Record Cruise Season Expected at Ireland´s Port of Cork

Cruise traffic at the Port of Cork in Ireland continues on an upward spiral with record numbers of ships and passengers scheduled to call in 2006.

Commencing on 8 April, the port is set to host 37 cruise ships with 39,000 passenger capacity over a six month period to October 12 as the world´s major cruise lines confirm their confidence in Cork as an outstanding port of call in the increasingly competitive Northern European cruise market.

The 2006 figures compare favorably with last year when there were 32 cruise calls involving 29,000 visiting passengers.

With vessels of eighteen separate cruise lines scheduled to call at the Port of Cork this year, there is compelling evidence of the port´s popularity within the cruise industry.

While most of these lines are familiar visitors, the return of Costa Cruises after an interval of a number of years is most welcome. As usual, the second largest cruise group in the world, Royal Caribbean International will again feature strongly, with the Royal Caribbean brand represented by Legend of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas and the Celebrity brand represented by Constellation.

All cruise ships and their passengers are assured of a special Cork welcome. A tourist representative is available to cruise passengers for the duration of their stay and entertainment is provided in the form of displays of traditional Irish dancing during the afternoon and quayside performances by a local brass band prior to the vessel´s departure.