CRUISE


Belfast Celebrates Record Cruise Season in 2023


BELFAST enjoyed a record cruise season in 2023, with 158 calls reported by Cruise Belfast, the partnership between Belfast Harbour and Vis- it Belfast which markets the city as a leading cruise tourism destination. The announcement was made as the final cruise


ship of the year to call to Belfast, Fred Olsen Cruise Line’s ‘Borealis’ arrives in the port today (Friday 20th October). This year’s cruise season saw 57 ships from 32


different cruise lines dock in the port, carrying 320,000 passengers and crew, who received a customary warm welcome. Among them were 14 ships who made their inaugural calls to Belfast. The total of 158 calls made by cruise vessels during


the 2023 season marked an 8% increase on the pre- pandemic record set in 2019. On board, passenger capacities have increased to an average of around 90% per vessel. With increased passenger numbers, and more


visitors arriving into Belfast to experience the tourism offerings across Northern Ireland, Cruise Belfast estimates that more than £20m was injected into the local economy through passenger spend alone. This year also marked the arrival of the 2 millionth


cruise visitor to Belfast Harbour since the first cruise ship called to Belfast in 1996. The milestone passenger arrived onboard the Norwegian Dawn, operated by the Norwegian Cruise Line in May this year. A further indication of the city’s growing status in


the cruise industry, Belfast has also begun to facilitate a number of cruise turnarounds during the year, the largest of which saw 1,200 US passengers from the Oceania Riviera ending their holiday in Belfast and a further 1,200 starting their trip in the city. Michael Robinson, Port Director of Belfast Harbour


said: Royal Caribbean Reveal Name of Next Icon Class Ship


THE next Royal Caribbean ship is on the horizon, and its name is Star of the Seas. Royal Caribbean International has revealed the name of the next Icon Class ship and its debut season – the summer of 2025. Royal Caribbean will follow up Icon’s debut, the start of a new era of holidays, in the boldest way. With the combination of every kind of holiday that’s unique to Icon Class – from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure – the lineup of new experiences and favourites on Star will set the stage for even more ways for every type of family and adventurer to make memories without compromise.


Currently under


construction in Turku, Finland, the new ship and its features will soon be revealed.


“After a couple of disrupted years due to the pandemic it’s clear that cruise tourism in Belfast is now in very good health. We continue to receive a lot of positive feedback from passengers, crew and cruise line management on the quality of Northern Ireland’s tourism offering and the service the industry provides. “Bookings for the 2024 cruise season are currently


strong, with similar levels to this year’s record season, which is great news for the city and the industry. We look forward to another busy year welcoming visitors from around the world.” Gerry Lennon Chief Executive at Visit Belfast added: “Belfast as a gateway city to Northern Ireland, now


takes its place among Europe’s most vibrant and captivating destinations, for leisure, business and cruise visitors. “With the continued investment in the city’s


infrastructure and iconic world class attractions such as Titanic Belfast. Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Titanic Distillery and Belfast’s cultural programming for 2024, we will ensure we have a range of new and exciting giant experiences to attract the growing cruise market. Cruise Tourism is vital element of our tourism portfolio, and its impact is significant contributing to the visitor economy and bringing a great vibrancy the city region.” Welcoming the continued growth in the sector,


Naomi Waite, Tourism Northern Ireland’s Director of Marketing, added: “Cruise tourism is increasingly important to the


city and wider tourism economy, providing more opportunities to showcase Belfast and Northern Ireland’s wide range of visitor attractions, driving spend and economic impact. “A highly competitive sector, our growing cruise


tourism industry continues to benefit from over a decade of investment and marketing focus and I’m delighted by its continuing success.”


thinking design by the world’s leading architects and interior designers; culinary excellence from Michelin starred chefs; wellness woven throughout the experience; expansive onboard entertainment and more. Celebrity Ascent will make her official debut in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on 3rd December, with a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing visiting popular destinations such as St.


Maarten, St. Thomas, and the


Dominican Republic. Welcoming the ship were Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges-Bethge, and Laurent Castaing, General Manager, Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Captains Dimitrios Kafetzis and Tasos Kafetzis, the first brother captains honoured with taking a new ship from the shipyard, were also on-hand for the celebration, along with 1,400 Celebrity Ascent crew members. To mark the moment, they participated in several maritime traditions including the signing ceremony and the changing of flags onboard the ship, along with a celebratory toast in the ship’s spectacular three-story Grand Plaza.


Celebrity Cruises Takes Delivery of Newest Ship


CELEBRITY Ascent has officially joined Celebrity Cruises’ fleet, as company officials took delivery of its newest ship at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. The fourth ship in the line’s innovative Edge Series, Celebrity Ascent continues to shatter preconceived notions of cruising with its forward-


NORWEGIAN Cruise Line unveiled the evolution of the Prima Class with the all-new Norwegian Aqua, the first of the expanded Prima Plus Class setting sail in April 2025. Travellers can book Norwegian Aqua’s first voyages to


the Caribbean with seven-day itineraries departing from one of the world’s most sought-after cruise ports, Port Canaveral, Fla. Voyages include calls to the idyllic island destinations of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Great Stirrup Cay, NCL’s private island in the Bahamas. The legacy continues with renowned Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri constructing this next- generation Prima Plus Class. Building upon the award-winning experiences of Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, Norwegian Aqua will set new standards and deliver brand-new guest experiences to be discovered with an overall 10 percent size and capacity increase from its sister ships. Spanning 1,056 feet long, 156,300 gross tons and accommodating 3,571 guests at double occupancy, Norwegian Aqua will offer more outdoor space and the highest staffing levels of any new contemporary cruise ship. Norwegian Aqua is a true testament of fusing


together what represents the future of our Brand as the first ship in the Prima Plus Class, and our commitment to pushing the boundaries in guest-first experiences that will make new waves at sea,” said David J. Herrera, president of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Named for both the beautiful shades of blue from the ocean and our connection to the sea, Norwegian Aqua will feature new, elevated and exhilarating offerings that once again showcase NCL as the innovator in the industry and as a key contributor to a new era of cruising.” Norwegian Aqua will showcase a lively and colourful


hull art design by NCL’s first-ever major female hull artist, Allison Hueman. World-renowned for her street art and global brand collaborations, including Nike, L’Oreal and Google, Hueman’s distinctive art style is a blend of ethereal realism. Norwegian Aqua’s design, entitled “Where the Sky Meets the Sea,” is curated by Goldman Global Arts and evokes modern mythology through colourful mashups of abstract and figurative representations of sea and sky, ruled by ancient goddesses. “I’m honoured, not only to be the first major female


hull artist for Norwegian Cruise Line, but to also know that my artwork will be roaming the seas touching different parts of the world,” said Allison Hueman, Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist. “It’s incredibly special for me to partner with a brand that believes in the magical connection between art and exploration.”


Norwegian Cruise Line Unveil Name of Upcoming Prima Class Ship


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