#SailingCruiseship- As previously reported on Afloat.ie, a trio of cruise callers due to Dublin Port arrived this morning, among them the exclusive Sea Cloud II (2001/3,849grt), a 5 star luxury sail-assisted vessel, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 117m/ 384ft Spanish built windjammer cruiseship operated by Sea Cloud Cruises, yesterday called to Belfast Harbour. On her arrival today she berthed next to the East-Link Bridge, bringing her mere 94 guest higher spending power clientele closer to the capital's centre.

Of her three masts, the mainmast towers 57m or 187 ft above deck and in total she sets 23 sails totalling 3,000 m² / 32,000 sq ft. Alternatively she has use of engine power (2 X 1,240 kW) producing around 14 knots.

So what passenger facilities are available, there is a lido deck with bar, restaurant, lounge, boutique, library with laptop, sauna, fitness area, a swim platform and a hospital.

Of her 47 outside cabins, 29 of them have a shower/WC, 16 junior suites with bathtub/WC and 2 luxury owner suites. Take a peek HERE, at one of these luxury suites (No. 402) which is 27 m² / 290 sq ft and features a King-sized bed. The bathroom with marble sink and golden fixtures, exude an ambiance of sheer luxury. Click the photo of the suite to enlarge for a better view.

All cabin categories of the top end luxury cruiseship are furnished with bathrobes, hair dryer, telephone, adjustable A/C, private safe, TV/DVD and a mini-bar.

This evening she bids the capital farewell with a departure time of 18.30. Having entered Dublin Bay she is to set a course for Cork Harbour.

Unlike the majority of cruiseships that head for Cobh or smaller sized callers which could head upriver to Cork city-quays, the exclusive Sea Cloud II is an exception.

Instead her guests will have ultimate privacy by anchoring in the lower harbour when she is due to arrive around lunchtime tomorrow.

#dlharbour – Dun Laoghaire Harbour CEO Gerry Dunne say there is a  great opportunity for Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Dublin Port to work collaboratively on Dublin Bay to emulate the success of Danish capital, Copenhagen in attracting approximately 500,000 cruise visitors per year, which would represent a quadrupling of visitor numbers coming to Dublin Bay in 2015.

In 2011, the Dun Laoghaire Cruise Stakeholder Group was formed to bring together various stakeholders with an interest in developing cruise business for the greater Dun Laoghaire area . This stakeholder group includes Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District [BID]

The Dun Laoghaire Cruise Stakeholder Group engaged in a vigorous marketing campaign, particularly in the United States, to enable Dun Laoghaire to tap into this growing market.

Dun Laoghaire welcomed two cruise calls in 2012 with 140 passengers onboard. Last year saw 13 cruise vessels use the facilities at Dun Laoghaire, with the highlight of the season being the visits of Cunard's Queen Mary II and Queen Victoria.

"Since 2012, due to the attractiveness of Dun Laoghaire and its wonderful harbour, the number of cruise bookings has grown exponentially and 2015 will be the most successful year ever for Dun Laoghaire in terms of attracting cruise passengers to the harbour.", according to Gerry Dunne, CEO of the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company. 23 cruise vessels have been confirmed to visit Dun Laoghaire in 2015.

The size of these ships is such that they will bring a record 66,867 passengers. With Dublin Port expecting to attract 60,751 cruise passengers, it will be a record year for Dublin Bay. 2015 will be the first year where the number of cruise passengers landing in Dun Laoghaire will exceed those landing in Dublin Port," Mr. Dunne said.

"The great opportunity for Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Dublin Port is to work collaboratively to emulate the success of Copenhagen in attracting approximately 500,000 cruise visitors per year, which would represent a quadrupling of visitor numbers coming to Dublin Bay in 2015", Mr. Dunne added.

"Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company will be working with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Dun Laoghaire's Business Improvement District to ensure that cruise passengers have a memorable visit to the town and are encouraged to return again, providing a valuable source of business for retail outlets and restaurants, which will deliver a huge economic boost for the town and its hinterland."

"Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company is currently finalising an application to An Bord Pleanala under Strategic Infrastructure Development to build a new €15m cruise berth facility to cater for the "next generation cruise ships".

"The development of the cruise business is a key element of the Dun Laoghaire Habour Masterplan published in 2011 and is consistent with the role set out for the Habour in the government's National Ports Policy, which sees Dun Laoghaire Harbour developing as a marine leisure and tourist destination of international calibre" Mr. Dunne said.

#CruiseDublin – The Dublin Port Company has invited submissions from companies interested in developing the cruiseship business at the nation's largest port.

The port which has the biggest cruise business on the island of Ireland and in attracting many major cruise lines has potential for further growth.

DPC has provided port infrastructure in other sectors of the port to be operated by private sector companies working in competitive markets.

The port is currently looking to follow a similar approach in relation to its cruise business and is seeking to enter a multi-annual relationship with a suitable partner. This partner is to grow the cruise business both of the port and for operators in the tourism sector.

For further information including contact details and date for submissions, visit this LINK.

#PrincessCallers -Dublin Port's main cruise berths that line along the broad width of Ocean Pier are both occupied by a pair of Princess Cruises ships that docked at dawn today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Ruby Princess, a 'Grand' class ship of 113,000 tonnes arrived overnight from calling to Cobh. She had moored alongside Ocean Pier within Alexandra Basin west at berth 37. Towering 19 decks high, she can accommodate more than 3,000 passengers.

While facing opposite on the adjacent quay, Ocean Princess of 30,000 tonnes, is one of the smaller members of the Princess fleet, which berthed at the appropriately named pier at berth 33 in the eastern basin. The 9-deck high former Renaissance Cruises vessel can handle almost 700 guests. The mostly adult carrying cruiseship had previously called to Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.

Combined the potential capacity of the contrasting sized Bermuda flagged ships is some 3,700 passengers and the crew alone totals for more than 1,500 personnel.

Take a peak of the luxurious facilities by clicking each of the highlighted ships names as above and which will also lead you to facts about the vessels.

An evening departure of the pair is 'scheduled' for 18,00hrs and should provide an interesting viewing opportunity (South Wall breakwater) to contrast the sheer scale between these ships.

There are still plenty more cruise callers due to Dublin Port this season, click for details HERE.

#DublinPort - Dublin Port Company have released the 2013 Annual Report 'online'. Downloadable copies in PDF format (in both Irish and English) as well as an HTML version are now available through this LINK.

In addition previous Annual Reports dating back to 2009 are available to download.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Dublin Port Company paid a dividend of €8m to the State based on its financial results for 2013.

The payment is in line with the company's commitment to making a dividend payment of 30% of profit after tax, annually.

Up until last year, the port had experienced three flat years from 2010 and this is the first year in which there has been organic growth.

For details of headline figures for 2013 click HERE.

#dublinport – The recently elected Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Christy Burke, has received the Admiral's Hat from Dublin Port Company Chairperson, Lucy McCaffrey, at a ceremony to mark the commencement of his role as the Honorary Admiral of Dublin Port.

His first official engagement as Admiral was to perform the "Casting of the Spear" ceremony, a Dublin Port tradition dating back over half a millennium.

The "Casting of the Spear" first took place in 1488, when Thomas Mayler – the then Lord Mayor of Dublin – set out on his horse to ride the city's boundaries. Historical records show that he rode out onto the strand as far as a man could and from there he cast a spear into the sea. At that time, casting the spear demonstrated the extent of the city boundaries eastwards.

The ceremony was re-enacted as part of the launch of the South Docks Festival. The Lord Mayor travelled out into Dublin Bay on board MV St Bridget and upon reaching the North Bank Lighthouse, launched a spear deep into Dublin Bay, and once again marked the position of the city boundaries eastwards.

Lucy McCaffrey, Chairperson, Dublin Port Company said: "I extend a very warm welcome to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and wish him well in his new role as Admiral of Dublin Port. His first official engagement of casting the spear revives one of Dublin Port's oldest traditions dating back to medieval times, and serves as an important reminder of Dublin's rich maritime heritage. Today's celebrations also marks the beginning of a new tradition, as Dublin Port Company and St. Andrew's Resource Centre combine the Casting of the Spear ceremony with the launch of the South Docks Festival for the first time. Congratulations to everyone involved on a fantastic festival programme, which promises a week of great activity and entertainment for all the family."

The 27th South Docks Festival is a celebration of Dublin's Pearse Street and Grand Canal communities and runs until Friday, 25th July 2014. This year's festival programme include a host of events for all ages, ranging from Viking Splash and Open Top Bus Tours, to Art Workshops, Bollywood Dance Lessons and Talent Shows. A Teddy Bears Picnic, Seniors Afternoon Tea, International Race Night and Football Tournament will all feature, culminating in the South Docks Parade at 12.30pm on Friday, 25th July from St. Andrews Resource Centre to Pearse Square via the City Quay.

During the week, over 140 volunteers will deliver the festival's range of events, which have been organised by a committee of volunteers and funded by local businesses and fundraising activities.

#Semester@Sea – Students from the University of Virginia, USA are on a 66-day long Semester at Sea voyage on board the Explorer, which is to dock in Dublin Port this morning, and where she will stay for the next five days, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 'floating campus' that is of the 24,000 tonnes Explorer which was built as a cruiseship in 2001 had sailed from Greenock overnight.

The Semester at Sea programme of the Institute for Shipboard Education, is sponsored by the University of Virginia. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the university is one of the USA's most prestigious institutions of higher education.

Twice a year she circumnavigates the world and explores a region each summer. On this 2014 voyage, 11 cities and 10 countries in northern Europe form the Semester at Sea programme which set sail last month from Southampton in the UK and having also called to Bilbao and Lisbon.

So what facilities are to be found on ship serving some 2000 students annually and to meet their educational and residential requirements? Asides the obvious need for 'classrooms' click HERE, there is a 9,000-volume library, computer laboratory, wireless-internet access, and a student's union venue in addition to many of the amenities you'd expect on a land-based campus.

Students have a unique opportunity during the Semester at Sea to engage in global comparative education.

On each voyage, a set of Global Comparative Lens courses are designed to help students deepen their understanding of specific features of life and culture in the countries of the voyage itinerary.

Among the lens offerings is a field study visit tomorrow of the Hill of Tara and Bru na Boinne Visitor Cente, which forms part of the course, Foundational Religions of Europe: From Odin to Allah.

Following her Irish call, the semester sails to Scandinavian and Baltic ports, among them St. Petersburg. The voyage will also include a transit of the Kiel Canal and a stopover to the Polish city of Gdansk before returning to the UK next month.

#OnTheTV – Building Ireland, the first of a new television series starts tonight on RTE 1 (7pm) which explores and explains how Ireland's great building and engineering achievements came to be, and their impact on the development of our towns and cities.

In the second episode, (next week on 15 July), a look at 'The Banking Halls of Dame Street', engineer Tim Joyce is setting out to discover how an odd, metal structure on Sir John Rogerson's Quay, played a crucial role in building the foundations of modern Dublin 140 years ago the docklands were in need of a radical overhaul, just to keep up trade demands of the British Empire.

An Irish engineer from Clareen, Co Offaly - Bindon Blood Stoney – was pioneering new methods in port construction. But the finest Victorian engineers of the day said his proposed plans for Dublin port just wouldn't work.

Would Blood Stoney's new innovation of a diving bell and shear crane work?

For a sneak preview CLICK HERE, of the series which is also to be presented by architect, Orla Murphy and geographer Susan Hegarty.

#MotorYacht – A US training ship T.S. Empire State made a 'sail-past' in Dublin Bay this morning, however Dublin Port welcomed Katrion, an impressive three-decked 38m motoryacht, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Featuring a Jacuzzi high up on the uppermost deck above the bridge, the Cayman Islands flagged motoryacht is currently advertised for sale through www.y.co for €12,900,000.

She had docked at the 100-berth Poolbeg Yacht Boat Club & Marina having sailed overnight from Waterford. Beforehand she had cruised along the south and south-west coast in recent weeks.

The Georgetown registered vessel built in 2003 is from the Dutch yard of Feadship - which has completed more than 250 such luxurious vessels for wealthy clients globally.

Her interiors are by the hand of Michael Mcquiston / Art-Line Interiors and her last refit is understood to have been in 2008.

Guests have the use of four staterooms, a main salon, living and dining room spaces. Outdoor dining is available on the spacious deck and aft-decks.

Further luxurious facilities are to be found in accommodation for 8-guests, with a master bedroom and master-bathroom, a VIP-guestroom, guest-double and a guest twin. A crew of 7 cater for the needs of discerning clientele.

It is also undestood that her main engines of 2 X 620 HP generate a cruising speed of 11 knots though is capable of 14 knots.

Should dry-land be yearned for after travelling across Ocean's, in which she has a range of 3,000 nautical miles, there are custom-bikes already on board and an awaiting high-speed tender to whisk you ashore.

#ClassicLinerLady – Louis Aura a classic cruiseship dating almost fifty years having been launched in the late 60's made her debut call to Dublin Port today, a first for Cypriot operator Louis Cruises, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Her call follows Belfast yesterday as previously reported, and her visit represents a new cruising region which otherwise is the eastern Mediterranean from Cyprus, Greece and Turkey.

Louis Cruises was founded in 1986 and was added to the Limassol based Louis Group which has operated since 1935. The operator runs Louis Aura on short cruises from Cyprus and her fleetmates, Louis Crystal and Louis Olympia this season offering 4 to 7 days cruises from Greece and Turkey.

The veteran 16,000 tonnes was launched in 1968, though she had a major refit in 2005 to increase her lifespan. Only last year she was renamed having been Orient Queen and before that Bolero. This follows a career first starting as Starward which was geared for the U.S. market running under Norwegian Caribbean Lines.

Her cruising grounds of the balmy Caribbean embraced a design to reflect her environment where a three-deck high sun-lounge which is partially enclosed is sited above the bridge.During service for NCI this popular spot named the Tropicana Garden with its 'Skybars' next to the adjoining sheltered lido-area would became particular hot due to such humid conditions.

Here a spiral staircase links two decks which overlook the aft swimming pool again partially sheltered by the glazed screen walls of this feature which was ahead of its time. Fortunately these bars remain to quench a thirst while overlooking the Hera Deck below with its swimming pool.

For further details included photo of facilities for more than 800 cruise-goers, plus views of staterooms and corresponding deck plans, take a peek by clicking this LINK.

In addition the open promenade deck with lifeboats is a refreshing feature which is an increasingly unique feature compare to modern cruiseships which also lack cruiser-sterns, having said that the added superstructure somewhat spoils the aft deck. While at the opposite 'end' of the vessel at the bow is where a former cargo-hold along with derricks is now where a heli-pad is located.

Despite these changes, she still retains exterior styling by Knud E. Hansen of Copenhagen, from where her Scandinavian ferry origins included a vehicle deck to carry freight-trailers between Miami, the Bahamas and Jamaica.

This ability to carry vehicles has long since gone and was never a feature of her pure cruise sister. Skyward which too was commissioned by NCL from the yard of AG Weser Seebeckwerft in Bremen.

Her stylised twin funnel uptakes are particularly streamlined and positioned further aft to accentuate a slick profile superstructure.

This evening she is due to depart at 20.00hrs having spent a stunningly sunny day under Irish climes! It is understood her next port of call is Portsmouth.