This cruise season is to see over 70 calls to Dún Laoghaire Harbour, bringing a total of approximately 128,000 passengers and 50,000 crew to the area.
The tourism sector is to provide a significant boost to the local economy.
Opening the season is Viking Vela, which Afloat highlights will make an anchorage call on 3 April (Good Friday), with many more impressive cruise ships to follow.
According to Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, the harbour was the second busiest in Ireland for cruise visits last year, only behind Cobh, Cork Harbour. The aim is to continue building on this success for the years ahead.
With 43% of passengers who tender ashore visiting Dún Laoghaire Town and the surrounding area, the cruise industry is continuing to generate significant income and create a range of job opportunities. The benefits of these cruise visits extend beyond the immediate tourism sector, contributing to the restoration of the historic harbour.
Cruise Statistics for 2026
The 2026 cruise season surpasses last year, when 66 cruise ships arrived with 104,106 passengers and 44,450 crew.
Princess Cruises' ‘Regal Princess’ is the longest vessel to call, at 330m long and with a capacity of 3,592 passengers and 1,205 crew. This ship is scheduled to call 8 times this year.
Viking Cruises are once again at the top of the schedule with 25 visits this year (7 more than last year), sending ships from their ocean-going fleet. In second place is Norwegian Cruise Lines, visiting Dún Laoghaire 9 times, the same as last year.
