Monday, December 9, 2019 - 15:54 by ce-press
Following a record-breaking season of 146 calls and 280,000 passengers and crew, Belfast Harbour has been named the best port of call in the UK and Ireland in the 2019 Cruise Critic Editors’ Pick Awards.
Of particular note to the judges was the £750,000 (€890,000) investment by Belfast Harbour and Tourism NI in the island’s first dedicated cruise terminal. On July 29 Captain Domenico Lubrano from Crown Princess performed the official opening (pictured).
The welcome facility includes a Visitor Information Centre managed by Visit Belfast as well as new facilities for coaches and taxis, and an easily accessible deepwater berth to accommodate larger cruise ships. The terminal’s location provides easy access to the city’s attractions, such as Titanic Belfast in the city's Titanic Quarter.
Joe O’Neill, Belfast Harbour’s chief executive officer, commented: “With our partners Visit Belfast we’ve worked hard to market Belfast Harbour and Northern Ireland, under the ‘Cruise Belfast’ initiative, as one of the best cruise destinations in Western Europe. We’ve also invested in a new terminal with the support of Tourism NI to encourage further growth in this strategically important sector. Considering the quality of other destinations in the UK and Ireland, we’re delighted to win the award”.
While Niamh McCarthy, managing director Excursions Ireland, said: “It’s a pleasure to work in this port and we consistently receive the highest ratings from participants on our shore excursions out of all Irish ports as regards the facilities, the welcome and the tours on offer. This, together with the friendly nature of the locals, provide our overseas visitors with a wonderful first impression of all that Northern Ireland has to offer and whets their appetite for a longer visit to our Island.”
The cruiselines are also impressed with the development in Belfast. This statement is from Crystal Morgan, director, deployment planning, Princess Cruises. “Princess Cruises has had a long history of calling to Belfast over decades, and we have a record year planned in 2021 with 14 calls. The harbour and destination have been one of the leaders in the region with regards to listening and responding to the needs of cruise vessels and passengers. The city and surrounding attractions offer unique experiences such as the Giant’s Causeway and Titanic Belfast.”
Twenty years ago the city had turned its back on the River Lagan but today the waterfront has been developed to include Titanic Belfast, the Marina and many office and apartment blocks, river cruises and maritime festivals. Belfast Harbour is Northern Ireland’s leading gateway and key economic hub for trade and tourism, handling more than 70% of the region’s seaborne imports and exports. The 2,000-acre Harbour Estate hosts more than five million annual visits, including 1.5 million ferry and cruiseship passengers.
The cruise tourism sector is a significant contributor to the economy. Gerry Lennon, chief executive of Visit Belfast, commented: “In total, Cruise Belfast has brought 784 ships to the city since 1999, and in the last five years alone, cruise visitor numbers have increased by 135%.”
In addition to its record-breaking cruise season, Belfast Harbour also welcomed several firsts during 2019. These included calls from Disney Magic and Saga’s first newbuild, Spirit of Discovery. The port also welcomed 6,500 visitors and crew onboard MSC Meraviglia, the largest ship by passenger capacity to ever visit Belfast.
The Harbour has also invested in new facilities to market Belfast as a cruise embarkation port. Cruise & Maritime Voyages has already scheduled departures from Belfast for next summer.
