The ‘cruise ship season’ began at Cork Port today with the arrival of AIDAluna on its maiden call to Cork harbour. With 2,000 guests and over 600 crew aboard, it is the first of six vessels which will make maiden calls to Cork this year.
Altogether, 93 vessels and over 175,000 passengers are expected between April and November. “As the only Irish port with a dedicated cruise terminal, we are laser-focused on showcasing our facilities to cruise lines and the wider cruise sector to promote Cork,” said Ann Doherty, Port of Cork CEO and Chair of Cruise Ireland. “Today’s arrival starts another strong year for Ireland’s busiest cruise port and highlights Cork’s continued appeal as a leading destination for cruise tourism.
In addition to the calls to Cork Harbour, Bantry Bay will have 11 cruise liners calling this year, beginning on Sunday, April 26.
“Cruise tourism has an important role in Cork’s regional economy, generating an estimated €17 million annually through passenger and crew spending. Visitors spend an average of €81 per passenger and €29 per crew member during their time ashore, supporting a wide range of local businesses,” according to the Port Company.
Cork Port recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Belfast Harbour for a range of initiatives, including cruise tourism. The MoU is intended to encourage co-operation between the two largest cruise ports on joint marketing, improving cruise facilities and driving regional tourism spend, building on the success of collaboration through Cruise Ireland.
