Dun Laoghaire Harbor (Ireland) is set to experience a record-breaking cruise ship season, as 90+ vessels are expected to visit the area. This influx of vessels will bring a total of 164,000 passengers and 71,000 crew to Dun Laoghaire.
The increase in cruise ship visits not only contributes to the local tourism sector but also generates significant income and creates job opportunities. Around 44% of passengers who disembark from tender boats visit Dun Laoghaire Town and the surrounding area, further benefiting the local economy.
The positive impacts of these voyages extend beyond tourism, as they also contribute to the restoration of the historic Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Last year, the harbor was the second busiest in Ireland for cruise visits, with 65 ships docking there, second only to Cork-Cobh. Efforts are being made to build on this success in the coming years.
NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line will have the highest number of visits to Dun Laoghaire this year, with 20 scheduled visits, followed by Viking OCEAN Cruises with 17 visits.
According to the Central Statistics Office, the combined number of passengers and crew surpasses the population of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown by ~1000 people.
The upcoming 2023 cruise season is expected to surpass last year's numbers when 65 cruise ships arrived with 79,000 passengers and 44,000 crew.
Among the impressive cruise ships, the longest one is MSC Preziosa, measuring 333 m in length and with a gross tonnage of 139,072 tons. It can accommodate 4345 passengers and 1313 crew. Regal Princess comes in a close second at 330 meters long, with a capacity for 3592 passengers and 1205 crew.
MSC's ship Preziosa, which will visit twice, while Princess Cruises operates Regal Princess, which will make 11 calls to Dun Laoghaire.
NCL-Norwegian will lead the schedule with frequent visits, docking in Dun Laoghaire 20 times in 2023, while Viking will make 17 visits with 7 different ships.