Optimism for cruise numbers after 'lower year'

Guernsey Port bosses said the 2026 and 2027 cruise seasons were looking positive for the island

Port bosses are confident the next two years will be positive for cruise numbers in Guernsey after a "disappointing" 2025.

A total of 54 ships have arrived this year so far, with about 30,000 passengers coming onto the island, Guernsey Ports said, while a further 16 visits were cancelled due to bad weather.

Mark Renouf, cruise and surveys operations manager, said a "lower year" had been anticipated and there were still a few highlights.

But he said a lot of larger ships were set to visit the island in 2026, including some new vessels, and the following year was "looking even better" with some superyachts scheduled to come.

"We knew that this year would be a lower year and had already predicted that by the start of the season," Mr Renouf told BBC Radio Guernsey.

"In 2026, we've got some new ships coming in or returning after a long absence.

"There are new [cruise] lines which are showing interest in the island, so that's always a positive."