Figures released by CruiseBritain show that more passengers than ever before visited Great Britain through the country’s 57 cruise ports in 2014.

Some 110 individual ships called into UK ports, with many ships calling on multiple occasions, and these ships brought a record 922,000 passengers on day calls, a rise of six per cent over 2013.

A total of 53 different cruise lines visited UK ports in 2014 from Kirkwall, Orkney in the far north to the Channel Islands and the Isles of Scilly off the south coast.

Round Britain cruises remain steadily popular and allow an unusual and seamless way of exploring Britain’s diversity of coasts, castles, cities and countryside.

The short sailing distances between Britain’s shores and a number of complementary countries adds to the itinerary possibilities.

“The growth in day call passengers is the continuation of a seven-year trend and one that we and our members work tirelessly to encourage’ commented Daren Taylor, chair of CruiseBritain. 

“Last year saw a drop in the number of passengers beginning their cruise at British ports but the introduction of P&O Cruises’ Britannia and Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is anticipated to redress the balance.

“It is a glowing testament to Britain’s strength as a cruise destination that the country can attract the newest, largest and most contemporary cruise ships in the market.”

CruiseBritain and member ports and service providers can be found at stands 531 and 631 at this week’s Cruise Shipping Miami.