#CruiseTallShips – An unprecedented number of cruiseships also equipped with sailing masts are to visit Irish ports this season, starting with the arrival of the five-masted Club Med 2 to Cork Harbour tomorrow, writes Jehan Ashmore.
Club Med's impressive 637-foot vessel is to dock alongside Cobh Cruise Terminal around dawn tomorrow and a further two such cruiseships the Sea Cloud II and Wind Surf are to visit Irish ports before mid-July.
Those privileged to experience a cruise on these types of cruiseships have the added opportunity in operating the rigging systems, albeit they are mechanically controlled.
Sea Cloud II which has three masts has a total sail area of approximately 32,150 sq. feet (3.000 m²) and carries a mere 64-passengers. She is operated by Sea Cloud Cruises and the 384-foot vessel is also to head for Cork Harbour, however on this occasion during her call on 13 July, she is expected to take anchorage off the Whitegate Oil Refinery.
The final member of the trio is another five-masted vessel, Windstar Cruises 310-passenger Wind Surf. The 535-foot long vessel is heading too for the south coast on 16 July when she also makes an anchorage call off Dunmore East.
Further calls by the trio are to include visits to Belfast Harbour, Dublin Port and Dun Laoghaire Harbour.
