Harwich International Port

Harwich International Port has been receiving cruise ships since 1996 and is a well established port for ships cruising in Northern Europe.

The million pound cruise terminal at Harwich, which opened in 1996, signalled the ports commitment to the cruise sector and has seen a huge growth in calls since coming into operation.  

North Cape, Scandinavian, Baltic, round Britain and Mediterranean services are now regular visitors to the excellent facilities that ensure passengers receive a seamless journey to and from their vessel.

For small ships, 3 anchorage options are available (outside of winter bird breeding season) - the most stunning of these being in Stour River in an area where saltmarsh and intertidal mudflats adjoin ancient sweet chesnut woods forming the RSPB Stour Estuary reserve which are linked by the Essex Way footpath.  It is a beautiful area on the very edge of Constable Country. For a virtual tour of the area please visit the The Harwich Society site

Passengers leaving their cruise will find all the facilities necessary for a swift disembarkation including a direct rail link to London (70 minutes) and the close proximity of London Stansted Airport (50 minutes by car or taxi) or London Heathrow and London Gatwick only 2 hours away.

For visitors to the port, Harwich Old Town is easily accessible and guided tours are  provided free of charge by members of the Harwich Society, highlighting the historic background of this port which dates back to at least the 14^th century. The Pilgrim Fathers Mayflower ship was built here and Master Christopher Jones had his home here, however, the history and places to visit do not end there.  

Numerous excursions to the surrounding area are available and itineraries can be planned in conjunction with cruise and tour operators to fit their passengers' needs.

Excursions include:

• Constable Country
• Cambridge
• Colchester, Britain's oldest recorded Roman town which houses an extraordinary museum
• Ipswich, a historic market town with a fabulous exhibition of both original works by Constable and Gainsborough
• Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, where the incredible ship-burial of an Anglo-Saxon warrior king was discovered in 1939
• Beth Chatto Gardens