LIVERPOOL'S new cruise liner terminal was officially opened on Friday September 21 as the QE2 made a 40th birthday visit to the city.

The £19m terminal will allow the world's great cruise ships to return to the Mersey on a regular basis.  A total of 23 vessels  with more than 25,000 cruise passengers are already confirmed over the next 18 months.

The new terminal involved creating an extension connected to the existing landing stage at Princes Dock, allowing cruise ships of up to 350-metres in length to berth. It also has top class visitor facilities. 

Cllr Warren Bradley, Lib Dem City Council Leader, said: "The new terminal is a major step forward not only for the city but for the region.  It means that once again we will have some of the world's greatest vessels berthed in front of one of the world's great waterfront, bringing visitors from all over the world and boosting the local economy. And what better way to celebrate its opening than with the QE2 being one of the first ships to berth at the new terminal."
 
The terminal has been developed by a partnership between the Lib Dem run City Council,  Peel Ports, Northwest Regional Development Agency, Liverpool Vision, City Focus, Government Office North West and the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park.