#CruiseQuartet- Following yesterday's busy cruise trio line-up to Dublin Port, among them the 5-star luxury sail-assisted Sea Cloud II, even more callers are due when a quartet are to dock tomorrow morning, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Leading the quartet will be Ocean Princess, one of a pair of the smallest units of the Princess Cruise fleet, having only 672 guests. Built in 1999 for former owners Renaissance Cruises, the 30,000 tonnes ship is to enter Dublin Bay at 06.00hrs. She is to dock next to the East-Link Bridge, where Sea Cloud II had occupied berth 18 along North Wall Quay extension.
A quarter of an hour later, the bay is to receive the 6-star rated Seven Seas Voyager, which has a similar capacity of 700-guests who all enjoy 'balcony' suites. Operated by Regent Seven Sea Cruises, she was refitted in late 2012 and is to call to Alexandra Basin's berth 30.
After another 15 minute interval, the next caller is AidaCara, the 11 deck vessel which serves the German market is operated by Aida Cruises. Notably is her distinctive bold livery of facial features displayed on the bow. She is to call alongside berth 35 at the river-side of Ocean Pier.
Following all this activity, the three Dublin-berthed cruiseships will have to wait to 11.30 before the fourth and final caller joins them in port in the form of the veteran Ocean Majesty. The 1966 built former Mediterannean ferry is to arrive at Ocean Pier's berth 35 within Alexandra Basin east.
Launched as Juan March for operators Trasmediterránea, she mostly served the Balearic Islands. Work on reconstructing the side-loading car ferry took three years to complete in 1994 for her Athens based owners Majestic International Cruises.
