cruise liner at greenock

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Greenock-Glasgow (Clydeport, Scotland)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Ireland - UK - British Isles

Local Time 2024-04-09 03:09

Port Greenock-Glasgow cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Greenock-Glasgow, Clydeport, Scotland. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Greenock is a major port city located at the entrance to Firth of Clyde on Scotland's western coast. The port (officially Clydeport) is also the cruise port to Glasgow - Scotland's largest city, with population over 600,000 (metro 2,3 million). Greenock City has population around 50,000. It was originally established as a herring fishing port, which in the 19th-20th centuries developed shipbuilding industry.

The Peel Ports-managed Clydeport (locode GBGRK) has a deepwater quay, no tidal or lock restrictions, and is accessible the whole year-round to vessels of all sizes. The cruise port's statistical data shows it handled just 20,253 passengers in 2007. In 2014, their number was 92,678.

On July 12, 2015, UK's biggest passenger liner MV Britannia ( P&O UK ) docked in Port Greenock as part of a 12-day British Isles itinerary (visiting ports in Ireland, Channel Islands, and the UK). The ship berthed at Ocean Terminal at 5 pm, with around 3600 passengers. The arrival marked a record year for the cruise port, becoming Scotland's first to handle over 100,000 cruisers in a single year (14% increase over 2014). In 2015, Clydeport received a total of 56 cruise ship calls and handled 108,866 tourists. It was estimated that each cruise tourist contributed ~GBP 80 to the local economy. The 108,866 passengers in 2015 brought GBP 8,7 million (EUR 12,4 million) to the local economy.

Port Greenock works in partnership with Inverclyde Tourist Group (local tour operator) greeting disembarking passengers and offering tour and travel information at the cruise terminal. The memorable dockside experience is also marked by Glasgow's cow mascot Hamish.

Inverclyde Tourist Group organizes unique land tours guided by local knowledgeable volunteers. Each tour (with duration ~2 hours) starts and ends at Greenock Ocean Terminal. The company offers three different tours (starting from 9:15 am onwards) by using small coaches. Bookings can be made through the company's website and also at the cruise terminal (via its tartan-clad volunteers or call at its ticket desk at the terminal). The three tour options include Greenock (city tour), Gourock (countryside scenic tour) and Port Glasgow and Newark Castle (shipbuilding and sugar manufacturing in Port Glasgow, and to Newark Castle / owned by Historic Scotland).

Clydeport is visited by a great number of cruise shipping companies , including Princess ,  RCI-Royal Caribbean , MSC , Cunard , P&O UK ,  Fred Olsen ,  HAL-Holland America Line , DCL-Disney  (maiden call in 2015). Greenock is homeport to Hebridean Island Cruises (UK-based luxury travel company). Its ship ( Hebridean Princess ) has been chartered twice by HM Elizabeth II.

In April 2019, for 2 weeks in Clydeport were homeported 35 warships, 5 submarines and 59 aircraft (planes and helicopters) plus over 10,000 military personnel from 13 countries as part of a major NATO maritime training exercise. "Exercise Joint Warrior" was controlled and directed from HM Naval Base Clyde's Maritime Operations Centre and conducted along Scotland's west coast.

Following the COVID crisis, in 2022 the cruise port handled 71 ship calls (out of 74 booked) and ~140,000 passengers plus ~35,000 crew. Also in 2022 was officially inaugurated the new dedicated to cruise operations pontoon. In late-June 2022, Peel Ports ordered two new STS (ship-to-shore) cranes for Clydeport's 1969-opened Greenock Ocean Terminal, representing a GBP 17 million investment in infrastructure development. The terminal (Scotland's deepest) serves mainly mid-sized boxships and currently has annual capacity ~60,000 TEU-containers (~1/3 of Scotland's total TEU volume).

In 2023, the Port's cruise schedule listed a total of 91 ship calls (over 25% increase over 2022) with expected ~150,000 passengers plus ~38,000 crew.

Greenock-Glasgow cruise terminal

Greenock cruise ship terminal (officially "Greenock Ocean Terminal") is owned by Peel Ports (UK's largest port operator). The facility features a waterfront walkway connecting to downtown (at approx 5-min easy walking distance).

In early 2016, the cruise terminal was expanded by a GBP 14 million port development project.

In 2023 the terminal was updated (GBP 19,2 million project / ~USD 23,3M / ~EUR 21,9M) and a new visitor center (leisure complex) was inaugurated. The new complex consists of a museum (paying tribute to George Ralston Wyllie/1921-2012, Scottish sculptor), a restaurant, a hall (for arrivals/departures) as well as a roof terrace overlooking Clyde River.

The passenger terminal project was part of the government-funded "Glasgow City Region City Deal" (GBP 1,13 billion) grouping several large-scale infrastructure projects.

The Esplanade/waterfront promenade offers spectacular views over River Clyde. Taxis at the cruise port are also available. Lyle Hill's viewpoint features vistas of Argyll Hills, Gareloch, Holy Loch, Loch Long, Loch Goil, and a number of Munros on clear days.

From Port Greenock, Glasgow City can be reached by train (leaving every 20 min). Travel time (by road or rail) is 35 min. To the nearest railway station is around a 10-min walk. Glasgow is an interesting tourist destination for cruisers and is just a 35-min drive distance from Port Greenock. The city is compact and easily walkable. It offers a true taste of Scotland and boasts a range of popular attractions and architecture.

The cruise terminal's/Greenock Ocean Terminal's building houses tourist information areas, restrooms, currency exchange, several vendors. The local tour company Inverclyde had a dedicated seating area (in the middle) where tour information and maps are provided. Passengers can also sign up for the complimentary bus tours - led by local volunteers, and free of charge.

Traditionally, after docking, at the terminal cruise tourists are greeted by bagpipers performing popular tunes.

• The Terminal's address is "Greenock Ocean Terminal, Patrick Street, Greenock, PA16 8UU".
• Terminal's phone number is +44 (0) 1475 726 171.

Among the visiting vessels in 2015 was RMS Queen Mary 2 as part of Cunard Line 's 175th-anniversary celebrations. The liner docked at Greenock Ocean Terminal on May 21st. To mark the arrival, Peel Ports commissioned a commemorative tartan (traditional patterned cloth) that was officially presented to Cunard at the onboard gala dinner and Captain's cocktail reception.

During summer, from both Greenock and Glasgow are offered regularly scheduled Scottish voyages on PS Waverley - the world's oldest (only one) original and still operational paddle-wheel steamship.

(NEW) Peel Ports Greenock Ocean Cruise Terminal

In July 2019 was proposed a GBP 19,193 million "Greenock Ocean Terminal" project, jointly-funded by Greenock City and Peel Ports (subsidiary of The Peel Groupfka Peel Holdings) - Greater Manchester-headquartered infrastructure, transport and real estate investment corporation (one of UK's largest investment companies) that owns several holdings (land/and property, transport/logistics, energy, retail, media).

For the new terminal, Glasgow (Inverclyde Council) approved funding of GBP 9,693 million (EUR 10,92M) from the city's overall GBP 1 billion annual budget. The balance is to be paid by Peel Ports (UK's largest seaport terminal operator company, GBP 8 million / EUR 8,93 M) and The George Wyllie Foundation (2012-founded non-profit) through Dunard Trust (GBP 1,5 million / EUR 1,67 M).

The port development project was initially scheduled for completion in summer 2020. However, due to the COVID crisis, the project was delayed and Greenock Ocean Terminal was completed and inaugurated in 2022. With the new facility, the expected annual cruise tourist traffic is ~150,000 (pax/crew), with estimated GBP 26 million in annual cruise spending ashore (passengers and crew).

The new berth has length 200 m (656 ft) and capacity to hande the world's largest passenger ships via a floating pontoon. The pontoon is made of four 1000-ton concrete caissons, pre-constructed at Inchgreen Drydock (Port Glasgow) then towed to the new passenger terminal and secured to piles driven into the seabed. At the new dock can berth vessels with max LOA length 340 m (1115 ft). The pontoons have height 5 m, width 8 m, and length 44 m (two structures) and 56 m (the other two). The pontoons are of steel-reinforced concrete filled with polystyrene for buoyancy.

The arriving cruise tourists disembark the ship onto the pontoon and then enter the modern terminal building.

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Greenock-Glasgow - user reviews and comments

GREENOCK Ocean Terminal is set to be visited around 60 times by cruise ships this year

(Note: visits can be subject to short-notice cancellations and changes)

— Approximate gross registered tonnage shown in brackets

— Updated 30 June —

Jewel of the Seas making additional call, 19 July

Azamara Quest no longer calling on 20 July

— Updated (21 May) — Ocean Atlantic arriving 22 May and not 21 May

— Updated (10 May) to confirm Emerald Princess not calling on 14 May and Costa Favolosa not calling on 18 May

Friday 22 April — MSC Magnifica (95,100)

Saturday 23 April — Spitsbergen (7,025)

Tuesday 3 May — Spitsbergen (7,025)

Thursday 5 May — Mein Schiff 3 (99,500)

Saturday 7 May — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Friday 13 May — MSC Magnifica (95,100)

Friday 13 May — Spitsbergen (7,025)

Sunday 15 May — Mein Schiff 3 (99,500)

Tuesday 17 May — Jewel of the Seas (90,000)

Friday 20 May — Spirit of Discovery (58,250)

Saturday 22 May — Ocean Atlantic (12,800)

Sunday 22 May — Celebrity Apex (131,000)

Tuesday 24 May — Jewel of the Seas (90,000)

Friday 27 May — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Sunday 29 May — Le Bellot (10,000)

Friday 3 June — Dumont d’Urville (10,000)

Monday 6 June — Norwegian Star (91,700)

Wednesday 8 June — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Sunday 12 June — Jewel of the Seas (90,000)

Monday 13 June — Mein Schiff 3 (99,500)

Wednesday 15 June — Celebrity Silhouette (122,000)

Friday 17 June — Dumont d’Urville (10,000)

Monday 20 June — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Tuesday 21 June — Sirena (30,000)

Tuesday 28 June — Celebrity Silhouette (122,000)

Thursday 30 June — Seven Seas Navigator (28,550)

Saturday 2 July — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Saturday 2 July — World Navigator (10,000)

Monday 4 July — Celebrity Silhouette (122,000)

Tuesday 12 July — Celebrity Silhouette (122,000)

Thursday 14 July — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Tuesday 19 July — Sirena (30,000)

Tuesday 19 July — Jewel of the Seas (90,000)

Thursday 21 July — Aegean Odyssey (12,000)

Friday 22 July — Azamara Quest (30,000)

Saturday 23 July — Mein Schiff 3 (99,500)

Tuesday 26 July — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Wednesday 27 July — Celebrity Silhouette (122,000)

Saturday 30 July — Arcadia (84,300)

Wednesday 3 August — Island Princess (91,600)

Saturday 6 August — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Wednesday 10 August — Aegean Odyssey (12,000)

Saturday 13 August — Mein Schiff 3 (99,500)

Monday 15 August — Carnival Pride (88,500)

Tuesday 16 August — Aida Bella (69,000)

Thursday 18 August — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Friday 19 August — World Navigator (10,000)

Friday 19 August — Azamara Quest (30,000)

Saturday 20 August — Le Champlain (10,700)

Wednesday 24 August — Jewel of the Seas (90,000)

Friday 26 August — Mein Schiff 3 (99,500)

Sunday 28 August — The World (43,200) [Departing 30 August]

Wednesday 31 August — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Thursday 1 September — Costa Fortuna (102,700)

Friday 2 September — Spirit of Adventure (58,250)

Thursday 8 September — Celebrity Silhouette (122,000)

Saturday 10 September — World Explorer (10,000)

Monday 12 September — Emerald Princess (113,000)

Tuesday 13 September — Ocean Majesty (10,400)

Friday 16 September — Disney Magic (83,300)

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CRUISE PORT GUIDES

Greenock – Scotland

Travel information United Kingdom

Official currency – Pound Sterling Accepts Us dollars – are usually not accepted Creditcards – are widely accepted

Drives on the – left Timezone – UTC

About Scotland

Inhabitants – 5,3 million Official language – English Capital city – Edinburgh

Scotland Government – Devolved parliamentary legislature within constitutional monarchy

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Kirkwall Southampton Dunmore East

Cruise Port Guide Greenock – Scotland: docked

Cruise ships dock at Greenock’s Ocean Terminal. The cruise terminal of Greenock is full of information. There is tourist information desk, wi-fi and souvenir shops. The cruise terminal is only around 1 km walk from the city centre of Greenock. There are a couple of nice walks around the town or even hikes up the hill but that is about it.

There are a hand full of volunteers that have such an amazing love for their region that they offer free tours in the cruise terminal. They don’t take you to anything mind blowing, but the fact that can step into detail about their region and tell you stories with such passion is what makes this worth it. Find them in the cruise terminal, but please know there is a very limited amount of spots available. You can also book online:  http://www.inverclydetouristgroup.co.uk/content/tours/#tours  The tours are free, but we highly recommend to tip big as renting buses and guides doesn’t come cheap.

There is a taxi information desk at the terminal. They have several tours they can offer, but one way rides are also no problem. Except that a one way ride to Glasgow is 40 GBP. A taxi tour is around 30 pound per hour.

There are 2 train stations nearby. We recommend you to go to Greenock Central so you can avoid all the steps going to West station. From here you can easily reach Glasgow and Edinburgh.  You can check the train schedule through the following link:  http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search  . If you are planning in taking a trip to Edinburg, we not stop for coffee in Glasgow as it is on the way.

You could take the bus to Glasgow: 901 or 906. They are leaving from the main bus station. You can also take the bus to Stirling castle. This takes about 2 hours though. From Greenock you take bus 901 or 906 to Dundas street, Glasgow. Walk 1 minute to the Glasgow Queen Street and take the train to Stirling. From here the castle is about 15 minute walk.

Destination and distance from port:

Greenock city centre = 1 km walk Glasgow = 27 mile east Edinburgh = 72 mile east Loch Lomond = 33 mile north Stirlng castle = 55 mile north east Falkirk wheel = 49 mile east

Get more specific information on your call in Greenock via:  http://www.inverclydetouristgroup.co.uk/content/ship/

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Although Greenock is officially on the lowlands the Highlands are literally across the water. Reach them by road or ferry. Take a scenic ride through these valleys to get a sense of what makes the Highlands famous throughout the world.

The Scottish Highlands

The Scottish Highlands, Scotland

With 23 miles it is the largest stretch of fresh water in Britain. Loch Lomond is immortalised in the ballad: Bonnie, Bonnie, Banks. The beauty of Loch Lomond is known through Scotland.

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond, Scotland

This is the city centre of Greenock and the view you will have from the ship as soon as it is docked. Greenock is rather small with just 45.000 inhabitants and we would necessarily recommend to stick around.

Greenock, Scotland

Cruise ships are welcomed at the Greenock cruise port center. This cruise terminal has superb facilities like souvenir shop, tourist information, taxi information desk and lots more! Make sure to read the full Greenock cruise port guide for all the information.

Greenock cruise dock

In the late 19th century it was the 2nd largest city of the British Empire (after London). It was the centre of the Scottish trade and industry. In the ’60’s she lost that position when the shipyards closed one by one. The past is still reflected in the architecture of the city: Classic Georgian facades, baroque palaces, victorian buildings display the wealth of the former industrial superpower.

Glasgow, Scotland

It is hard not to fall in love with the city of Edinburg. Layers of history make this a unique city to visit and fair warning: one you get a taste of it, you want more. There are hundreds of historical sights in the city itself. Walk the royal mile from Holyrood Palace to Edinburgh Castle, visit the spot where Harry Potter was written or spend you day pub crawling. A day in Edinburgh will never be disappointing.

Edinburgh, Scotland

There is a taxi information desk in the terminal. Please know that the price for a taxi is approximately 40 pound one way to Glasgow and 30 pound per hour.

Greenock taxi information desk

The Scottish train system is very good especially when traveling to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Double click here to look at the train schedules.

Scottish train system

Greenock trainstation, Greenock

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Glasgow (Greenock)

The natural deepwater port of Greenock offers a safe, convenient stopping point for cruise ships of all sizes, accessible 24/7 with no tidal or lock restrictions.

Magnificent views across to the mountains and beyond welcome all ships arriving and leaving the port, which is outstanding in its access to tourist destinations, historic sites, and shopping - a real hidden gem. From the moment passengers disembark to the stirring sounds of a traditional pipers welcome, they experience the friendliness and character for which Scotland is well renowned.

The town of Greenock is just a 5 minute walk from the terminal, with its spectacular views over the River Clyde from the Esplanade. The viewpoint at Lyle Hill boasts vistas of Long Long, Holy Loch , Loch Goil, Gareloch, the Argyll Hills and a number of Munros on a clear day. There are many examples of fine Victorian architecture such as the Municipal Buildings, Sheriff Court, Custom House and the McLean Museum, which is most certainly worth a visit to learn more about the fascinating history of Greenock and the local area.

Greenock Ocean Terminal lies at the heart of an air, rail and road network providing easy access to the rest of Scotland- from Scotland’s largest city Glasgow with its fantastic range of visitor attractions and iconic architecture to the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, from Ayrshire’s Burns Country to majestic Edinburgh.

The spacious quayside can easily accommodate 60 coaches with further parking facilities available on site. The newly refurbished terminal building provides access to a host of local information for both passengers and crew, from opportunities to purchase essential items and souvenirs, right through to internet access.

Image credit: Stuart Brunton

Popular excursions, the following is a list of popular excursions that are available..

It should be noted that these details are not definitive but are intended to demonstrate the range of excursions and activities available to cruise passengers visiting Glasgow (Greenock) as part of a cruise. Please note that, in many cases and with prior arrangement, half day tours can be combined to create full day itineraries

Shore excursions are normally pre-booked onboard via the cruise line concerned. Cruise Scotland cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of this information and all details and tour descriptions should be checked with the cruise line concerned.

ART & ARTEFACTS

Experience the depth and variety of one of Europe’s greatest civic art collections in one outstanding location by including a visit to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in your itinerary. In addition to the fascinating exhibits, Kelvingrove is an imposing red stone architecture , making it one of Glasgow’s landmark buildings. Located in the West End of the city, Kelvingrove offers excellent guided tours, and visitors can enjoy its cafes and shops .

Play a round

Less than 90 minutes drive from Greenock Ocean Terminal, passengers can savour the delights of championship fairways at Scotland’s famous Turnberry Resort in South Ayrshire. Offering world class golf on the Ailsa, Kintyre and Arran courses, combined with exceptional teaching facilities in the Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy , this outstanding and accessible tour option means passengers can maximise their time on the course whilst enjoying some of Scotland’s beautiful coastal scenery. Passengers can also enjoy the Spa at Turnberry , from heat experiences to relaxation rooms, bespoke treatments to the swimming pool, whirlpool and outdoor terrace.

Glasgow Icons

To appreciate the creative genius of world renowned architect, designer and artist Charles Rennie Mackintosh, passengers can enjoy a compact itinerary with conveniently short passenger times between places of interest. Start the tour with a visit to House for an Art Lover on the south side of Glasgow, a unique attraction inspired from Mackintosh’s portfolio of drawings of 1901 which includes a permanent exhibition of decoratively furnished rooms. Head to the city centre for sumptuous afternoon tea at The Willow Tearooms in Buchanan Street, followed by a visit to The Glasgow School of Art , one of the most influential structures of the twentieth century.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

Passengers wishing to enjoy time to themselves to enjoy some retail therapy will experience the convenience of The Style Mile . Alighting in George Square , Glasgow’s principal civic square, visitors arrive into a square mile that houses the most extraordinary concentration of inspirational shopping , atmospheric cakes and fine restaurants . From designer to high street, vintage to value, visitors experience the best shopping outside London in a uniquely compact location. They can also see the beautiful architecture of Royal Exchange Square , home to the Gallery of Modern Art .

The Water of Life

Extremely attentive to visiting parties, Glengoyne Distillery offers entertaining and in-depth distillery visit and can tailor tours exactly to passengers’ requirements and time availability. Examples include the Glengoyne, Wee Tasting and Tasting tours that run on the hour and for which no prior booking is required for groups of 10 or less, while the Master Blender tour and the Glengoyne Masterclass where guests can create their very own branded whisky are specifically arranged and booked in advance.

Auld Reekie

No tour of Edinburgh would be complete without exploring the fascinating fortress complex of Edinburgh castle . Experienced guides offer complimentary guided tours and highlights include the Scottish Crown Jewels , the delightful St Margaret’s Chapel and the Stone of Destiny on which previous Scottish Monarchs were crowned. Visitors should also make their way to the Palace of Holyrood , another must-see, after making their way down the famous Royal Mile .

Lochs & Glens

Following the Scenic A82 from Glasgow to the western side of Loch Lomond ensures a tour of outstanding natural beauty. Stop at Balloch , the gateway to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs for speciality shopping at Loch Lomond Shores and the unique aquarium at the Loch Lomond Sea Life Centre. Just 15 minutes north is the quaint little conservation village of Luss with its stone cottages, gift shops, tearooms and Lochside walks. Tours can continue onwards to encompass other Loch such as Loch Fyne and Loch Eck .

Contact details

• Fraser Houston
• Clyde Port Operations Ltd Greenock Ocean Terminal Patrick St. Greenock PA16 8UU

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Greenock, Glasgow cruise ship schedule

Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland cruise calendar 2024-2025 provides the opportunity to search arrival and departure schedules of cruise ships arriving in port. The timetable displays dates and times cruise ships are scheduled to dock in port in two separate columns for arrivals and departures with the name of the ship, cruise operator, and maximum passenger capacity. Please note, the following cruise port schedule is created on updated itineraries from the major cruise lines.

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www.inverclyde.gov.uk

All aboard new £19.2m Greenock cruise facilities

CONSTRUCTION of a new Greenock cruise ship visitor centre is underway as part of a £19.2 million development which will welcome passengers and crew from some of the world’s largest and most luxurious vessels to Inverclyde.

The project, led by Inverclyde Council, is part of the £1 billion Glasgow City Region City Deal funded by the Scottish and UK governments, with contributions from Peel Ports (£8m), operators of the existing Greenock Ocean Terminal, and the George Wyllie Foundation via the Dunard Trust (£1.5m).

The development is expected to increase visitor numbers to some 150,000 passengers a year and provide a £26m boost to the Scottish economy. 

The dedicated cruise ship visitor centre will feature an arrivals/departure hall as well as a museum paying tribute to the late, world-famous artist George Wyllie, who worked as a Customs Officer in Greenock and lived for many years in Gourock, and a high-end restaurant and roof terrace with panoramic views of the River Clyde.

A new 200-metre floating pontoon was recently completed by the port operators as part of the overall project.

Work on the visitor centre has resumed following the appointment of a new contractor after the original builder withdrew for financial reasons.

The building is expected to be completed by summer 2022. 

Leader of Inverclyde Council, Councillor Stephen McCabe, said: “This is an important milestone in a development which is of huge significance to Inverclyde, the wider City Region and Scotland.

“We want people from near and far to discover Inverclyde and making a positive first impression with a striking visitor centre – coupled with our famous warm and friendly welcome – will help to do that and encourage our guests to return again in the future.

“The building will also be an asset for the local community outside of the cruise call season and is part of the ongoing regeneration of Greenock Town Centre so there are many benefits of what will be a first-class facility.”

Scottish Government Tourism Minister, Ivan McKee, said: “I am pleased to see such a remarkable development, especially given the strains of the pandemic.

“This new visitor centre at Greenock Ocean Terminal will make a significant contribution to the local area, supporting economic growth in the local community and the wider city region whilst promoting tourism.

“The Scottish Government is contributing £500 million over 20 years to the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

“The investment in this project through the deal will contribute to the region’s economic recovery by creating jobs, and providing the commercial infrastructure to support and attract businesses to the local area.”

UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart, said: “This fantastic new visitor centre represents a major step forward in the regeneration of Greenock.

“It will provide a real boost to the local economy and community while offering visitors a warm welcome and a taste of Inverclyde’s culture and heritage.

“The UK Government is investing more than £1.5bn into City Region and Growth deals right across Scotland, helping create jobs and drive growth as we recover from the pandemic.”

The new berth and visitor centre will also free up space at the busy Greenock Ocean Terminal, which was originally built as a container terminal, for freight business.

Peel Ports Clydeport Director, Jim McSporran, said: “This is fantastic news. The overall investment in the cruise terminal is crucial to the remarkable growth of cruise traffic at Greenock, and this magnificent new visitor centre will allow us to create a welcoming and comfortable environment for passengers. 

“We are building a major cruise business on the Clyde and, despite the impact of the pandemic on the global industry, we are back in business.

“Thanks to the success of Greenock Ocean Terminal, more people than ever will be taking a cruise to Scotland and boosting both local and national tourism.”  

The first cruise ship to call at Greenock since the start of the pandemic arrived a fortnight ago with almost 50 booked in for the rest of this year, including MSC Virtuosa, pictured, which is the biggest vessel in gross tonnage to call at the ocean terminal and is scheduled to stop off locally seven times in total during the 2021 season.

More than 100 ships are due in 2022.

The striking new state-of-the-art visitor centre was designed by Richard Murphy Architects and is being built by Heron Bros.

The facility will welcome passengers and crew during the busy cruise call season and will also be an asset for the people of Inverclyde and other visitors for things like exhibitions, conferences and functions.

To find out more about what Inverclyde has to offer, visit www.discoverinverclyde.com. 

Page last updated: 4 August 2021

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• Regal Princess 4.272 passengers 26 Apr 2024 - 18:00
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• Silver Spirit 648 passengers 01 Aug 2024 - 23:00
• Mein Schiff 3 2.700 passengers 03 Aug 2024 - 19:00
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Greenock (Glasgow), Scotland

Greenock (Glasgow) Cruise Ship Schedule

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Greenock (Glasgow & Edinburgh), Scotland

Nestled on a harbor along scotland’s western coast, greenock has a rich history as a fishing, shipbuilding and maritime center., destination details, things to see and do, port adventures, travel information.

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https://www.cruiseandsea.com/port/greenock-glasgow-scotland/

Greenock (Glasgow) United Kingdom

Greenock is a port city near Glasgow . Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city and is located on the banks of the River Clyde. Edinburgh is less than 100 km from Greenock Harbour and some cruise lines offer excursions to Edinburgh from this port.

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Useful Information

5% to 10% will be appreciated in restaurants and taxis.

GBP British pound

Time difference

from New York: +5h

from San Francisco: +7h

from London: None

Where is located the Port for Glasgow Cruise Terminal

Travelling around the greenock (glasgow) cruise port.

You can get to Glasgow by train. There are two stations a mile from the port. Greenock West Station is easier to get to. There is a train to Glasgow Central Station about every 20 minutes. The journey is about 25 to 45 minutes. On the way back, take the train to Gourock to return to Greenock West station.

Once in Glasgow, the tube and bus are good means of transport.

Activities in Greenock (Glasgow)

Neighborhoods, george square.

Glasgow city centre is surrounded by historic buildings including City Hall

Glasgow Cathedral

This church was built at the end of the 12th century and is next to the Museum of Religious Arts. It is a fine example of gothic architecture.

Inveraray Castle

18th century castle containing a collection of portraits and porcelains from the family of the Duke of Argyll.

A charming town where Stirling Castle is located and that has witnessed several royal coronations, weddings and baptisms.

Culzean Castle

Fortress that was converted into a castle in the 18th century.

Gallery of Modern Art

GoMA is located in the centre of Glasgow. It contains four galleries, a café, a shop and a library.

Glasgow Police Museum

Exhibition about the Glasgow Police and International Police.

Glasgow Science Center

There is a planetarium and an IMAX cinema

Kelvingrove Museum

Free - The collection of this museum is very varied and includes fossils, ancient artifacts and paintings of great masters such as Van Gogh, Monet and Rembrant.

People’s Palace and Winter Gardens

Free - Museum about the history of Glasgow and its people.

Riverside Museum

Transportation museum where you can see trains, cars, buses and planes. Behind the museum, you can visit a boat.

Burrell Collection

For art lovers. This museum is a bit far and you will have to take the train to Pollokshaws West Station.

Museum of Religious Arts

The galleries are full of displays, objects and stunning works of art that explore the importance of religion in peoples’ lives across the world and across time.

The city has several parks that each have their own personality.

Loch Lomond

Beautiful lake punctuated by islands in a setting surrounded by mountains.

Botanical Garden

Family activities, falkirk wheel.

Opened in 2002, this boat “elevator” replaces the locks of yesteryear. You can take a boat ride to experience this marvel of human genius.

Excursions in Greenock (Glasgow)

• Tours of the city of Glasgow and its attractions.
• Several excursions to visit castles in the region.
• Excursion to Edinburgh .

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Useful References

• Tourism Board - Greenock (Glasgow)
• Tourism Board - United Kingdom
• Visit Scotland
• Greenock (Glasgow) on Wikipedia
• United Kingdom on Wikipedia
• Travel Advice and Advisories (Government of Canada)
• Port Website

For details or to book an excursion, visit our page:

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Warnemunde (Berlin) Germany

Other cruiseports in the area

• Northern Europe
• Dover (London)
• Edinburgh (South Queensferry)
• Greenock (Glasgow)
• Harwich (London)
• Invergordon (Inverness & Loch Ness)
• Kirkwall (Orkney Islands)
• Le Havre (Paris)
• Ronne - Bornholm
• Southampton (London)
• St. Peter Port, Guernsey
• St. Petersburg
• Warnemunde (Berlin)

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Eight passengers stranded on African island after Norwegian cruise ship left without them

A dream cruise vacation has turned into a nightmare for eight passengers left stranded on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe after their ship left without them because they were late to return from a private tour.

The tourists — six from the U.S. and two from Australia — were aboard the Norwegian Dawn, a Norwegian cruise line ship , which departed from Cape Town, South Africa, on March 20 for a 21-day voyage up the coast of Africa set to end in Barcelona, Spain, on April 10.

But on Wednesday, the group of eight tourists was late to return to the ship by more than an hour for the all-aboard time of 3 p.m. from a private excursion on the island, which was not organized by the cruise line.

Jay and Jill Campbell of South Carolina were part of the group that was left behind.

They said that their tour’s operator notified the cruise captain that they were going to be late to rejoin the ship and that the local Coast Guard tried to get them on the vessel but that they weren’t allowed to board.

As a result, the couple and the rest of the group have been stranded for days on the island off Nigeria, grappling with language, currency issues and complicated travel to catch up with the ship.

“The lovely people of São Tomé were very gracious, very hospitable. They had reached out as much as they could to help us find hotels,” Jay Campbell said on NBC's "TODAY" show Tuesday morning.

“We were able to get to a tour agency there to arrange flights to the next port of call. ... Very difficult process — you’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers, you’re dealing with different currencies ... finding someone that even has dollars ... trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to.

"It’s one of those ‘You can’t get there from here,’" he added.

A Norwegian spokesperson called the incident a “very unfortunate situation” and said, “Guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time.”

The cruise line said that after the guests failed to return, their passports were delivered to local port agents, in line with protocol. The company said it was working with local authorities to understand “the requirements and visas needed for the guests to reboard the ship at the next available port of call.”

On Monday, the guests had made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia, but the ship was unable to safely dock there because of “adverse weather conditions” and “tidal restrictions,” Norwegian said. The guests were then contacted and provided with information to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal, on Tuesday. 

Jill Campbell said they traveled through seven countries in 48 hours to arrive in Senegal on Monday night.

But the couple was reconsidering whether they even wanted to return to the cruise.

"We are considering whether or not we are going to board the ship. It is in dock here in Senegal," she said. "We believe there was a basic duty of care that they had forgotten about, so it does concern us."

"After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly. I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and really the safety and well-being of the customers should be their first priority," she added.

Ultimately, the eight passengers did rejoin the cruise before 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, Norwegian told NBC News in an e-mail Tuesday evening, after this story originally published.

Norwegian said the passengers were responsible for making their own travel arrangements to rejoin the ship.

"Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal," a cruise line spokesperson said in a statement. "We remain in communication with the guests and are providing additional information as it becomes available."

A silver lining of the catastrophe was that the Campbells were able to connect with another Norwegian Dawn passenger — Julia Lenkoff, 80 — who was also left on the island, but for a medical reason.

Lenkoff was on a different day tour Wednesday. She had "medically disembarked" from the cruise to seek local treatment on that day, Norwegian said.

Norwegian said that its care team tried to call Lenkoff several times and was unable to reach her and that it worked with its port agent in São Tomé and Príncipe for updates on her health.

The Campbells met Lenkoff and were able to put her in contact with her family in California, who flew her home — a move Lenkoff's daughter said "saved her life."

"She's a world traveler. She travels all the time. So this was going to be one of her bucket list trips, because she's been to 120 countries so far, and she wanted to get to 130," her daughter, Lana Lenkoff Geis, said in an interview that aired Tuesday on "TODAY."

Norwegian said Lenkoff was escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, then put in the care of airport staff members to continue her journey back to the U.S., where she has safely returned.

Breaking News Reporter

'The ship can move': Why you should watch next solar eclipses from a cruise ship

Cheers broke out on Holland America Line’s Koningsdam ship when the total solar eclipse began on Monday.

Off the coast of Mazatlan, Mexico, passengers were perched on loungers, reclining on beach towels and lining the railings of Deck 14 with cameras on tripods at the ready. When the sliver of fiery orange that remained of the sun disappeared, a black circle ringed by white light took its place. Passengers applauded the moment they'd been awaiting since the ship departed from San Diego on Friday.

The sunny, 72-degree weather – quintessential cruise weather – gave way to chilly wind and late morning’s best impression of sunset. The horizon line glowed orange in the dusky sky.

Cruise ships can help take guests to the path of totality for eclipses, allowing passengers to get a prime viewing spot and make a vacation of it.

What is a total solar eclipse?

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks the face of the sun as it moves between the sun and Earth.

While the sun is about 400 times bigger than the moon, the moon is roughly 400 times closer to Earth. “In the past, the moon was much closer, and in the future, the moon will be much further away,” said Adam Burgasser, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California, San Diego, and director of the Cool Star Lab, who served as an onboard expert during the cruise. “And so we're in a special time, which, of course, lasts for billions of years, where it's set up just right to block out the sun.”

Total solar eclipses take place about every 18 months on average, but the last one visible from the U.S. was in 2017 .

The phenomenon creates a multi-sensory experience, with a cold front moving in ahead of the eclipse. “You block the sun, and it gets cold,” said Burgasser. “It’s actually just that simple. And it's slow enough that the atmosphere can react.”

Plants and animals respond, too: Birds often begin to chirp, plants may close up, and nocturnal will come out. “It’s kind of an all-around-you experience where it's not just the fact that the sun has been blocked that’s so fascinating, but just the effect it has on the entire environment.” Those effects weren’t easily discernible on Koningsdam, though, which was about 150 miles from shore.

Nicole Chaput, a 57-year-old passenger from Calgary in Canada, said partial and total eclipses are “totally different.”

“I heard someone describe it as being partly pregnant,” she said. “You can’t do it. There’s no comparison.”

What makes a cruise a good place to see an eclipse?

Bad weather can wreck even the best-laid viewing plans. If a city in the path of totality has overcast skies, it can be tough to quickly move to an alternate site.

“If you're on a cruise ship and a little bit farther to the east or a little bit farther to the west along the path, there's clear sky, the ship can move,” said Dan Jarrell, who was on the cruise with his wife, Kay, and friends. The Washington, D.C.-area resident has seen solar eclipses with friends during two other sailings, including on Holland America’s Veendam in 1998.

“If you're on land and there's not a road there, you’d better have a tank,” Jarrell said.

That’s where a cruise ship comes in handy. “Having the ability to map out based on what the current weather is where you can catch the eclipse, and having a range over the course of the ocean where you could chase that a little bit is certainly helpful,” Burgasser added.

Capt. Ane Smit, Master aboard Holland America’s Zaandam for the viewing, said the ship can move at a maximum of 20 knots, so the crew needs to scout out the conditions with enough time to move as needed.

“If it's not good enough, we really need to start finding another spot because we are not the quickest vehicle, of course, to be driving around, but we have the luxury of being able to go in any direction without any restriction,” he said. “It’s a pretty wide highway that we have.”

The view of the horizon also allows passengers to “see that shadow coming in and leaving more so than you can in a topographical area,” said Burgasser. Being in the ocean away from city lights is also helpful for seeing stars and other parts of the sky usually only visible at night.

The cruise line also made the practicalities of watching an eclipse easier: eclipse glasses were distributed to guests’ staterooms and Burgasser guided guests through the event via the ship’s speaker system, before and after totality.

More eclipse cruises on the horizon

If you missed your chance to see it this time or want another go, Holland America has more eclipse-viewing opportunities on the books.

“Guests have reacted positively to our 2024 eclipse cruises and with the next full eclipse in 2026 we plan to have three sailings in Europe that will align with the path of the eclipse,” Paul Grigsby, the line's Vice President of Deployment & Itinerary Planning, said in an email. Details have not yet been released.

Other cruise lines offer similar opportunities as well. Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess was near Koningsdam on Monday.

Chaput, the Canadian passenger, said she’s been “chasing” total solar eclipses since seeing her first one in 1991. Monday’s eclipse marked her seventh viewing and second on a cruise ship.

“I think it’s just such an amazing natural phenomenon,” she said. “It’s seeing science in action.”

Contributing: Josh Rivera, USA TODAY

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Holland America Line. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected]

An 80-year-old had a stroke during a Norwegian cruise excursion. After the ship left her behind on an African island, her family tracked her journey home using an Apple AirTag.

• Julie Lenkoff had a stroke during a Norwegian cruise-sponsored tour on an African island, her son-in-law said.
• The cruise continued sailing, and the tour company said they left her with other stranded cruisers.
• The family said Norwegian failed to contact them while Lenkoff was abroad. They used an AirTag to track her journey home.

It wasn't a surprise to Julie Lenkoff's family that she was going on another cruise.

The 80-year-old has visited 120 countries, speaks 10 languages, and has been on countless cruises. Lenkoff is an experienced traveler, so no one batted an eye when she boarded a 21-day Norwegian cruise along the coast of Africa by herself on March 20, Kurt Gies, Lenkoff's son-in-law, told Business Insider.

But her family was shocked when another cruise passenger phoned Lenkoff's daughter, Lana Gies, to tell her they were with Lenkoff, Kurt said. She had been released from a hospital, could hardly speak, was losing her vision, and was on the African island of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Kurt told BI Lenkoff had a stroke during a cruise-sponsored excursion and that the tour operator and cruise company left her at a hospital, where she was later discharged and left to figure out her own way home.

Kurt said a group of stranded tourists helped Lenkoff return to the US, where she remains in serious condition at the Stanford Medical Center.

"We had the means, the technology, and the ability to navigate this massive network to get her home," Kurt said. "I can only imagine if a family didn't or if that person was truly by themselves. What would've happened?"

The family says they have other stranded cruisers to thank for Lenkoff's return

On March 27, day eight of the Norwegian cruise, passengers disembarked the ship to explore São Tomé and Príncipe.

Kurt said Lenkoff joined a cruise-sponsored excursion with the tour company Navetur Equatour. During the tour, she passed out and fell, Diogo Beirão, the chief operating officer of the tour company, confirmed to BI. When Lenkoff regained consciousness, he said she couldn't speak English and had lost feeling in the right side of her body.

At the time, Beirão said the main concern was if Lenkoff had broken a bone or experienced a concussion. Kurt said doctors in the US later confirmed that Lenkoff had a stroke.

Beirão told BI that his tour guides brought Lenkoff back to the dock, where he says a nurse from the Norwegian cruise evaluated her on the pier.

In a statement sent to BI, a Norwegian cruise representative said that "on March 27, 2024, an 80-year-old woman was medically disembarked after being evaluated by our onboard medical team, who thought it best that she receive further assessment and treatment as needed from a local hospital."

Beirão said Lenkoff was transported to the closest hospital, which was "not very comfortable" because it "had no private rooms, just curtains." However, Beirão said he believes it was the right decision not to let her reboard the cruise.

Kurt said Norwegian brought Lenkoff the belongings from her room; however, her credit cards and cash were lost. He added that the tour company later found the missing wallet in a tour van, which was brought to Lenkoff more than 24 hours after she was released from the hospital.

Kurt said he and the rest of Lenkoff's family had no idea this was happening since Norwegian hadn't contacted them.

Meanwhile, a group of eight people were on a separate, private tour of São Tomé and Príncipe. BI previously reported that the tour ran into issues, and the group missed the ship's boarding deadline .

The group was stranded on the island without cash or medications and with one working credit card, which passengers Jill and Jay Campbell owned. The group found a hotel, contacted the closest American consulate, and planned to meet the ship at its next port in the Gambia.

As all this was happening, Kurt said, Lenkoff was released from the hospital.

Beirão said he was unaware that Lenkoff had a stroke, but he visited her at the hospital, and "she was not totally functional" but "could speak very well." While Lenkoff could communicate, Beirão said she often forgot what she was trying to say mid-sentence.

In Norwegian's statement, the representative said: "We attempted to call the guest several times, and as we were unable to reach her, we worked directly with our port agent in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation, to receive updates about the guest."

"In instances such as these," the statement continued, "as the guest was released from the hospital and in a coherent state, our protocol is to contact the guest directly, as we would not have the authority to share any medical details with anyone else without their expressed consent."

Kurt said there are no phone or WhatsApp records of Norwegian reaching out on her cellphone, and he believes that family members should've been contacted in this instance since the company could not reach Lenkoff to confirm she was in a coherent state.

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After being discharged, Kurt said the tour company connected the Americans with Lenkoff.

"You have people figuring out how they're getting off this island, and they're given the responsibility to take care of an 80-year-old woman who just had a stroke," Kurt said.

At the time, Lenkoff had no way to pay for anything, so the Campbells provided Lenkoff with food and a place to sleep, Kurt said.

"I truly believe sometimes we're put in certain places for a reason, and I believe we were put in this place for the 80-year-old woman who was left alone. God forbid what would have happened to that lady if we were not here," Jay Campbell told North Carolina's WRAL .

Kurt said Lenkoff was still having trouble speaking and had started to lose her vision.

Using Lenkoff's phone, Jill Campbell called Lenkoff's daughter to tell her what happened. Around the same time, the American consulate called, though Kurt said the family was unsure how the consulate learned about Lenkoff's state.

Kurt said he and Lana attempted to reach Norwegian multiple times but couldn't connect with anyone at the company.

"It was decided that we need to get Julie off that island," he said. "No one at Norwegian was going to take responsibility for it."

The Norwegian representative told BI Lenkoff had been "escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, and then put in the care of airport staff to continue her journey to the United States, where she has now made a safe return."

Kurt said all of Lenkoff's travel arrangements were "made by her family" and that it wasn't Norwegian who escorted her, adding that the "airlines took responsibility for ensuring she got safely on each plane segment during her journey home."

He said Lenkoff flew to Lisbon, then to Toronto, and finally to San Francisco.

Thankfully, he said, Lana had sent her mom with an Apple AirTag so the family could watch Lenkoff make the trip back to the US.

The Apple product has become popular for tracking everything from missing suitcases to lost golfing equipment and a magician's sound equipment . Some parents are even using them to keep track of their children . According to Benzinga , Apple sold $1 billion worth of Airtags within two years of releasing the tracking device.

Kurt said he and Lana used the AirTag to follow Lenkoff in Lisbon as she reached her next gate.

"We were able to track her movement across the world as she was coming home, and that was a huge relief for us," he said.

Once Lenkoff arrived in California, Kurt said she was medically evacuated to the Stanford Medical Center.

"They pull her out on a gurney and this huge smile comes across her face as she sees her daughter for the first time," he told BI.

Today, Lenkoff is in critical condition

Since arriving at the hospital in California, Kurt told BI that Lenkoff has undergone numerous tests and scans. He said doctors believe she may have also had a heart attack, and while she was at the Stanford Medical Center, she experienced a second stroke.

Kurt said Lenkoff remains in a serious condition.

Meanwhile, the Gieses have continued to try to reach Norwegian. Kurt said two junior staffers have reached out to learn more about what happened, but he said no one from the cruise line had taken responsibility for not contacting Lenkoff's emergency contacts.

Kurt said the experience has taught him and his family that they should not rely on cruise companies to keep passengers safe.

Kurt heard from the Campbells that the group made it back on the ship on Wednesday. When everyone is healthy and back in the US, he said they plan to meet with the Campbells to thank them.

"We truly believe that our mother would've died had she been left to her own devices," Kurt said. "The Campbells are now members of our family. They are the true heroes of this story."

Do you have an experience to share about cruising? Business Insider would like to hear from you. Email [email protected] .

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