#cruiseliners - An Oxford based cruise operater whose single ship docked Dublin at the site of the planned new dedicated cruise terminal had spent an overnight call in the capital, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Aegean Odyssey at only 11,500 gross tonnage is a small sized cruiseship by today’s standards. She carries only 338 passengers. Considerably larger ships of her type carrying 5,000 passengers plus from the world’s giant sized cruiseships will occupy this same quay. This will catapult the future of the Irish capital into the premier league of the global cruise industry.

Concentrating on the present, according to the UK based operator, Voyages to Antiquity advertise her current 27-nights cruise of the UK & Ireland with fares starting from £4,095 pp. The call to Dublin had involved on the first day, Monday an afternoon walking tour the capital.

As for yesterday, excursions included Malahide Castle and Abbey Tavern were on hand as where excursions to visit some of the finest scenery in Ireland in County Wicklow.

Today, cruise-goers will have disembarked in Holyhead. A full-day sightseeing tour of Anglesey's coastline or to Caenarfon Castle on the Welsh mainland were planned. Also according to the schedule a longer excursion to Liverpool was on offer. 

The round trip cruise from London (Tilbury) with calls to numerous scenic locations in Scotland will also feature those on the Wild Atlantic Way, stretching from Killybegs to Glengariff and Cork.

A repeat call to Dublin in early August will be for those boarding as part of another cruise incorporated within the overall ship’s cruising programme. So far this current cruise from London has seen the ship also sail to the Scilly Isles but awaits a visit to Jersey also next month.

Despite her rather angular external appearance of this seven decked ship given origins as a carferry yet the ship retains original graceful lines on the upper decks. A case in point been the observation lounge located above the navigation/bridge deckhouse, which is always a bonus for cruise-goers.

Aegean Odyssey is a decades-old vessel having been built in 1973, however 15 years later she underwent a significant and radical overhaul to reconstruct cabins and public areas. As for the original engine this remains on the ship.

The ship given its Greek name has paintings and artwork in cabins and public areas that are in keeping with the antiquities theme. Intricate ship models of ancient ocean-going vessels are also to be found on display as are several busts of Roman and Grecian warriors.