TWO more cruise ships sailed into Portland Port on Wednesday morning - bringing more than 5,000 new visitors to the area.

The first to arrive was a German vessel called Mein Schiff 3 which brought 2,506 people at 6.45am from Belfast.

Built in 2014, the cruise ship boasts 15 decks and spent a day at sea before sailing to Portland today. 

Later in the morning, another ship - Celebrity Apex - came to the Dorset port at 9.40am after travelling overnight from Cork, Ireland, with 2,900 passengers on board. 

Celebrity Apex has a 'magic carpet' attached to her right side that is able to transfer passengers between decks and also be used as a floating deck if needed.

It is the property of American liner Celebrity Cruises, which comes under the Royal Caribbean Cruises group.

Dorset Echo: Celebrity Apex arriving into Portland Port this morningCelebrity Apex arriving into Portland Port this morning (Image: Ken Deadman)

The newer vessel was built in 2021 and also has 15 decks, with the pair of cruise ships bringing 5,406 passengers to Weymouth and Portland, which enjoyed excursions elsewhere in the county and further afield.

The pair of ships were spotted by early risers who captured pictures of the large vessels approaching earlier in the morning. 

Last month the port welcomed American and Norweigan cruise ships which brought thousands more people to the area.

Portland Port says it is expecting a 23 per cent increase in cruise ship visitors this year as preparations continue for a controversial asylum seeker barge.

The Government confirmed earlier this month that the barge will host more than 500 asylum seekers.