Foyle Port celebrates milestone 170th year with successful 2024 cruise season

The 2024 cruise season at Foyle Port wrapped up earlier this month, marking the end of a successful period in the Port's 170th year of operations.

The last ship to depart was Hebridean Princess, concluding a season that saw over 10,000 passengers and crew visit the region, bringing significant financial benefits to the local community.

Foyle Port, located in Derry, benefits from the increasing popularity of cruises to the British Isles. Over half of the visitors arriving at Foyle Port were from the United States. The remainder included visitors from the United Kingdom (22%), Germany (8%), Canada (6%) and Australia (5%), highlighting the destination’s international appeal.

Running from May to September, the season saw cruise ships divided between the berth at Lisahally and the tender port of Greencastle, where larger vessels anchor.

The largest ship of the season was the 294-meter-long Norwegian Dawn, with a gross tonnage of 92,250. This vessel, along with the Norwegian Star, now holds the record for the largest ships to enter Lough Foyle.

Foyle Port experienced a surge in maiden calls during the season, welcoming six ships for their first visits, including: Saga’s Spirit of Adventure, Azamara Onward, Silversea’s Silver Spirit, Norwegian Dawn from Norwegian Cruise Lines, Phoenix Reisen’s Amadea, and Azamara Quest.

Captain Bill McCann, Harbour Master & Operations Director at Foyle Port, expressed great satisfaction with the season's success.

He said: “The Port’s unique position as a gateway to both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, linking popular tourist routes such as the Causeway Coastal Route and the Wild Atlantic Way makes it a highly appealing cruise destination.

"Cruise is one of the fastest growing sectors of tourism and we are committed to being part of that expansion. We are projecting a 50% rise in cruise calls in 2025 from pre-pandemic levels.”

Visit Derry’s Chief Executive, Odhran Dunne said: “The feedback from international cruise passengers on their visit to the city and North West region has been fantastic over the course of the cruise season.

"The range of visitor excursions and experiences on offer ensure the destination continues to grow its reputation within the cruise industry as a must-see destination.

"We look forward to supporting Foyle Port in servicing this growing sector of our tourism market over the coming years.”