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GO! Southampton, the city's Business Improvement District (BID), has launched a Volunteer Programme to welcome cruise visitors to the city.
The new initiative, which is being run by the BID and backed by ABP Southampton, has appointed over 10 volunteers. Equipped with local knowledge, from May they will be greeting cruise passengers and providing them with information about the city's key attractions.
Trained by GO! Southampton, the volunteers will work on a rotational basis for a few hours a week at the Ocean Cruise Terminal, mainly assisting transit cruise passengers with directions and suggestions of what to do and see during their day in the city.
Executive Director of GO! Southampton, Stephen Manion, said: "We understand that it can be challenging for cruise passengers disembarking for the day to know where to go and the easiest way to get there. Our fleet of volunteers will offer an informative and friendly welcome to the city.
"One of the key benefits of Southampton is that its key attractions can easily be accessed by foot so that visitors can take in quite a lot on a relatively short visit. We are keen to ensure that cruise visitors can quickly access information on our museums, galleries and the city’s rich history as well as its fantastic retail offering and excellent range of eateries.”
Fay Draper, Cruise Manager, ABP Ports said: "We are very excited about the volunteer scheme. As a port, we welcome transit guests throughout the year and know just how important it is for them to have a warm welcome as they disembark the ships and head into the city centre. The new volunteers will make a huge difference to the passenger's experience and local businesses within the city centre."
