A doubling of cruise ships this season are to call to Foyle Port, the gateway port of the north-west which welcomed its first caller which took place on the 12th May.

As the Seabourn Ovation entered Lough Foyle, this marked the start of the 2023 cruise season to the port which will welcome more than twice the number of cruiseships compared to last year.

The luxurious 210m Seabourn Ovation has a capacity of 600 guests and 450 crew members. Guests of the Seabourn Cruises ship explored the North West as part of a 14-day round trip from Dover, England.

Foyle Port’s Chief Executive, Brian McGrath said, “We are thrilled to begin our 2023 cruise season with the welcome arrival of the Seabourn Ovation. We are delighted to have doubled our cruise calls this year with 15 ships and a total of 10,600 passengers from now until October."

He added "It’s fantastic to see the demand in leisure vessels returning following what has been a very challenging time for the industry and we look forward to welcoming international visitors to our beautiful North West shores.”

The port will receive maiden calls from eight ships this year, including the newly refurbished Renaissance making her inaugural voyage under French cruise company, Compagnie Française de Croisières.

Luxury cruise line Explora Journeys is set to launch a brand-new cruise ship, Explora I, on 17th July and will visit Foyle Port in its second ever week of cruising.

Other prestigious cruise lines scheduled to call at the port include Azamara Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Silversea Cruises.

The port is located in Derry-Londonderry which is Ireland’s only completely intact historic Walled City, home to award-winning museums and some of the greatest outdoor festivals in the world.

Foyle Port also provides a starting point for some of Ireland’s and Northern Ireland’s most magnificent areas of outstanding natural beauty including County Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way and County Antrim’s Causeway Coastal Route.