#cruiseliners - There have been calls made by local residents to open Dun Laoghaire Harbour up to more medium-sized cruise ships.

As the Dublin Gazette reports, with the announcement that Dublin Port will be reducing the amount of cruise liners allowed to dock, some Dun Laoghaire residents are calling on the local council to up the amount of permitted cruise ships to berth at the harbour.

Due to a need to accommodate cargo ships once the UK formally leaves the EU, Dublin Port has announced they will curtail cruise ship bookings from 2021.

Simon Maher, a resident of the area and 8Radio founder says that: “I reckon there is revenue to be made here with the small and medium sized cruise ships.“

“Quite a few 100m – 180m boutique cruise ships on the circuit – not as many as there are big ones but quite a few nonetheless.“

“Even if everybody just got off and bypassed Dun Laoghaire totally (…) then the berthing and provisioning fees alone would provide a very welcome boost to what is now a publicly owned harbour,” he says.

More on the story can be read here. 

Among the cruise calls scheduled Afloat adds is the biggest visitor Norwegian Pearl which opens the season next month albeit with an anchorage call. 

#MARITIME MUSEUM-The much awaited re-opening of the Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin is to take place in April, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The museum which is near to Dun Laoghaire Harbour's East Pier, is to reopen on Tuesday 3rd April between 11am t- 5pm. Throughout the season, these same visiting hours apply Tuesdays to Sundays, though the museum will be closed on Mondays.

To read more about the initial exhibits on display (click HERE) in the apt surroundings of the former Mariners Church, where major and essentail renovation work took place over several years. The museum which is run by the Maritime Institute of Ireland (M.I.I.) celebrated its 70th anniversary last year and with the reopening they can now look forward to a new and exciting era.

Located on High Terrace,  a Cul-de-Sac that links the town's main shopping thoroughfare on Georges Street Upper to The Metals, the pedestrian walkway –is only minutes away from the Dun Laoghaire DART station.

Car parking is limited in the immediate vicinity though there are car-parking facilities nearby in the Pavilion which is accessed along the harbour waterfront (Queens Road) and the Dun Laoghaire Shopping Centre approached from Marine Road.

In addition to visiting the museum the M.I.I. also welcome members and volunteers to assist in hosting lectures, producing newsletters, journals, a library, hosting and supporting commemorations in addition to conducting research and highlighting Irelands maritime heritage. For further information click HERE.