#BelfastCruiseCalls – The 2013 season will bring a record 57 cruiseships and more than 100,000 visitors to Belfast Harbour, compared to last year when only 44 cruiseships docked with 75,000 passengers, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Tourists from all corners of the globe are to visit Northern Ireland, having booked cruises with leading operators, among them Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity, MSC, Thomson, Fred Olsen Cruise Line and Saga Cruises. The first caller of the season is the ultra-luxury Hebridean Princess, when she is to make a port of call in April.

Last month, Cruise Critic UK, the leading source of cruise information on the web, named Belfast as 'Best UK Port of Call' in their Editors' Picks Awards 2012.

The continuing success of Belfast as a destination to an international cruise market has been built from the efforts of Cruise Belfast, a marketing initiative between Belfast Harbour and Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau (BVCB).

Anne McMullan from BVCB said "Cruise travel globally is one of the fastest growing and highly competitive areas of tourism and the record-breaking cruise ship numbers arriving in Belfast are a testament to the city's tourism success and how far we have come".

Asides the new Titanic Belfast Centre, which has arguably done for the city what the Guggenheim did for Bilbao, the port acts as a 'gateway' to the rest of Northern Ireland, where attractions are within a short coach trip to the Giants Causeway, Mount Stewart and St Patrick's Country.

#HolidayWorldDUBLIN- Thinking of getting away on a ferry-break or cruise, perhaps you should consider visiting Holiday World Show Dublin at the RDS Simmonscourt, Ballsbridge, over next weekend (25, 26 and 27 January).

The World will be your oyster, as the three-day show will offer an extensive range of exhibitors from across the globe with all types of holidays and travel options including those from the ferry and cruise sectors.

Once again Holiday World Show will host the free Eoghan Corry Expert Travel Clinics facilitated by the renowned travel journalist, who will be joined by leading industry experts giving talks and answering visitors' questions on topics such as Cruises and many more holiday topics.

So if you planning a cruising holiday but unsure where to start looking, visit the Holiday World Show, to ask the all those important questions and on discounts on offer.

Enjoy the show's new format where exhibitors are grouped into 9 distinct regions: Ferry & Cruise Sectors, Home holidays, Africa and the Middle East, Europe and the Mediterranean, Caribbean ,The Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Adventure travel and Caravan & Motorhome.

When? 2013 Holiday World Show, (RDS Simmonscourt Complex), Ballsbridge, Dublin: Dates & Times

Friday 25 January 1.00 pm - 7.00 pm Public & Trade

Saturday 26 January 11.00 am - 5.30 pm Public & Trade

Sunday 27 January 11.00 am - 5.30 pm Public & Trade

Admission Prices: Adults €7, Senior Citizens €4, Students €3 and Special Family Price 2 Adults & up to 4 children - €14

So to find out more about the show and its exhibitors – and get in the holiday mood visit: www.holidayworldshow.com As previously reported on Afloat.ie the Belfast Telegraph Holiday World Show is currently open this weekend in the Kings Hall Complex.

#CostaConcordia - RTÉ News reports that survivors of the Costa Concordia are joining relatives of the 32 people who died in the tragedy to mark the first anniversary of the shipwreck.

The day-long commemoration began this morning with the return to the sea of the rocks that ripped open the hull of the cruise liner when it ran aground in the shallows off the west coast of Italy.

It will be followed by a Mass and a minute's silence at 9.45pm tonight at the moment when the vessel hit the rocks.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, an Irish couple were among the thousands rescued from the ship when it capsized off Tuscany on the evening of 13 January 2012.

The ship's crew have been praised for their efforts during the dangerous night-time evacuation of the sinking ship, and received the Lloyd's List Seafarer of the Year award for their "courage and professionalism".

Meanwhile, the ship's captain Francesco Schettino is under house arrest awaiting trial on charges of manslaughter, causing the incident and abandoning ship.

And BBC News reports that the wreck of the Costa Concordia is expected to be removed from the Tuscan coast by September this year.

A documentary on the final moments of passengers on board the stricken cruise liner is available to watch online via Channel 4's 4oD service (UK and Ireland only).

#HolidayWorld- Thinking of getting away on a ferry-break or cruise, however before setting sail, perhaps you should consider visiting the Belfast Telegraph Holiday World Show at the Kings Hall, Belfast next weekend (18, 19 and 20 January).

The World will be your oyster, as the three-day show will offer an extensive range of exhibitors from across the globe with all types of holidays and travel options including those from the ferry and cruise sectors.

So if you planning a cruise holiday but unsure where to start looking, visit the Holiday World Show, to ask the all those important questions and discounts on cruise holidays.

When? 2013 Belfast Holiday World Show Dates & Times

Friday 18 January (1.00 pm - 9.00 pm) Public & Trade

Saturday 19 January (11.00 am - 5.30 pm) Public & Trade

Sunday 20 January (11.00 am - 5.30 pm) Public & Trade

Admission is £6 for adults, £4 for senior citizens, £3 for students, and £12 for a family pass (2 adults and up to 4 children). Find out more about the show and its exhibitors – and get in the holiday mood visit: www.holidayworldshow.com

Following the Belfast show, the Holiday World Show moves to Dublin at the RDS Simmonscourt Pavilion on the weekend of 25, 26 and 27th January 2013.

#GATHERING LINERS – A record number of cruiseships are to call to Dublin Port during the inaugural Gathering in 2013, where for the first time the number of cruiseship calls will surpass 100 during the season, writes Jehan Ashmore.

In 2013 the capital port is to welcome a total of 108 calls, (including several ships making repeat calls) stretching between April to October. Last year, 90 such ships made individual calls to the capital which welcomed 100,000 passengers and bringing between them €35-50m to the local economy.

The rise in cruise calls reflects Dublin Port Company's Masterplan 2012-2040, as previously reported on Afloat.ie, where the masterplan has included identifying the need to construct a new cruise facility by 2015, at the North Wall Quay Extension close to the East Link Bridge.

Launching the season will be the 700 passenger Discovery which although not new to Dublin Port, her arrival in early April will be a first under the Cruise & Maritime Voyages brand, having repalced Ocean Countess. The Discovery will also continue to maintain cruises for owners Voyages of Discovery.

Among the usual operators is Princess Cruises regular Caribbean Princess, however, the Gathering will be attracting several newcomers to include US based operator Carnival Cruises, whose giant Carnival Glory (2003/ 110,239 gross tonnes) has a capacity for almost 3,000 passengers and more than 1,100 crew.

Dublin Port can also look forward in welcoming a maiden port of call by the $547m MSC Magnifica in May. The 294m long newbuild is a larger fleetmate of Mediterranean Shipping Company's MSC Lirica, which last year made a debut docking to Dublin Port and to Cork (Cobh).

#PORTS & SHIPPING REVIEW - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where the Royal Navy's fishery patrol vessel HMS Mersey docked in Dublin Port, having been purchased from her shipbuilder-owners as part of a £39m deal.

One of the largest vessels of the Arklow Shipping Ltd fleet, Arklow Manor of 9,682grt/14,008dwt arrived in Dublin Port to enter the dry-dock facility, one of her sisters had also used the dry-dock in Alexandra Basin earlier this year.

P&O Cruises Adonia, became the final cruise caller to Dublin Port this year, having spent a day at sea after departing Cobh Cruise Terminal the previous day. She led the fleet during the 175th anniversary 'Grand Event' which formed one of the lectures during last month's London Ship Show.

A Masterplan setting out the future for the next 20-30 years for Belfast Harbour was launched, those interested in making comments on the plans are asked to respond by 7 December.

The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) released a report of the nine semi-state port's financial statements for the year end 2011. A key finding is that after a combined growth of 3% in turnover in 2010, the ports recorded a fall in turnover of 3% in 2011 with turnover falling to €120m.

Naval Service OPV L.E. Emer (P21) detained an Irish fishing vessel off the south-east coast over alleged breaches of fishing regulations and was escorted to Cork and handed over to the Gardai.

In 2013 Cruise & Maritime Voyages are to charter Discovery (1971/20,216grt) for the UK cruising season. She is scheduled to make her debut 'Irish' port of call to Dublin Port in April, which will also mark the start of the cruise season to the capital.

#CRUISE LINERS – In 2013 Cruise & Maritime Voyages are to charter Discovery (1971/20,216grt) for the UK cruising season to directly replace Ocean Countess, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The charter of the 700 passenger Discovery from Voyages of Discovery will see her operate cruises from Bristol Avonmouth, Liverpool, Hull and Harwich. As part of the charter arrangement her owners will also market the vessel during the season as Discovery Sailaway.

Discovery will undergo an extensive winter dry-docking and refurbishment programme prior to joining the CMV fleet in February 2013.

Her inaugural 'Irish' call will also mark the first cruise caller next year to Dublin Port scheduled on 8 April during a 5-night Springtime Gardens and Charms Cruise. Sharing the season will be CMV's slightly larger 800 passenger Marco Polo (1965/22,080grt).

#CRUISE LINERS – The final cruise caller this year to visit Dublin Port tomorrow is P&O Cruises Adonia, which today is at sea, having departed Cobh Cruise Terminal yesterday, as previously reported. Albeit the smallest in the seven-strong P&O Cruise fleet, she was given pride of place as she led the company's 175th anniversary Grand Event held during the summer, writes Jehan Ashmore.

On that momentous day (3rd July) in Southampton, the 30,000 gross registered tonnes Adonia gathered with her considerably larger fleet mates (69,000 – 115,000 grt) and carrying between them 1,800-3,100 passengers each. Unlike her fleet mates however she exclusively caters for adults only and at only 710 passengers, provides for a more intimate cruising experience.

As each cruise ship took it turns to depart after one after the other, they formed a line down Solent waters where the maritime spectacle was an impressive display in seafaring skills and logistics as thousands of passengers had embarked to include Arcadia whose next port of call was Dublin.

The historic day to mark the origins of the famous company formed in 1837 was the theme of a packed out lecture presented by P&O Cruises Managing Director, Carol Marlow during last months' London Ship Show. Marlow, who was a former CEO of Cunard Line, gave an insightful and entertaining talk of the intensive preparations surrounding P&O Cruises day of celebration.

Despite all the planning, one major event that the P&O team could not arrange was for the sun to shine!..instead a rather misty dull overcast day lingered over the Hampshire port. Having said, many hundreds lined the Solent to watch the sail past as each vessel departed on seven cruises. To view a video of the splendid liners and heritage of the famous company click the series of videos HERE.

As for the London Ship Show which was organised by the Ocean Liner Society, this was to be the last time held under its current format where maritime memorabilia stands and lecture programme where provided to all those interested in the world of liners and ferries operating from the UK.

#LONDON SHIP SHOW - The 2012 London International Ship Show, will be held on Saturday 27th October at the Royal National Hotel, Bloomsbury, London, writes Jehan Ashmore. 

The show organised by the Ocean Liner Society, will have exhibitors stands in the Galleon Suite of the central city hotel. Among the exhibitors will be maritime booksellers, maritime artists, maritime model makers, traders in maritime memorabilia and ephemera postcards.

In addition there will be a Talks Programme held off the main exhibition hall. The theme for the lectures is P&O, which this year celebrates its 175th anniversary. The first speaker, Ian Gibb, will provide a personal link with the cruise era of the line. A popular Master and Commodore and a highly distinguished merchant mariner he will be known to a generation of cruise passengers.

Bringing the story up to the present, P&O's Operations and PR Departments will give an inside view of this year's spectacular 'Grand Event' from Southampton, where a seven-strong cruiseship fleet included Arcadia (2005/83,781grt) as previously reported on Afloat.ie In the report there is a photo link to the maritime spectacle. The Arcadia is the third vessel seen from the front as she sailed down Solent waters heading for her first port of call that was to be Dublin Port.

For further details about the London Ship Show (opening hours 10am-5pm), click HERE, noting admission is £5 for non- members of the society and £3 for members.

#CRUISELINERS- Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) Ocean Countess (1976/16,795grt) is scheduled to depart Dublin Port this evening, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The Portuguese flagged vessel is to start on a 14-nights "Canaries & Madeira" cruise, with Irish passengers having the opportunity to embark directly in the capital.

She is to sail overnight to Liverpool, however her first Iberian port of call to Lisbon, is not until this Friday. Fares for the fortnight cost from £1,207 sterling and the cruise was organised through John Galligan Travel.

CMV also operates another veteran with the slightly older Marco Polo (1973/19,860grt) which too is a regular visitor to the port.