The Port of Cork welcomed P&O Cruises’ Adonia on November 6 marking the end of the  2012 season. This brought the total number of calls this year to 57, a record for the port so far. Home to Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth, the city welcomed almost 100,000 passengers and crew.

Cork, 30 April 2012 - At the Cruise Europe Conference 2012 held at Royal Greenwich, London between the 24-26th April, Captain Michael McCarthy of the Port of Cork, Ireland was unanimously elected Chairman succeeding Dirk Moldenhauer who has served as Chairman for the last four years. Michael brings over 40 years of maritime experience to the position having served as Master at sea, Marine Surveyor, Deputy Harbour Master and is currently Commercial Manager with the Port of Cork Company.

Cork began its 2012 cruise season with the arrival of Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s Balmoral and Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Marco Polo, both on themed Titanic cruises to commemorate the 100th anniversary.

Brendan Keating, chief executive Port of Cork, said: “2012 will be a another busy year for the cruise business in Cork, with 60 liners calling, of which three are operating part turnaround calls and ten liners are maiden visits to the port”.

MSC Cruises will be adding Cork to four new itineraries next summer giving passengers the opportunity to embark and disembark MSC Lirica in Cork for the first time.

Lorenzo Diamantini, director of sales for Ireland and Northern Ireland MSC Cruises, said: “The company is featuring the two ports [Cork and Dublin] due to the incredible growth it has experienced in the Irish market over the last three years. By positioning one of our ships in Cork, we can give many more local passengers the opportunity to experience the superb itineraries on offer.” 

The Port of Cork Company held a cruise seminar on October 26 2011 to highlight the need for a united approach among ‘Cork Cruise’ stakeholders and the port.

As the cruise business in Cork continues to grow, a wider and united approach with both the city and county regional councils, tour operators, travel agents, local tourism organisations and attractions, is needed to help promote the region and the activities which can be marketed to the cruise lines and passengers.

The Port of Cork Company held a cruise seminar today to highlight the need for a united approach within the Cork Cruise business and to announce the first turnaround cruises from Cork expected in 2012.

In 1991 the Port of Cork welcomed 10 cruiseships carrying 9,552 passengers and crew to Cobh and by 2011 this has increased to 54 calls carrying 100,902 passengers and crew. One vessel to visit this year was The World (pictured).

This significant growth shows that the Port of Cork’s investment in a dedicated cruise terminal in Cobh has paid dividends. Cork is the only port in Ireland that can berth the larger ships alongside in a deepwater sheltered environment.

On July 19 Cork accommodated three ships in one day for the first time in its history, carrying about 7,000 passengers and crew.

There is no doubt that cruiselines prefer to come alongside than tender and that voice is getting louder as delegates heard at the Cruise Europe conference in Stavanger (pictured) in May.

Cruise bookings at Cork number 54 for 2011 to date.