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Bunker sales from cruise ships in the port of Rotterdam are set to grow in 2009 following the announcement that eighteen ships have already announced that they will be calling at the port during the cruise season.

This is considerably higher than in 2008, when the cruise port was only occupied by a cruise ship for fourteen days of the season, due to cancellations. "Furthermore, a number of options could still be taken up during the season, which has not yet begun," the Port of Rotterdam said in a statement.

Cunard Line's Queen Victoria opens the season on 4th May and will moor at Wilhelminapier a further three times.

Meanwhile, Holland America Line's MS Eurodam is also scheduled to return to its home port of Rotterdam this year. Shipping line Princess Cruises – which last year relocated its ships from Rotterdam to the Mediterranean – is also returning with two vessels.

Norwegian Cruise Lines is offering two five-day cruises from Rotterdam to Copenhagen and Oslo. Before now, the Norwegian company had only used the port for the inauguration of the Norwegian Gem and the Norwegian Pearl.

On 30th September, the port will bid farewell to the Black Prince. Theship, owned by Fred Olsen, regularly docked in Rotterdam a few decades ago. The vessel carried both passengers and freight (including tomatoes from the Canary Islands), but also called at Rotterdam as a fully-fledged cruise ship.

Mai Elmar, director of Cruise Port Rotterdam, said “The terminal is now being given a thorough overhaul. Rotterdam is ready for the future. Cruise ships are becoming bigger all the time and Rotterdam is able to welcome these vessels into its harbour in the city centre.

The quay has been reinforced and deepened and our maritime and nautical services are fully geared to handling large ships. These floating palaces can be mooring at our quays within about two hours of being out at sea.”