Carnival On The Pier

All the fun of the carnival comes to Dover's Prince of Wales Pier on Thursday 10th July when the world's newest cruise liner is in port.

Carnival Cruise Lines' Carnival Splendor will become the largest passenger-capacity liner to berth in Dover, and Dover Lions Club is inviting the local community to welcome the port's newest cruise customer by partying along on the pier and giving the ship a warm send-off on her inaugural cruise from the UK.

"It promises to be a fun family event," said club president Len Button. "We recognise the importance of the cruise business to Kent and this is one way we can show our appreciation to a valued customer to the area and raise some money for Lions' charities."

Kate O'Hara, Head of Commercial and Marketing, Port of Dover, said the port had been working hard for several years to attract the world's biggest cruise line to Dover. "It's a tremendous coup for us against very strong competition. The local community has an important contribution to make to the cruise business generally by giving a warm welcome to passengers and ships' crew," she added.

Carrying up to 4,914 passengers and weighing 113,000 tonnes, Carnival Splendor represents a new class of Carnival SuperLiner with a number of innovative facilities and features including exclusive new "spa staterooms" that surround a luxurious 21,000 square foot health and fitness centre. And the Lions Club will be raffling 12 pairs of tickets for a tour and lunch onboard on a future Dover port visit.

Lynn Narraway, Carnival Cruise Lines' UK Managing Director, said: "We are really thrilled to have a Carnival SuperLiner cruising ex-UK from the port of Dover and look forward to a fantastic send off by the people of Dover on 10th July."

The fun event commences at 5pm and there will be performances of music and drama culminating in a flag-waving send-off for Carnival Splendor as she sails on a three-day mini preview cruise to Amsterdam.

Miss Dover, Loren Selby, will draw the raffle and refreshments will be on sale on the pier.