MORE cruise ships than ever before will call in at Portland this summer.

There are 11 cruise ships booked to berth at Portland Port during 2012 and another record cruise ship season is expected next year.

Next month, 2,000 passengers from around the world will disembark at the port from the Royal Caribbean’s Visions of the Seas and will experience a unique local welcome.

All the stops are being pulled out to ensure that passengers have a memorable first impression of the area.

They will be greeted by Portland Town Crier Stuart Cave, who will be crying for the first time at Portland Port.

Tourism students from Weymouth College will provide tourist information to visitors and the Weymouth Concert Brass Band will be entertaining passengers on the quayside as they arrive back from excursions and go on board ready for their departure.

Passengers will then be given a very loud send-off in the form of the Nothe Fort Artillery’s canon.

Ian McQuade, general manager (commercial), at the port said: “We are very much looking forward to seeing the ‘Vision of the Seas’ here at Portland.

“This cruise season will most definitely be our best yet, and what better way to start it than with an inaugural call from a Royal Caribbean cruise liner.”

Based on European Cruise Council figures from 2010, the average spend on a European port call is around £100 per passenger.

Mr McQuade added: “With numbers like this it is clear to see the potential value of the cruise calls to the local economy.

“Furthermore, local shops are encouraged to accept Euros on the day of the cruise calls to accommodate the large influx of foreign visitors.”

Local arts and crafts will be on display at quayside for passengers to sample.

Yvonne Beven, community organiser on Portland is arranging for local artists to present their work at stalls whilst the cruise ship is alongside.

Amanda Milner, commercial sales manager at the port, said: “We really want to enhance the passengers’ experience on the quayside this year, so to have local artists come to the port and sell their work is very exciting.”

Anna-Maria Geare, president of the Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the area’s biggest ever cruise season.

She said: “Weymouth and Portland will be benefitting a lot from the cruise ships.

“Passengers will be going into local businesses and spending money.”