Foyle Port Set for a Record-Breaking Cruise Season

24/04/2026

Cruise Season Officially Underway at Foyle Port with Debut Visit from Cruise Line

The 2026 cruise season has officially commenced at Foyle Port with the arrival of its first passenger vessel of the year, an inaugural visit from leading French luxury cruise line, Ponant. The ice-class rated expedition vessel, Le Lapérouse, anchored in Greencastle on Thursday 16th April, marking the beginning of what is set to be a record year for cruise tourism for the Port. The ship is calling as part of a 10-day “Celtic Secrets & Landscapes” cruise, sailing from Greenock to Cobh, with stops across Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This marks the earliest cruise call ever to the region and with the final call scheduled for 19th September, this is set to be the longest season on record for Foyle Port. To commemorate the inaugural call, a traditional plaque exchange was held on board between the ship’s Captain Adrien Eyssautier and local representatives from Foyle Port, Fáilte Ireland, Donegal County Council, Go Visit Inishowen and Hamilton Shipping Services. Foyle Port’s Harbour Master and Operations Director, Captain Bill McCann said, “We are delighted to welcome Ponant to the North West for the first time. The arrival of a prestigious luxury expedition cruise line of this calibre is a strong endorsement of the region’s offering and its growing reputation on the global cruise stage. Ponant guests typically seek out culturally rich and off-the-beaten-track destinations, making the North West an ideal fit and creating valuable opportunities for local tourism businesses.” He added, “This is the first of eight inaugural calls scheduled for 2026, alongside a strong return rate, with 87% of the cruise lines choosing to revisit the region. This year is set to be a record, with the highest volume of calls and almost 16,000 passengers, the most we have ever welcomed.” Expedition vessels continue to play a significant role in the 2026 season, accounting for 36% of all cruise calls, most of which are scheduled during April and May. Le Lapérouse is due to return on Sunday 3rd May, followed by another inaugural visit from Douglas Mawson, operated by Aurora Expeditions, on Saturday 16th May. To view the full list of cruise calls to Foyle Port in 2026, visit www.foyleport.com/cruise-and-leisure

30/03/2026

Foyle Port Set for a Record-Breaking Cruise Season

Foyle Port is preparing to welcome its largest ever cruise programme with 22 calls from 15 cruise lines scheduled to visit Ireland’s North West in 2026. The record season is expected to bring an estimated 15,800 international visitors to the region, delivering significant economic benefits to local visitor attractions, hospitality providers, retail and transport companies. This year’s scheduled calls are expected to run from April until September, more than a month longer than the 2025 cruise season. Among the visiting vessels will be first-time visits from Ponant and Nicko Cruises, alongside several returning cruise partners who continue to include Foyle Port in their itineraries. One of the highlights of the season will be the scheduled arrival of Nieuw Statendam, operated by Holland America Line. She will be the largest ship to ever visit Lough Foyle and will bring the highest volume of passengers and crew the port has welcomed in a single day. On 28 August, the port will also host a double ship day, with frequent caller Hebridean Sky joined by a return visit from Seven Seas Voyager. The majority of the liners will anchor at the tender port of Greencastle, with some smaller vessels scheduled for berthing alongside at Lisahally and Fort George in the city centre. Captain Bill McCann, Harbour Master & Operations Director, Foyle Port said, “We are very much looking forward to welcoming both new and returning cruise lines this year in what is set to be our busiest season to date. We expect eight first-time calls, including the brand-new luxury ship from Explora Journeys, Explora III, which is scheduled to make its debut visit to the island of Ireland here in the North West on 6th June. The increase in cruise calls reinforces the region’s growing appeal among itinerary planners, which we have been actively promoting over the years. The destination makes for a key stop among itineraries particularly around Ireland, Britain and Scandinavia.” Louise Denvir, Cruise Marketing Executive, Foyle Port added, “We have been working closely with strategic partners, including local tourism organisations, shore excursion companies and councils across both jurisdictions to ensure visitors experience the very best of the region. Cruise visitors have a unique opportunity to discover the blend of historic city culture in Derry-Londonderry, alongside the chance to explore the stunning rural highlights in counties Donegal, Antrim and Tyrone, creating a well-rounded and memorable experience for international visitors. Our hope is that cruise guests leave with a real taste of the region and are inspired to return in the future for longer, overnight stays.” The first cruise ship, Le Lapérouse, is scheduled to anchor in Greencastle on 16th April. To view the full cruise schedule, visit www.foyleport.com/cruise-and-leisure

20/10/2025

Strong 2025 Cruise Season Highlights Foyle Port’s Rising International Profile

Foyle Port has wrapped up a highly successful 2025 cruise season, welcoming 19 cruise ship calls – a 46% increase on the previous year, and attracting a diverse range of international visitors to the North West region. This year’s cruise calendar featured ships from 11 different cruise lines, including world-leading luxury operators Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, Silversea, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, and Phoenix Reisen, alongside renowned expedition lines such as Mystic Cruises, AE Expeditions, Exploris Expeditions and Noble Caledonia. The season included five inaugural calls and a first-ever visit from luxury line Windstar Cruises, whose ship Star Legend made its debut at the port. In total, the 2025 season brought 6,930 passengers and crew to the region. Of the 3,940 passengers, nearly half were from the United States (48%), followed by Germany (20%), the United Kingdom (13%), France (5%) and Canada (4%). Depending on ship size and tidal conditions, vessels were welcomed either at the tender port in Greencastle or the commercial port at Lisahally. Bill McCann, Harbour Master and Operations Director at Foyle Port commented, “We are delighted with how the season has gone this year. The increase in calls and the range of visitors highlight Foyle Port’s growing reputation as a key gateway for cruise tourism in the North West. We look forward to building on this success and continuing to showcase our region’s unique location as the gateway to the historic city of Derry-Londonderry and two of the world’s most iconic coastal routes, the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coast.” The success of the 2025 season underscores Foyle Port’s commitment to strengthening the region’s tourism profile and supporting local economic growth through the cruise industry. As part of its long-term strategy to grow this sector, Foyle Port actively engages with the global cruise market, attending major trade shows in Miami and Hamburg to meet with both existing and prospective cruise clients. The Port is also an active member of Cruise Ireland, a marketing organisation dedicated to promoting the island on a global scale. In September, Cruise Ireland and Cruise Britain jointly won “Destination of the Year” at the prestigious Seatrade Cruise Awards. Further cementing its reputation, the Port hosted a high-profile familiarisation trip in September for 12 cruise line representatives from the US and Europe. The visit included tours of the commercial port at Lisahally and the tender port at Greencastle, along with a tailored itinerary designed to showcase the destination and the range of tourism products available to visiting cruise guests. The trip formed part of a wider tour of Ireland hosted by Cruise Ireland in partnership with Excursions Ireland. Niamh McCarthy, Managing Director of Excursions Ireland said, “Working with Foyle Port and the wider North West region has been an absolute pleasure and this past season was no different. This progressive, forward-thinking port is not only strategically located on the stunning North West coast, but also acts as a gateway to a region steeped in incredible history, culture, and natural beauty.” She added, “The recent showcase proved to be a tremendous success. Visiting cruise line executives were thoroughly impressed with Derry and the surrounding areas — so much so that several have already committed to increasing cruise calls to the region in upcoming seasons. It was especially rewarding for our valued clients to explore this area in depth, as it’s not always first to paper when planning itineraries. That perception is changing. This region deserves more footfall, and it's clear they are both eager and ready to welcome more visitors.”