Cruises and Cruise Liner Visits to Ireland

The first large cruiseship to operate after the initial Covid-19 lock-down was TUI Cruises Maltese flagged Mein Schiff 2 with a restricted 1,200 passenger capacity due to health protocals. AFLOAT adds today the ship is nearing completion of a 3-day/2-night round trip mini-cruise from Hamburg, Germany, having made an anchorage call yesterday in southern Norway. Above AFLOAT's file photo of leadship Mein Schiff 1 (and associated tender) when at anchorage off Dun Laoghaire Harbour, noting this cruiseship is to be added with the second 'schiff' sister on cruises beginning in August.

First Large Cruiseship With 'Restricted Capacity' Is Back (Nears Voyage Completion Tonight)

26th July 2020 Cruise Liners

According to Cruise Industry News, the first large cruise ship is back in service as TUI's Mein Schiff 2 left on its first "Blue Cruise" (round-trip) from Hamburg, Germany with 1,200 guests on board. The TUI Cruises ship will not…

Mid-sized cruiseship Rotterdam (taking 'bunkers' from Mersey Spirit in Dublin Port) when operating for Holland America Line (HAL) has been sold along with a sister, Amsterdam to UK based Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. The acquisition took place as the global cruise industry (large operators incl.) has been struck hard due to Covid-19 which has led the Line to cease cruising until September which is subject to the ongoing situation. In addition currently no cruise ships are permitted to enter Irish ports by the government. Note the distinctive ship's twin-uptakes (funnels) a familiar feature down the years of the operator which has had six such ships bearing the name of the Dutch cityport where a predecessor S.S. Rotterdan (dating to 1959) remains albeit as a floating musuem and hotel.

Mid-Sized HAL Cruiseships Snapped Up Due to Covid by UK Operator Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

26th July 2020 Cruise Liners

UK based operator Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines which have been regular callers to Irish ports, has recently acquired a pair of secondhand mid-sized cruiseships due to the fallout of Covid19 which has severely impacted this trade sector globally, writes Jehan…

UK Cruise Line (CMV) Collapses Due to 'Seismic Proportions' of Pandemic

21st July 2020 Cruise Liners

A UK cruise operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has gone into administration, with the “global pandemic of seismic proportions” being blamed for its demise. The line, writes The Telegraph, which has six ships in its fleet and was founded…

World Famous Cruise Brands: Jobs are to be axed in a bid to "ensure the future sustainability" of the business according to the Liverpool Echo..Above AFLOAT's close up photo of the former Cunard Building in Liverpool. The Grade II listed building of the English north-west port city's Pier Head includes the neighbouring buildings of the Royal Liver and the Port of Liverpool. Together the trio of buildings form Liverpool's Three Graces, which line the city's famous waterfront and an era of world maritime heritage.

Cunard and P&O Cruises Operator Announces 450 Job Cuts

12th May 2020 Cruise Liners

Cruise jobs of around 450, reports LiverpoolEcho, are to be axed by Carnival UK which operates cruise lines Cunard and P&O Cruises amid the coronavirus pandemic. The company said it wants to treat everyone "with fairness and respect" but said…

Cruise Europe: File photo of a cruise ship at the scenic seaside location of Cobh town in lower Cork Harbour. AFLOAT also adds on the domestic front, due to Covid-19 only one cruise caller visited Cork Harbour this season, Saga Sapphire on 13th March however according to the Port of Cork website the next caller is L'Austral scheduled for 13th May, which is an absence of exactly two months without any cruise ships.

Cruise Europe Stresses Desire to Work Together In Supporting the Sector

16th April 2020 Cruise Liners

According to Cruise Europe (CE), the role of organisations and associations, such as CE, is now more critical than ever commented Michael McCarthy, chairman of Cruise Europe on the Covid-19 pandemic. “Over the last four years the executive of [Cruise…

Most of the passengers (including Irish citizens) from the Zaandam and its (fleetmate) ship the Rotterdam will begin disembarking today (yesterday)

Irish On board Virus Hit Cruise Ship Docks in Florida, USA

4th April 2020 Cruise Liners

A cruise ship hit with the virus, RTE News reported, with around ten Irish citizens on board has docked in Florida in the USA (yesterday). Most of the passengers from the Zaandam and its sister ship the Rotterdam will begin…

The Zaandam cruise ship (with Irish passengers) is due to dock in Florida later today. AFLOAT adds the cruiseship is on the left along with fleetmate Rotterdam when recently offshore of Panama prior to both ships transiting the canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans.

US President Trump Says Florida will Evacuate Stranded Cruise Ships

2nd April 2020 Cruise Liners

The US President reports RTE News, has said that US authorities will evacuate passengers from a stranded cruise ship which is due to dock in Florida after being barred from several South American countries because of a coronavirus outbreak aboard.…

Four people have died on the MS Zaandam, though none of the deceased is Irish. The ship has 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board.

Cruise Ship with Covid-19 and Irish On Board to Dock in Florida, USA

1st April 2020 Coronavirus and Boating

On board a Dutch flagged cruise ship is where a coronavirus outbreak has occurred with several Irish citizens travelling is expected to dock in Florida, USA in the coming days, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said. Four…

The MS Zaandam was denied access to the Panama Canal for sanitary reasons according to RTE news which added Irish citizens on board. Asymptomatic cruise passengers would be allowed to transfer to MS Rotterdam. This ship also operated by Holland America Line (HAL) is AFLOAT adds (above) is seen berthed in Dublin Port when on a visit in recent years.

Panama Allows Virus-Affected Cruise Ship to Pass through Canal

29th March 2020 Cruise Liners

Permission has been given by Panama's Government to a cruise ship on which four passengers have died to travel through its canal, a day after blocking the liner over coronavirus fears, according to RTE News (last night). Holland America Line's…

As part of celebrating IWD2020, UK operator CMV Cruises in recognition of historic achievements of pioneering female explorers and adventurers is to name cruise ships to join the fleet in 2021 with Amy Johnson (above as flagship in new livery) and second ship Ida Pfeiffer. As for this year's season, CMV continue cruises for the Irish market with regulars Magellan and Marco Polo based out of Belfast, Dublin and Cork (Cobh and Ringaskiddy).

UK Operator Celebrate IWD2020 With Facebook Series & Cruise Ships Named after Female Pioneers

8th March 2020 Cruise Liners

In celebration of today's International Women’s Day 2020, and their theme Each for Equal, UK operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has launched the ‘Introducing Inspirational Women’ series, writes Jehan Ashmore. The series (each Wednesday on facebook: see also today)…

Hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship MS Fridtjof Nansen is a Norwegian newbuild named after the first explorer to successfully cross the Greenland interior. The 500 passenger ship operated by Hurtigruten made a debut to Belfast Harbour at the weekend and also became the first visitor this season to the island of Ireland .

Hybrid-Powered Cruise Ship Is First Caller of 2020 Season to Belfast Harbour & Island of Ireland

2nd March 2020 Cruise Liners

Afloat tracked MS Fridtjof Nansen, the latest addition hybrid-powered custom-built cruise ship for Norwegian operator Hurtigruten, which made its first visit to Belfast Harbour at the weekend, writes Jehan Ashmore. As previously reported on Afloat, Belfast Harbour was named the…

The visiting cruise liner MSC-Meraviglia in Belfast Harbour

Belfast Harbour Named Best Cruise Port of Call in UK & Ireland

4th December 2019 Belfast Lough

Belfast Harbour has been named the best port of call in the UK and Ireland for cruise ships. The accolade was awarded by a global panel of cruise experts as part of the 2019 Cruise Critic Editors’ Pick Awards. It…

One of the 'Grand' class cruiseships which Afloat adds is a common visitor to Irish ports and as above is berthed in the Norwegian capital.

Priority for European Ports: To Safeguard the Development of Sustainable Cruise Activity

13th November 2019 Cruise Liners

According to the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO), the sustainability of cruise activity in Europe is currently under pressure. European ports take the concerns expressed very seriously. The vicinity to Europe’s cultural heritage and main must-sees makes many European port…