44 | CRUISE NEWS
www.nitravelnews.com
January 2025
Viking
Announces 10 New Ocean Itineraries in 2026 and 2027 VIKING
BELFAST CRUISE TOURISM SET FOR SUCCESS IN 2025
2024 was a successful year for Belfast’s Cruise Tourism , welcoming 145 cruise calls from March until the end of the cruise season in October 2024. The 145 cruise calls, made up of 60 ships from 35
different cruise-lines, brought a total of 260,000 passengers and crew to Belfast. Six ships made their inaugural call to Belfast, including Cunard’s Queen Anne, which docked in Belfast back in June 2024 as part of a British Isles Festival Itinerary. Back in December 2023, Belfast Harbour was recognised
as the Best UK & British Isles Port of Call at the Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks Awards, and more recently, Belfast Harbour was awarded the Silver Diversity Mark in recognition of its commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion within the industry. The Silver Diversity Mark acknowledged the progress which Belfast Harbour have made in creating a diverse workforce, with emphasis given on Belfast Harbour’s commitment to creating a greater gender balance throughout their workforce. In addition, Belfast Harbour received praise for their role in encouraging diversity among its partners and clients within the Belfast Harbour
estate. Six cruise turnarounds took place throughout 2024
with Ambassador Cruise Line, allowing local people the opportunity to embark on a no-fly cruise from Belfast, with numerous itineraries including the Norwegian Fjords, Iceland, The Mediterranean, and the Scottish Islands. 2024 also saw one full turnaround of international passengers, primarily Americans who flew to Belfast to embark on a cruise around the UK and Ireland. Looking back the success of Cruise Tourism in 2024, Michael Robinson, Port Director of Belfast Harbour said: “Cruise tourism is now well established in Belfast and this year we continued to receive very positive feedback from passengers, crew and cruise line management about the quality of the region’s tourism offering and the service that the industry provides.” Plans to redevelop and enhance Belfast Harbour’s
offshore wind terminal and cruise facilities were also brought to the forefront in 2024, with Infrastructure Minister, John O’Dowd and Economy Minister, Conor Murphy briefed on Belfast Harbour’s plans to enhance the Port’s offshore renewable energy and cruise facilities
during a site visit back in September. Currently, Belfast Harbour’s Offshore Wind Terminal is the only facility of its type on the Island of Ireland, facilitating the transport and assembly of offshore wind turbines. Figures reveal that between 2013 and 2018, Belfast Harbour’s Offshore Wind Terminal delivered 66% of UK offshore wind capacity. Belfast Harbour put forward plans to the Infrastructure Minister, and Economy Minster, these plans detailed the relocation of cruise business to a new berth, and the development of an integrated solution which would be capable of facilitating both cruise and off-shore renewable energy activity. Once completed, the terminals would not only have a positive influence on the growth of offshore renewable energy but also have a beneficial impact on Belfast’s cruise tourism sector. Looking towards 2025, Michael Robinson continued,
“The cruise sector also continues to develop and expand, with a growing number of cruise turnarounds. We look forward to another busy year in 2025 when we will welcome our 1,500th call – something we could never have imagined when the first cruise ship visited Belfast back in 1996.”
Royal Caribbean Set To Bring Ultimate Beach Day To Bahamas in 2025
ROYAL Caribbean is set to bring the ultimate beach day to The Bahamas. Opening in December 2025, Royal Beach Club Paradise Island* will be the first in the vacation brand’s Royal Beach Club Collection, combining the striking beaches of Paradise Island and Royal Caribbean’s signature experiences to create an all-inclusive beach day – and with the vibrant Bahamian spirit and culture at the heart of it all. From pristine beaches, pools for every vibe and the world’s largest swim-up bar to island-style spots for local fare and experiences featuring Bahamian artisans and live music, the next in the brand’s destination lineup is set to bring next-level chill with The Bahamas as the ultimate backdrop. Vacationers can purchase their all-inclusive day pass and cabanas starting in the spring of 2025. “The Royal Beach Club Collection is designed for every type of family and vacationer to get everything they want out of their ideal beach day – no matter the vibe they’re looking for,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “With the first-of-its-kind Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, we continue to super-serve our guests with a tailored experience at one of our most highly visited destinations, building on nearly five
decades of collaboration with the community and government of The Bahamas.” Spanning 17 acres on the western end of Paradise Island, the all-new Royal Beach Club is where exclusive meets all-inclusive for Royal Caribbean vacationers and locals. With a purchase of a day pass, vacationers can enjoy access to all amenities, with everything included from the first water taxi ride to bites, drinks and everything in between. What’s in store ranges from stunning beaches and pools for every vibe to three swim-up bars, seven beach bars, more than 40 cabanas – including the one-of-a-kind Ultimate Family Cabana with personal attendant service – and more. The Ultimate Beach Day Across Three Zones Family Beach – Families of all ages can make a splash or relax in the shade at Family Beach, only steps away from The Shallow End zero-entry pool. For some friendly competition, there are beach games of all kinds from tug-of-war to paddle ball. To max out memories, vacationers can kick back to a whole new level with the Ultimate Family Cabana – a one-of-its-kind exclusive retreat with two stories of amenities, including a thrilling slide, dedicated whirlpool, frozen drink machine and more. Chill Beach – Introducing all-day relaxation, vacationers can catch endless rays poolside at The Deep End and unwind at the powdery white sand
of Chill Beach. Plus, vacationers can immerse themselves in the Caribbean culture with shopping at local artisan huts or sampling different island flavors, from grilled shrimp skewers to fire engine fritters. Party Cove – The beachfront cove is the place to keep the party vibes going. Adventurers can groove to DJ-spun beats at the world’s largest swim-up bar, The Floating Flamingo, or crank up the celebration in the Party Cove VIP space, featuring personal poolside service and incredible views.
have
announced 10 new ocean itineraries in the Mediterranean, United Kingdom, Ireland and Northern Europe are now available for booking in 2026 and 2027. The new itineraries
range from eight to 22 days and feature 12 additional recurring ports that are new for Viking ocean voyages: Fowey,
Bordeaux, Limerick
England; France;
(Foynes),
Ireland; Riga, Latvia; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Londonderry, Northern Ireland; Haugesund, Norway; Palma de Mallorca and Bilbao, Spain; Fort William and Tobermory, Scotland; and
Karlskrona, Sweden.
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