HUNDREDS of passengers sailed in as Portland Port welcomed its first cruise ships of the season on Wednesday morning.

The ships, 'Seabourn Quest' and Holland America Lines' 'Rotterdam', both sailed in the blazing sunshine for their first ever visit to the port.

A traditional exchange of plaques took place on board to commemorate the ships' first visit.

The Seabourn Quest had come from Bordeaux and was heading to Rouen, and had 450 people on board. 

The Rotterdam had come from Vigo and was heading to Le Havre, bringing 1400 people.

Weymouth Concert Brass Band provided music in the lead up to the ships' departure, and the Nothe Fort Artillery Volunteers fired their canon as each ship left. 

Ian McQuade, general manager of commercial and cruise services at Portland Port, said: "The start of a new cruise season is always exciting for the port but this year it has been doubly so, with both the Seabourn Quest and the Holland America Rotterdam visiting the port.

"This is the beginning of what will be another record breaking cruise season for the port, but even as it starts I am already in discussion with the cruise lines about the 2019 season."

The port recently opened an extension of its main berth on April 11, unveiled by South Dorset MP Richard Drax and chairman of the Portland Port Group, Christopher Langham. 

The extension came as part of a plan to make Portland Port one of only a few on the English Channel that can handle vessels with overall lengths of 340 metres. 

It saw the building of two new large structures linked by walkways. Each structure consisted of a 1,200 tonne concrete platform set on steel pikes.

The new port was used for the first time by the Rotterdam on Wednesday. 

The next vessels to use the extension will be Holland America’s Koningsdam on May 11 followed by high profile visitor Disney Magic, which will carry 2,400 passengers, on May 23. 

The port is expecting to handle 24 cruise ships this summer season, bringing more than 36,000 passengers into Portland.