Dublin Port to host some of world’s largest cruise ships

Dublin Port will welcome some of the largest cruise ships in the world next week.

Next Wednesday, the 290m long Caribbean Princess, carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew, will arrive at Dublin Port, followed on Friday by the 294m long Queen Victoria, with 2,914 people on board.

The luxury cruise ship, the 330m long MSC Splendida, carrying more than 4,600 passengers and crew, will arrive at Dublin Port on Monday, May 11th.

The ship is the 11th largest in the world and will be the longest ship to have ever called to Dublin Port.

Carrying 1,370 crew and 3,247 passengers, primarily from mainland Europe, the MSC Splendida has a spa, Turkish baths, four swimming pools, squash courts and a Formula 1 simulator, spread over 18 decks.

Dublin Port’s current operational limit on ship length is 300m.

Ships beneath that length that enter the River Liffey are still able to turn in Alexandra Basin West prior to departure.

The MSC Splendida and other large ships cannot turn within the Liffey and, therefore, must either reverse in or reverse out.

Redevelopment project

Dublin Port Company’s Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project is intended to transform the port and allow larger ships of all types, including the world’s largest cruise ships, to routinely call to Dublin Port.

In the case of cruise ships, they will berth upriver at the East Link Bridge and will then be able to turn in the expanded Alexandra Basin West.

In preparation for the ship's arrival, the port's pilots and harbour master, Capt David Dignam, have carried out a detailed analysis of the manoeuvres required to bring ships of this size into port - including simulation exercises with major cruise line captains in the National Maritime College of Ireland.