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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National Yacht Club Facilities

Facilities include a slipway directly accessing Dun Laoghaire Harbour, over eighty club moorings, platform parking, pontoons, fuelling, watering and crane-lifting ensure that the NYC is excellently equipped to cater for all the needs of the contemporary sailor. Berths with diesel, water, power and overnight facilities are available to cruising yachtsmen with shopping facilities being a short walk away. The club is active throughout the year with full dining and bar facilities and winter activities include bridge, snooker, quiz nights, wine tasting and special events.

National Yacht Club History

Although there are references to an active “club” prior to 1870, history records that the present clubhouse was erected in 1870 at a cost of £4,000 to a design by William Sterling and the Kingstown Royal Harbour Boat Club was registered with Lloyds in the same year. By 1872 the name had been changed to the Kingston Harbour Boat Club and this change was registered at Lloyds.

In 1881. the premises were purchased by a Captain Peacocke and others who formed a proprietary club called the Kingstown Harbour Yacht Club again registered at Lloyds. Some six years later in 1877 the building again changed hands being bought by a Mr Charles Barrington. and between 1877 and 1901 the club was very active and operated for a while as the “Absolute Club” although this change of name was never registered.

In 1901, the lease was purchased by three trustees who registered it as the Edward Yacht Club. In 1930 at a time when the Edward Yacht Club was relatively inactive, a committee including The Earl of Granard approached the trustees with a proposition to form the National Yacht Club. The Earl of Granard had been Commodore of the North Shannon Y.C. and was a senator in the W.T.Cosgrave government. An agreement was reached, the National Yacht Club was registered at Lloyds. The club burgee was created, red cross of Saint George with blue and white quarters being sky cloud, sea and surf. The Earl of Granard became the first Commodore.

In July of 1950, a warrant was issued to the National Yacht Club by the Government under the Merchant Shipping Act authorising members to hoist a club ensign in lieu of the National Flag. The new ensign to include a representation of the harp. This privilege is unique and specific to members of the National Yacht Club. Sterling’s design for the exterior of the club was a hybrid French Chateau and eighteenth century Garden Pavilion and today as a Class A restricted building it continues to provide elegant dining and bar facilities.

An early drawing of the building shows viewing balconies on the roof and the waterfront façade. Subsequent additions of platforms and a new slip to the seaward side and most recently the construction of new changing rooms, offices and boathouse provide state of the art facilities, capable of coping with major international and world championship events. The club provides a wide range of sailing facilities, from Junior training to family cruising, dinghy sailing to offshore racing and caters for most major classes of dinghies, one design keelboats, sports boats and cruiser racers. It provides training facilities within the ISA Youth Sailing Scheme and National Power Boat Schemes.

Past Commodores

1931 – 42 Earl of Granard 1942 – 45 T.J. Hamilton 1945 – 47 P.M. Purcell 1947 – 50 J.J. O’Leary 1950 – 55 A.A. Murphy 1955 – 60 J.J. O’Leary 1960 – 64 F. Lemass 1964 – 69 J.C. McConnell 1969 – 72 P.J. Johnston 1972 – 74 L. Boyd 1974 – 76 F.C. Winkelmann 1976 – 79 P.A. Browne 1979 – 83 W.A. Maguire 1983 – 87 F.J. Cooney 1987 – 88 J.J. Byrne 1988 – 91 M.F. Muldoon 1991 – 94 B.D. Barry 1994 – 97 M.P.B. Horgan 1997 – 00 B. MacNeaney 2000 – 02 I.E. Kiernan 2002 – 05 C.N.I. Moore 2005 – 08 C.J. Murphy 2008 – 11 P.D. Ryan 2011 – P. Barrington 2011-2014 Larry Power 2014-2017 Ronan Beirne 2017 – 2019

At A Glance - National Yacht Club 2024 Events