Celebrity to homeport in Dublin

Celebrity Cruises, the upscale brand owned by Royal Caribbean, has become the first company to dedicate a ship to the Irish market in early summer 2018.

The company has said that one Solstice-class ship will be turnaround in Dublin for five sailings from late April through to the end of June 2018. The cruises will be throughout Ireland and northern Europe with more details to be announced later this year.

The company estimates that more than 14,000 people will start their cruise from Dublin on a Celebrity Cruises ship in 2018.

The move is worth an estimated almost €6 million to the local economy.

Jo Rzymowska, managing director, Celebrity Cruises UK and Ireland, said: “Celebrity Cruises has enjoyed significant support from our travel agent partners and guests throughout Ireland for many years. Now we are saying thank you by basing one of the flagships of our fleet in Dublin for a mini season during early summer 2018. We know that our guests from around the world, and in Ireland, will love the warm welcome they receive when starting a holiday in Dublin.

“Calling Dublin home in 2018 is a major development to our European deployment. We couldn’t be more excited. Thank you to Dublin Port for their support.”

Pat Ward, Dublin Port, added: “It has been a clear ambition of Dublin Port to attract a cruise line to offer our great city as a homeport. Today, that ambition is realised and Celebrity Cruises will be an important step-change in our history. The opportunities that this new investment will bring are extensive. We look forward to maximising this new platform for growth and welcoming yet more cruise ships and holidaymakers to Dublin for the first time.”