The Port of Cork is likely host more than 100 cruise ships next year. The business will boost the region’s economy by upwards of €30m
.With 97 liners already booked to visit next year, the port authorities believe more than 200,000 visitors will disembark in Cobh, mainly, along with Cork City and Ringaskiddy ports.
The port has also announced plans to develop a new terminal to be used by cruise ships, super yachts and sea-buses.
In a further boost for the liner operating company Port of Cork-Cruise, passengers from all over the world voted Cobh one of the top five destinations in Western Europe, putting it on a par with Amsterdam and Lisbon.
The news was announced yesterday by Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards, with rankings based on cruise passengers’ ratings.
The Port of Cork had established a five-year plan to secure, by 2020, a likely 75 cruise liner visits yearly. However, significant marketing and commercial successes have surpassed all expectations and the speed at which targets were achieved reportedly surprised the company.
The surge in businesses and interest from cruise ship companies is pushing forward the Port of Cork’s plans to spend €15m building a second cruise liner terminal at the deep water quays in Cobh.
The planned facility is envisaged to accommodate super yachts and a new generation of massive liners, such as the 360m Oasis of the Sea, which can carry more than 6,000 passengers.
