Cruiseships scheduled to the Port of Waterford have been announced with tourists for the 2023 season are to start visiting the south-east region in April. 

In total there will be 24 cruise call visits bringing 27,000 passengers and almost 13,000 crew.

The calls are split between Belview Port, located downriver of the 'Crystal City' and at the picturesque Dunmore East Harbour operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Visitors can experience 1,000 years of history in 1,000 steps in Waterford’s Viking Triangle, marvel at Waterford Crystal, navigate the Copper Coast, explore ancient abbeys such as the Rock of Cashel and see which lords lived in the likes of Kilkenny Castle. 

In addition how ancestors travelled from Ireland on the Dunbrody Famine tallship berthed in New Ross. 

To consult the cruiseship list of visiting vessels, click here.

Afloat.ie adds that the most frequent caller will be by Norwegian operator Hurtigruten using one of their expedition cruiseships the MS Maud with a 528 passenger capacity.

The former MS Midnatsol built in 2003 had served Hurtigruten's famous 'coastal express' service between Bergen and Kirkenes beyond the Arctic Circle. In more recent years, the ship switched to an expedition cruise role off Norway, the UK and Ireland.

MS Maud which has been a previous caller on the Waterford estuary is to open the season on 24 April. There will be repeat calls until mid-August.

Among other operators will be Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and Silverseas Cruises during the season which runs to late September.