Long distance scheduled commercial passenger travel by ship began in Liverpool in 1819 when the SS Savannah became the first steamship to conduct a trans-Atlantic crossing.

[23] In July 2011, the council offered to pay back part of the UK government funding in exchange for being allowed turnaround visits, which led Associated British Ports, the owner of Southampton Docks, to take legal advice.

[27] Full turnaround services commenced at the terminal on Tuesday 29 May 2012 when Ocean Countess[28] departed on its journey to the Norwegian fjords.

The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company has previously argued that existing facilities will need to be upgraded to improve the passenger experience, particularly surrounding waiting times, check in and baggage collection, security, border control and the local road network.

[36][37][38][39][40] Ports in Australia, Faroe Islands, France, Iceland, Ireland, North America, Norway, Outer Hebrides, Portugal, Spain and the Caribbean are served by the facility.

On 3 April 2024, it was reported that Global Ports Holding (GPH) would take over Liverpool Cruise Terminal, pledging a £25m upgrade.

The GPH upgrade includes a new floating pontoon to increase capacity and a terminal building for retail and hospitality, marking a shift from the city council's previous ambitions for a larger development.

[47][48] Liverpool City Council unveiled preliminary plans for a £50 million development for the proposed new cruise stage in September 2017.

[49][50] Belfast building and civil engineering firm McLaughlin & Harvey were awarded a contract in March 2018 to support the council during the first of the two phases of development.

The first phase of the project would have involved finalising the design and construction of the new facility and the removal of the existing derelict Princess Jetty.

[53] £20 million of funding was granted from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in August 2018 towards financing the next phase of the project, which was due to start in October of that year.

[55] In November 2023, Liverpool City Council revealed that Global Ports Holding would be taking over the running of the facility, with the hope that they would choose to develop a new terminal as part of the deal.