Displaying items by tag: Cruise Season

19th February 2024

Schedule of Cruise Calls for Port of Waterford Announced for this Season

Cruise ships visiting the south-east Port of Waterford will total 28 scheduled calls this season, with arrivals to take place in Belview and Dunmore East, which represents a 33% increase on last year.

More than 27,000 cruise-goers this season will add a considerable boost to the local and regional economy, which is estimated at over €2 million.

Afloat highlights that among the cruise ships is Seabourn Ovation (see photo) which is to visit albeit with a single visit in May, when the 604 guest capacity vessel operating at the high-end of the market, is to berth at Belview.

Waterford’s harbour is widely and rightly considered very picturesque and a great place to visit great locations in a compact welcoming region.

Among the highlights are Waterford Crystal, the Mount Congreve Gardens, Waterford’s Copper Coast, the Dunbrody Famine ship (New Ross) and the Hook Lighthouse and the Rock of Cashel.

The team at the Port of Waterford and stakeholders are to attract and manage these cruise calls, and look forward to welcoming visitors to the region during the season, click here for cruise list.

When cruise ships berth at Belview Port, the main terminal for the Port is located 8 kms from Waterford City and is ideally located for excursions to the city and nearby Kilkenny and Wexford.

At the mouth of Waterford estuary is Dunmore East where larger cruise vessels will anchor offshore and operate tenders to the harbour which is managed by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The fishing harbour is within easy access to Waterford, city and coast, Kilkenny and beyond.

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Paddle Steamer Excursion from Warrenpoint to take Place in Advance of Cruise Ship Season

The cruise ship season is to resume as the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority is set to welcome three ships that will make calls to the seaside town in Co. Down this summer.

In advance of the cruiseships, the world's last seafaring paddle steamer, P.S. Waverley is to operate its first ever excursion cruise out of Warrenpoint tomorrow, Tuesday, 30th May.

The debut of the P.S. Waverley will offer a unique opportunity for 600 people locally to travel on board for a sunset cruise along Carlingford Lough.

Tickets for the event had been sold out within 24 hours, making it one of the fastest selling cruises ever for Waverley which first began in 1975 by running excursions around the UK and as Afloat highlighted to Ireland, firstly in 1985 and 2001.

Following Waverley's once-off cruise down Carlingford Lough, the port is to set welcome the first cruise caller of the year, Le Champlain on Saturday 3rd June on its ‘Celtic Secrets and Landscapes’ 8-day cruise.

This will be Le Champlain’s first cruise call to Warrenpoint, as will it be for the World Traveller, which is due in on Tuesday 6th June. These two newcomers will be followed by The Azamara Pursuit on Thursday 15th June on its second call to Warrenpoint (with regional ties, see story) and which will have up to 800 passengers on board its ‘Intensive Ireland’ tour.

David Holmes, CEO of Warrenpoint Harbour said, “We are delighted to be welcoming four cruise calls to Warrenpoint this year following a successful return post-pandemic for cruise ships to the Port last year. It is great to see three new ships coming in to experience the County Down welcome.

“We are especially pleased to have the Waverley sailing from the Port with 600 passengers onboard for a sunset cruise. The town has really engaged with this event, as it has extended the Blues on the Bay Festival which was originally due to finish on 29th Monday 29th. There will be a blues band on board and lots of entertainment in the town pre and post the cruise.

“It is a testament to the experience that the Azamara Pursuit had on its last visit that it has decided to return this year, and we will have a warm welcome in place for the new ships visiting – Le Champlain and The World Traveller. There will be lots of opportunities for local people to see the cruise ships sailing in and out of the Port. Exact timings will be shared on Warrenpoint Port’s social channels as soon as they are available.

“This is also an opportunity for us to showcase again our local talent which was really popular with cruise guests last year including, for example, performances from The McAvoy School of Dancing. This community involvement is very important to us.”

Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Cllr Michael Savage stated, “We are thrilled to have these cruise ships visiting our destination. These visits showcase Warrenpoint as a premier destination for cruise ships and maritime enthusiasts.

“The arrival of these cruise ships will allow visitors to experience the history, heritage and cultural traditions of the region, providing a boost to our local economy. Guests will be greeted with warm hospitality and a vibrant atmosphere showcasing the best of what Warrenpoint and the destination has to offer.”

These cruise calls are facilitated by Armagh Logistics, Hamilton Shipping and GAC Services. To keep up to date with arrival and departure times for the ships, please follow Warrenpoint Port on social media.

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The Big One: Azura Cruises into Dublin

As the cruise season draws to a close, the Azura, the largest cruise-ship (116,000 gross registered tonnes) to call at Dublin, docked this morning at the port for the third time this year, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The 290m long Azura, has 19 decks accommodating 3,096 passengers and over 1,200 crew. In 2009 the Azura was completed at the Fincantieri shipyard in Manfalcone, Italy for P&O Cruises and cost £450m.

A unique feature is the huge 20-metre plasma screen video wall mounted on an after bulkhead. In addition the venue is used to broadcast major sporting events. The Sea Screen outdoor cinema is the first of its kind in the P&O Cruises fleet as is the novelty of passengers having an option of
single stateroom accommodation.

Azura is one of 12 vessels eminating from the 'Grand' class vessels built for Miami based Carnival Cruise Corporation which includes P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises. The leadship, Grand Princess became the first of the class to call at Dublin in 2004 and also had the distinction as the first cruiseship to surpass the 100,000gt mark to dock at the port. Last month, another near-sister, Emerald Princess, measuring 113,000grt called to Dublin.

In total there will be 86 cruise ships visiting Dublin this year, marking another record-breaking season. The sector is expected to generate €35-€55m to the local economy from approximately 80,000 high-spending passengers.

The Azura departs Dublin tonight at 21.15hrs for Cork, where the giant vessel is to berth at the Cobh Cruise Terminal. There will be off-season cruise-calls to the capital next month by Ocean Countess and Norwegian Sun, arriving from Belfast on 2 October. The last cruise-caller to Dublin this year will
be Fred Olsen Cruises Boudicca with two visits in November.

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Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta

From the Baily lighthouse to Dalkey island, the bay accommodates six separate courses for 21 different classes racing every two years for the Dun Laoghaire Regatta.

In assembling its record-breaking armada, Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta (VDLR) became, at its second staging, not only the country's biggest sailing event, with 3,500 sailors competing, but also one of Ireland's largest participant sporting events.

One of the reasons for this, ironically, is that competitors across Europe have become jaded by well-worn venue claims attempting to replicate Cowes and Cork Week.'Never mind the quality, feel the width' has been a criticism of modern-day regattas where organisers mistakenly focus on being the biggest to be the best. Dun Laoghaire, with its local fleet of 300 boats, never set out to be the biggest. Its priority focussed instead on quality racing even after it got off to a spectacularly wrong start when the event was becalmed for four days at its first attempt.

The idea to rekindle a combined Dublin bay event resurfaced after an absence of almost 40 years, mostly because of the persistence of a passionate race officer Brian Craig who believed that Dun Laoghaire could become the Cowes of the Irish Sea if the town and the local clubs worked together. Although fickle winds conspired against him in 2005, the support of all four Dun Laoghaire waterfront yacht clubs since then (made up of Dun Laoghaire Motor YC, National YC, Royal Irish YC and Royal St GYC), in association with the two racing clubs of Dublin Bay SC and Royal Alfred YC, gave him the momentum to carry on.

There is no doubt that sailors have also responded with their support from all four coasts. Running for four days, the regatta is (after the large mini-marathons) the single most significant participant sports event in the country, requiring the services of 280 volunteers on and off the water, as well as top international race officers and an international jury, to resolve racing disputes representing five countries. A flotilla of 25 boats regularly races from the Royal Dee near Liverpool to Dublin for the Lyver Trophy to coincide with the event. The race also doubles as a RORC qualifying race for the Fastnet.

Sailors from the Ribble, Mersey, the Menai Straits, Anglesey, Cardigan Bay and the Isle of Man have to travel three times the distance to the Solent as they do to Dublin Bay. This, claims Craig, is one of the major selling points of the Irish event and explains the range of entries from marinas as far away as Yorkshire's Whitby YC and the Isle of Wight.

No other regatta in the Irish Sea area can claim to have such a reach. Dublin Bay Weeks such as this petered out in the 1960s, and it has taken almost four decades for the waterfront clubs to come together to produce a spectacle on and off the water to rival Cowes."The fact that we are getting such numbers means it is inevitable that it is compared with Cowes," said Craig. However, there the comparison ends."We're doing our own thing here. Dun Laoghaire is unique, and we are making an extraordinary effort to welcome visitors from abroad," he added. The busiest shipping lane in the country – across the bay to Dublin port – closes temporarily to facilitate the regatta and the placing of six separate courses each day.

A fleet total of this size represents something of an unknown quantity on the bay as it is more than double the size of any other regatta ever held there.

Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta FAQs

What is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Ireland's biggest sailing event. It is held every second Summer at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on Dublin Bay.

When is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is held every two years, typically in the first weekend of July.

Where is Dun Laoghaire Regatta held?

As its name suggests, the event is based at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Racing is held on Dublin Bay over as many as six different courses with a coastal route that extends out into the Irish Sea. Ashore, the festivities are held across the town but mostly in the four organising yacht clubs.

How big is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is the largest sailing regatta in Ireland and on the Irish Sea and the second largest in the British Isles. It has a fleet of 500 competing boats and up to 3,000 sailors. Scotland's biggest regatta on the Clyde is less than half the size of the Dun Laoghaire event. After the Dublin city marathon, the regatta is one of the most significant single participant sporting events in the country in terms of Irish sporting events.

How old is Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The modern Dublin Bay Regatta began in 2005, but it owes its roots to earlier combined Dublin Bay Regattas of the 1960s.

How many boats compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 500 boats regularly compete.

How many yacht clubs are represented at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Up to 70 different yacht clubs are represented.

Where do the yachts come from to compete at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Channel Islands, Isle of Man, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland countrywide, and Dublin clubs.

How many boats are visiting boats at Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Nearly half the sailors, over 1,000, travel to participate from outside of Dun Laoghaire and from overseas to race and socialise in Dun Laoghaire.

What type of yachts race in Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

21 different classes are competing at Dun Laoghaire Regatta. As well as four IRC Divisions from 50-footers down to 20-foot day boats and White Sails, there are also extensive one-design keelboat and dinghy fleets to include all the fleets that regularly race on the Bay such as Beneteau 31.7s, Ruffian 23s, Sigma 33s as well as Flying Fifteens, Laser SB20s plus some visiting fleets such as the RS Elites from Belfast Lough to name by one.

What famous sailors race in Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Some sailing household names are regular competitors at the biennial Dun Laoghaire event including Dun Laoghaire Olympic silver medalist, Annalise Murphy. International sailing stars are competing too such as Mike McIntyre, a British Olympic Gold medalist and a raft of World and European class champions.

How much does it cost to enter Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

There are different entry fees for different size boats. A 40-foot yacht will pay up to €550, but a 14-foot dinghy such as Laser will pay €95. Full entry fee details are contained in the Regatta Notice of Race document.

Where can spectators view Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

Spectators can see the boats racing on six courses from any vantage point on the southern shore of Dublin Bay. As well as from the Harbour walls itself, it is also possible to see the boats from Sandycove, Dalkey and Killiney, especially when the boats compete over inshore coastal courses or have in-harbour finishes.

How does Dun Laoghaire regatta compare to international regattas?

Very favourably. It is often compared to Cowes, Britain's biggest regatta on the Isle of Wight that has 1,000 entries. However, sailors based in the north of England have to travel three times the distance to get to Cowes as they do to Dun Laoghaire.

Why is Dun Laoghaire Regatta so unique?

Dun Laoghaire Regatta is unique because of its compact site offering four different yacht clubs within the harbour and the race tracks' proximity, just a five-minute sail from shore. International sailors also speak of its international travel connections and being so close to Dublin city. The regatta also prides itself on balancing excellent competition with good fun ashore.

Who organises Dun Laoghaire Regatta?

The Organising Authority (OA) of Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta is Dublin Bay Regattas Ltd, a not-for-profit company, beneficially owned by Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club (DMYC), National Yacht Club (NYC), Royal Irish Yacht Club (RIYC) and Royal St George Yacht Club (RSGYC).

What does Dun Laoghaire Regatta contribute to the local economy?

The Irish Marine Federation launched a case study on the 2009 Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta's socio-economic significance. Over four days, the study (carried out by Irish Sea Marine Leisure Knowledge Network) found the event was worth nearly €3million to the local economy over the four days of the event. Typically the Royal Marine Hotel and Haddington Hotel and other local providers are fully booked for the event.