The Port of Cork are delighted to announce that 53 cruise liners will visit Cork between April and November 2010 bringing in excess of 100,000 passengers and crew to the region. The first cruise liner, M.V. Oriana will arrive into Cobh, Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth, on Wednesday 14th April. She will be closely followed by M.V. Grand Princess on 21st April.
This year there are five overnight stays with M.V. Celebrity Eclipse on her maiden voyage from Southampton to Cork arriving for an overnight stay on 30th April. Carrying 2,850 passengers predominantly from the UK, M.V Celebrity Eclipse has been described as a floating masterpiece and is one of the newest cruise liners, having only left the shipyard in Germany in March 2010. With a multiple of dining experiences onboard, as well as the famous ‘Lawn Club’ a grass covered area on the top deck ideal for picnics, a glass blowing studio, solarium and indoor pool, M.V Celebrity Eclipse has much to offer her passengers.
Since 1991 cruise passenger numbers to Cork have grown by nearly 80,000, highlighting the rapid growth of the sector which is predicated to continue. With the cruise liner season holding its own despite the current economic downturn, the Port of Cork expects 2011 to be the busiest yet for the port.
Captain Michael McCarthy, Commercial Manager Port of Cork said: ‘We’re looking forward to yet another busy cruise season for the Port of Cork. With so many passengers arriving into Cobh and Cork, the impact that this has on the local economy is very positive. In a recent study carried out by UK cruise consultants, GP Wild, on average the spend per in-transit passenger is approximately €73. This in turn means that over €5 million was spent by passengers visiting Cork in 2009, directly contributing to the local economy.’
Continuing Captain McCarthy talked about Cork’s potential saying that: ‘Feedback from cruise companies visiting Cork is very positive. Direct access to the quayside for passengers coupled with the accessibility of trains to Cork and the historic town of Cobh and its attractions on their doorstep, makes Cobh an attractive port of call. Cork is capitalising on being voted within the Lonely Planet’s top ten cities to visit and as a port, we will continue to communicate this message to the cruise companies encouraging new cruise ships to call to Cork.’
For the 2010 cruise liner information please visit the Port of Cork website www.portofcork.ie
