Residents fed up with cruise ship shuttle buses parking near their homes are ‘hopeful’ of alternative solutions after some passengers were dropped off in a different location.

Due to the arrival of the MS Rotterdam and MSC Virtuosa at Portland on Tuesday - which carried 7,000 passengers between them - the decision was made to split the drop-off locations in Weymouth.

While passengers from the Virtuosa were dropped off in the usual spot at Spring Road at Rodwell, Rotterdam passengers were dropped off at the bus stops in  Commercial Road in the town centre.

It's the first time another location has been used besides Rodwell.

Portland Port said that the visit was the largest cruise call of the year, saying that it 'made sense' to split the locations.

As previously reported, Rodwell residents were stunned after Dorset Council overturned its decision not to use North Quay for cruise ship shuttle buses.  

The group of residents have been growing increasingly concerned over the drop-off location for the shuttle buses, staging protests and more recently by filing an official complaint against Dorset Council.

Passengers for the MS Rotterdam were being picked up from Commercial RoadPassengers for the MS Rotterdam were being picked up from Commercial Road (Image: Alfie Lumb)

Resident Jenny Rains is ‘hopeful’ that the change could be a positive one.

She said: “We are aware of Tuesday’s decision, and I got very excited.

Buses were seen stacking on Spring Road (Image: Supplied) “Up to 7,500 could have passed through the town, and obviously the port thought this was too much for Spring Road.

“By the time I had got back home, I saw the usual chaos, and I know the port are trying very hard not to stack buses.

“I do feel as though the decision was based on the parameters they set themselves, such as buses stacking, which they would otherwise be unable to adhere to with the passengers from the two ships.”

Another resident added: "I think it’s a tacit admission that they cannot actually safely run all of the port's business from the mini roundabout."

A spokesperson for Portland Port said: “The arrival of two cruise ships has allowed us to split the transportation of passengers between two separate drop-off points with marshals in Weymouth.

The MSC Virtuosa and the MS Rotterdam (Image: Justin Ayton) “One set of complimentary shuttle buses has continued to use a well-established site in Spring Road and another has been using bus stops in Commercial Road in the town centre. The Commercial Road site was used, while the potential use of the North Quay car park remains under consideration.

“This was the largest double cruise call of the year with approximately 7,500 passengers so it made sense to split complimentary shuttle buses between two drop-off locations.

“Splitting the shuttle buses between the two locations did work well, so it is something that we would look to do again in the future.

“This visit represented a significant boost to the local economy with thousands of tourists brought directly into Weymouth during off-peak season, as part of the circa £10m cruise calls bring into the area annually.”

A Dorset Council spokesperson said: “Portland Port, which is responsible for transporting passengers from ships, notified us of an unusually high number of arrivals, with nearly 5,000 passengers on one ship and approximately 2,600 on another.

“In response, we activated a one-off business continuity process to minimise the impact of bus congestion at a single location by dividing the stops. This measure was a special arrangement and will not become a regular practice.”