Cork enjoys a healthy return to cruising
Thursday, July 21, 2022 - 13:05 by ce-press
Ireland was finally able to reopen again for cruiseships and passengers - with the arrival of the Viking Venus to Dun Laoghaire Harbour on March 29 - after an absence of two years due to the pandemic.
This followed extensive discussions between the authorities and cruise industry stakeholders that resulted in the development of robust protocols.
The cruise industry is estimated to contribute €70 million to the national economy and on average €14 million a year to local economies, such as Cork, which pre-Covid had typically welcomed an average 100 calls a year.
This year the Port of Cork Company welcomes a return to almost pre-pandemic levels of calls, having about 90 calls scheduled between April and November 2022.
The first call of the year was from Ponant’s Borealis which docked in Cobh - Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth - on April 15.
There are also also 12 calls scheduled for Bantry this year.
Ponant's Borealis calls Cork on April 15 marking the start of the season (c) Port of Cork Company
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Cork
The sheltered deepwater of the Port of Cork is the natural entry point to many of Ireland's principal visitor attractions.Today Cork plays host many of the world's luxurious cruise liners which bring on average 80,000 passengers to the region per annum. Cobh, which is Ireland's only dedicated cruise berth is capable of handling some of the largest liners afloat today. Over the last twenty years the Port of Cork has invested up to €10 million in the cruise facilties at Cobh and today welcomes up to 50 or more liners each year.
A cruise call to the Port of Cork provides passengers and crew with the ulitmate cruise experience - a facinating combination of pursuits from history to archaelogy, flora and fauna, golf, hillwalking, horse riding, beatuiful gardens, castles, period houses, shopping or simply relaxing with friendly and hospitable people.
Once experienced a return visit is inevitable.