On 5th October Associated British Ports’ Port of Southampton was named the UK’s Best Departure Port for the seventh year running, winning the coveted title in the 2015 Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks award. The port is not only the UK’s leading cruise port but Europe’s number one turnaround cruise port as well.

The news follows ABP Southampton being named the UK’s fourth busiest port according to new statistics released by the Department of Transport. In 2015 the previous passenger departure figures record of 1.75million cruise passengers is also set to be surpassed. West coast rival Liverpool is set to welcome a record number of cruise ships in 2016 (over 60), including five inaugural calls.