Cruise

Forth Ports offers dedicated berthing facilities to cruise operators at Port of Tilbury in London, London Moorings, and Forth Ports Leith, Forth Ports Dundee and Forth Ports Rosyth in Scotland, each accommodating European and international turnaround and transit cruises.

We are the only port operator that can sail your passengers right into the heart of Great Britain’s leading capital cities. With an increasing number of vessels calling each year, our ports at Leith and Tilbury provide fast and easy access to Edinburgh and London respectively, allowing visitors more time to enjoy the outstanding attractions in these historic cities.

At all of our ports, our cruise terminals ensure a safe, comfortable, and efficient embarkation and disembarkation for your passengers, and we are currently investing even more at our cruise terminals to update facilities and enhance passenger experience.

Find out more about our primary and additional anchorages below.

Visit the Capital Cruising website:

Download Capital Cruising brochure

Forth Ports Cruise at a glance:

Key Cruise Ports

Port of Tilbury (London)

The Port of Tilbury is home to the London International Cruise Terminal.  This is London’s only deep-water, purpose-built cruise facility, and is located just 22 nautical miles down-river from Central London.  The Port of Tilbury is a natural gateway for passengers to enjoy all the tourist spots that London has to offer with opportunity for cruise ships to berth at the International Cruise Terminal at Tilbury or sailing visitors right into central London and berth on one of the London Moorings, (managed in joint partnership with MBNA Thames Clippers).  This exciting opportunity allows the mooring of cruise ships in the heart of London at Greenwich Ship Tier, Tower Bridge Upper Tier and George’s Stair Tier on behalf of the PLA.

Forth Ports Leith (Edinburgh)

Forth Ports Leith (Edinburgh) is a visitor attraction all on its own, having been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Home to the considerably more modern Leith Cruise Terminal, the port is only three miles from the city centre of Scotland’s capital; providing direct access to world famous visitor attractions such as Edinburgh Castle.

Forth Ports Dundee

Forth Ports Dundee is a key gateway into Dundee, located just a short walk from the city centre and the newly opened V&A museum, which opened in September 2018.

Forth Ports Rosyth

Forth Ports Rosyth is the gateway to Fife and the many top visitor attractions in the surrounding area. Situated next to the 3 Forth Bridges, Rosyth is Scotland’s key cruise turnaround hub, providing excellent links to local distilleries and world renowned golf courses.

Additional London Anchorages

Greenwich Ship Tier

Position: 51’29.046N, 000’00.931W
Largest facility and is central London’s deep water mooring.

  • Accommodates vessels up to 228 metres in length
  • Draft: 8.1 metres
  • Location 5 miles downstream from Tower Bridge it is close by the Naval College and in sight of the Cutty Sark
  • Vessels moored here are serviced through the world’s first floating cruise terminal

Tower Bridge Upper mooring

Position: 51’30.404N, 000’04.877W
Caters for smaller, specialist vessels.

  • Accommodates vessels up to 158 metres in length
  • Draft: 6 metres
  • Location 300 metres from Tower Bridge, it shares the moorings with historic warship attraction HMS Belfast

George’s Stair mooring

Position: 51’30.225N, 000’04.299W
Perfect for small ships and super yachts.

  • Accommodates vessels up to 120 metres in length
  • Draft: 2 metres
  • Location 1.5 cables downstream from Tower Bridge

Additional Scottish Anchorages

Newhaven

Position: 55° 58.90’ N, 003° 11.80’ W
No. of Berths: 2 via tender
Anchorage for large cruise vessels able to accommodate 300m+ cruise ships
Max. Draught: 11m

  • Edinburgh’s deepwater anchorage
  • 3 miles from Edinburgh Castle and city centre
  • Dedicated excursion coach parking
  • Two tender berths within harbour
  • Tender time 15 mins to Newhaven Harbour from anchorage
  • ISPS compliant berth and security operation
  • 9.5 miles from Edinburgh Airport
  • Tender facility 24/7

South Queensferry

Position: 56° 00’.34 N 003° 22’.6 W
Tender time 15 mins
Anchorage for large cruise vessels able to accommodate 300m+ cruise ships
For vessels less than 275m L.O.A. a further anchorage is available in the following position: 56° 00’.29 N 003° 22’.48 W

  • Vessels not limited by draft
  • Tenders operate to Hawes Pier in South Queensferry
  • 9 miles from Edinburgh city centre

Ports with Cruise Services:

  • Tilbury (London)
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  • Leith (Edinburgh)
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  • Dundee
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  • Rosyth
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