LONDON, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Seaport city Liverpool is riding on the crest of a wave today as city officials announced 2015 as a record year for its award-winning cruise liner terminal.
In the coming 12 months 54 liners will be sailing into the River Mersey, bringing 80,000 tourists from across the world into the city.
Once described as the premier port of the British Empire, Liverpool turned its back on the waterfront half a century ago as shipping companies, one by one left Merseyside. This included Cunard, founded in Liverpool but now based in Southampton. The White Star Line was also based in the city and its then head office was where the ill-fated SS Titanic was designed. That former office, vacant for many years, has recently re-opened as an up-market hotel.
The city's World Heritage Site waterfront bears a striking resemblance to Shanghai's Bund, a reflection of close links in the 19th century between Liverpool and China.
The tide turned just a few years ago when the city council re-discovered its waterfront as 'Liverpool's front door.'
A multi-million pound cruise terminal was built, sparking a lengthy battle with rival port Southampton over the way European funding was used to help pay for the new facility.
Many of 54 liners already booked to sail to Liverpool will be making their debut calls to the historic port.
The highlight of the sailing season will be two special events to celebrate Cunard Cruise Line's 175th anniversary. On May 25 the Cunard fleet - the Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth will arrive on the Mersey. It will create an unprecedented 'Three Queens' spectacle in the spiritual home of Cunard, a once-in-a-lifetime event that will make maritime history.
On July 4 the flagship Queen Mary 2 will return to Liverpool to celebrate Cunard's first transatlantic departure to the United States exactly 175 years earlier.
Liverpool is one of the few ports in the world enabling visitors to arrive in the heart of the city.
Just days ago Liverpool was named by the cruise industry as the UK Port of Call for the second year in succession. The award came from Cruise Critic.com, the cruise arm Trip Advisor, described as the most influential consumer review website in the cruise industry worldwide.
Among the larger cruise liners making their Mersey debut in 2015 will be the new P&O Britannia, Royal Princess, Mein Schiff 4, Celebrity Silhouette and the Spanish Pullmantur Horizon.
Angie Redhead, Liverpool Cruise and Operations Manager, said: "Our world class hospitality has ensured Liverpool is a firm favourite with international passengers."
During 2014 almost 58,000 tourists visited Liverpool on cruise liners.
