#DirectCruises - Home-porting of Cruise & Maritime Voyages current flagship Magellan directly from Dublin Port this season are to be repeated in 2018 with new Cobh departures added, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Magellan is CMV's adult-only friendly flagship that is to offer the Irish market with five 'No Fly' home-porting cruises this season based out of Dublin.

As previously reported these first direct CMV cruises from the capital, will begin with a 9 night Fjordland Splendour cruise on 5 June. This cruise will incorporate those already embarked having taken a 2-night Dublin Mini-Cruise from Newport, Wales that ends in Liverpool.  

Among the Irish based cruises sold through JMG Travel, begins in Dublin on 7 June a ‘Summertime Gardens & River Seine Experience’ cruise. Twin Ocean View Cabins are currently available from €1349pp. 

As part of this 7-night cruise Magellan is to navigate inland along the beautiful River Seine for an overnight stay in the gothic cathedral city of Rouen. The French city that was the historic capital of Normandy is where you can follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc and Richard the Lion heart. Further upriver is the village of Giverny and the home and gardens of Claude Monet, who captured the beauty of Rouen in many of his paintings.

Season 2018 includes Cobh 

For next year the 2018 season will see CMV repeat the 'No Fly' cruises based out of Irish ports but increased to total 11 cruises. Of these cruises, seven are from Dublin while the remaining four are in Cobh. Among the destinations (subject to departure port) are Icelandic and Norwegian fjords, the Iberian Peninsula including Gibraltar, Canary Islands & Madeira, a Mediterranean Odyssey and a Baltic Cities cruise featuring St. Petersburg.

The 46,052 gross tonnage Magellan christened by Gloria Hunniford became CMV’s flagship in 2015. There are plenty of observation lounges and wide timber decks to take in the sights. Accommodation for around 1,250 passengers are provided in 726 Cabins that include 14 Balcony Suites. The 221m flagship is fully stabilised and air conditioned throughout nine passenger decks.

As also previously reported Magellan as current flagship is to be succeeded soon by a replacement, Pacific Pearl acquired from P&O Australia. The new 63,786 gross tonnage /1,400 passenger flagship is to be christened Columbus on this date in June at a ceremony held in London Cruise Terminal, Tilbury.

The new flagship having taken on the role is to make an Irish debut to Dublin also next month.