Displaying items by tag: Cruise Caller List

6th August 2014

An Ocean Apart But United as Princess Cruises Fleetmates Make Joint Visit

#PrincessCallers -Dublin Port's main cruise berths that line along the broad width of Ocean Pier are both occupied by a pair of Princess Cruises ships that docked at dawn today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Ruby Princess, a 'Grand' class ship of 113,000 tonnes arrived overnight from calling to Cobh. She had moored alongside Ocean Pier within Alexandra Basin west at berth 37. Towering 19 decks high, she can accommodate more than 3,000 passengers.

While facing opposite on the adjacent quay, Ocean Princess of 30,000 tonnes, is one of the smaller members of the Princess fleet, which berthed at the appropriately named pier at berth 33 in the eastern basin. The 9-deck high former Renaissance Cruises vessel can handle almost 700 guests. The mostly adult carrying cruiseship had previously called to Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire.

Combined the potential capacity of the contrasting sized Bermuda flagged ships is some 3,700 passengers and the crew alone totals for more than 1,500 personnel.

Take a peak of the luxurious facilities by clicking each of the highlighted ships names as above and which will also lead you to facts about the vessels.

An evening departure of the pair is 'scheduled' for 18,00hrs and should provide an interesting viewing opportunity (South Wall breakwater) to contrast the sheer scale between these ships.

There are still plenty more cruise callers due to Dublin Port this season, click for details HERE.

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.