Over 190,000 passengers on 103 Cruise Ships were welcomed to Cork this year
The Port of Cork Company (PoCC) marked the successful close of its 2024 cruise season last week with the arrival of the MSC Virtuosa on Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024. This visit signifies the end of this year’s cruise season at the Port of Cork, which welcomed 103 cruise liners, carrying 190,000 passengers.
Cobh Cruise Terminal is Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth and can accommodate vessels of up to 350 m in length. The MSC Virtuosa is one of the largest cruise ships in the world and spans 331 metres in length and weighs 181,541 tonnes. The cruise liner has the capacity to carry over 6,300 passengers.
Cruise tourism continues to be a significant contributor to the local economy and is estimated to generate €17 million in revenue. Onshore spending averages at €81 per passenger and €29 per crewperson, highlighting the substantial economic benefits for the region.
Speaking about this year’s cruise season, Conor Mowlds, Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cork Company stated: “As this successful cruise season comes to a close, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who played a role in making it possible. From our dedicated team at the Port of Cork to the local businesses, tourism partners, and community members in Cobh and beyond, your hard work and warm hospitality have been crucial to delivering an unforgettable experience for the thousands of visitors who sailed into Cork. The cruise industry continues to contribute a major part in the success of the Irish tourism and hospitality sectors. Together, we’ve demonstrated why Cork continues to be such a standout destination on the global cruise map.”
Toddy Stafford, President of Cobh and Harbour Chamber added: “This year’s cruise season has been fantastic for Cobh and the surrounding community. I want to thank all the local businesses and residents for their hard work in helping to make our town an attractive and welcoming destination. The boost in visitors has truly energised our community, and I’m excited for what the future holds for Cobh. We look forward to 2025 and continuing to strengthen our offering while making sure Cork remains a top travel destination for cruises.”
A highlight of the 2024 cruise season was the visit of the Disney Dream. The Disney cruise liner was the largest vessel to dock at Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth in Cobh. At 339.8 metres in length, the Disney Dream has a maximum passenger capacity of 4,000.
Four cruise ships made maiden calls to Cork over the season, with the highlight being MS Queen Anne, which can accommodate up to 2,996 passengers. Operated by Cunard Line, this Pinnacle-class cruise ship was the newest in the world when she docked. As the second-largest vessel in Cunard’s fleet, just behind RMS Queen Mary 2, Queen Anne set sail from her homeport in Southampton on May 3, 2024, for her inaugural voyage.
For more information, please visit: www.portofcork.ie/cruise
