cruise arrival from Noble Caledonia’s Island Sky. The town has since attracted interest from premium expedition operators, with ships such as Hapag-Lloyd’s Hanseatic Spirit, which visited as part of a journey from Greenland to Germany, also making calls to the Northumberland coast,
The growth is continuing at a steady pace. Following these successful arrivals, the port is preparing for another scheduled call this June, with two more bookings already secured for the 2027 season.
Berwick-upon-Tweed offers a unique proposition for cruise lines seeking off-the-beaten-path English charm. The town is famous for its impeccably preserved 16th-century defensive walls and a picturesque skyline defined by its three iconic bridges. Many passengers also use the stop as a springboard to visit Holy Island, located just 14 miles to the south.
Because larger vessels cannot navigate the river itself, the port utilises tender operations to ferry passengers ashore. Calder told the BBC that while the growth has been a slow burn, the port is working very hard with agents to secure more visits from major cruise companies.
Historically, Berwick’s prosperity was built on the medieval wool trade with Flanders and France. Today, the port remains a hardworking industrial hub, primarily handling agricultural products like grains and fertilisers via approximately 50 cargo ships a year.
However, the business model is evolving. In addition to the small niche cruise market, the port is expanding into offshore renewables, with the Tweed dock being a base for two major projects. Dredging operations are also concluding this week to ensure the harbour remain accessible for the steady stream of commercial traffic.
The local community is eager to welcome more cruise ship visitors. Berwick Mayor John Robertson told the BBC that the cruise business is good for the town.
“We have so much to offer here, so much history, and something rather different to a lot of other places,” Robertson said. “We really welcome the cruise ship passengers with open arms.”