A new landing stage in Liverpool, run jointly by Merseytravel and the Steam Packet Company, has welcomed its first cruise liner.

The ?19m cruise liner landing stage on the Pier Head was visited by the Seven Seas Voyager at the weekend.

The 1,000ft terminal will play host to the Queen Elizabeth 2nd later this month, as the vessel visits for the city’s 800th birthday celebrations.

That visit will be used as part of the official launch ceremony of the new City of Liverpool Cruise Liner Terminal.

Teams worked around the clock to put the finishing touches to the landing stage, which the city hopes will put Liverpool on the global cruise map.

Members of Liverpool City Council’s regeneration committee were given a sneak-preview of the landing stage before the first ship berthed.

It is wide enough for two-way traffic and can accommodate 16 coaches, with a turnaround space at one end.

(Picture: A computer generated image of part of the landing stage, from bigdig.liverpool.gov.uk).