In the north-west along the counties of Donegal and London-Derry, Foyle Port wrapped up the cruise season on 15th September, marking the end of a successful period and the port's 170th year of operations.
The last cruise ship to depart was Hebridean Princess (see Dun Laoghaire story), which concluded a season that saw over 10,000 passengers and crew visit the region, bringing the port claims significant financial benefits to the local community.
Over half of the cruise guests arriving were from the United States, with the remainder including visitors from the Britain (22%), Germany (8%), Canada (6%) and Australia (5%), highlighting the destination’s international appeal.
For five months, between May and September, the season saw cruise ships berth between Lisahally, the port’s main terminal, and the tender port of Greencastle, where larger vessels anchor. In stark contrast of the 71m Hebridean Princess, was the largest ship of the season, the 294m Norwegian Dawn, with a gross tonnage of 92,250. This vessel, along with flatmate Norwegian Star, now holds the record for the largest ships to enter Lough Foyle.
Foyle Port experienced a surge in maiden calls during the season, welcoming six ships for their first visits, including Saga’s Spirit of Adventure, Silversea’s Silver Spirit, Norwegian Dawn from Norwegian Cruise Lines, Phoenix Reisen’s Amadea, and Azamara with two calls by their Azamara Onward (see Irish port calls) and Azarmara Quest.
Captain Bill McCann, Harbour Master & Operations Director at Foyle Port, expressed great satisfaction with the season's success. He said, “The Port’s unique position as a gateway to both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, linking popular tourist routes such as the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way, makes it a highly appealing cruise destination.
He added, “Cruise is one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism, and we are committed to being part of that expansion. We are projecting a 50% rise in cruise calls in 2025 from pre-pandemic levels.”
