At the Port of Holyhead, Cunard Line's cruiseship Queen Victoria sailed into the ferryport at the weekend on its first ever visit to Wales.
The giant Vista class vessel is one of 81 cruiseships scheduled to visit Welsh ports during 2023 and of this total, more than 50 cruiseships are set to arrive at Holyhead which is owned by the ferry operator, Stena Line.
When combined, the cruise ships calling to Wales will generate 80,000 passengers and 39,000 crew, which equates to a potential passenger day spend income of £8.3 million for the Welsh economy.
The revamped jetty in Holyhead Harbour was acquired by ferry operator last year and this has enabled the large Queen Victoria to berth at the former Anglesey Aluminium plant jetty.
Welcoming the visiting tourists was the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Dawn Bowden. The cruiseship carries 2,061 passengers and 981 crew, though at 90,049 gross tonnage (GT) this ship is the smallest of the Cunard fleet in operation.
It is carrying passengers from 28 different nationalities on a cruise of the UK and Ireland from where Queen Victoria has visited several ports across the Irish Sea among them Dublin Port.
More from NorthWales Live on the increase of cruiseships calling.
