Dublin Port outlines plans to grow cruise calls

Dublin Port has revealed plans to increase cruise calls from 2024/25 following controversial cruise call cuts it announced last month.

In March, the port’s chief executive, Eamonn O’Reilly, said the decision  to halve the number of cruise calls from 160 to 80 had been made to meet rising freight volumes.

Dublin Port Company (DPC) confirmed in a briefing sent to the Irish government that cruise calls will increase to 150 once major construction works of the Alexandra Quay West wall have been completed.

Authorities predict that cruise calls will increase past 200 once further redevelopment of the port’s North Wall Quay extension is complete, which is expected to happen in 2026.

DPC said it was in the process of finalising cruise calls for 2021 and will confirm 2022 berth allocations by the end of the year. Berths for 2023 will be confirmed by the end of 2020.

In the report, DPC said: “The port recognises that new cruise facilities will be required to further develop this business and cater for future growth prospects. The company believes that the consented option of redeveloping North Wall Quay extension best meets the objective of growing Dublin’s cruise tourism business to its maximum potential.

“As a result of this development of the cruise business in Dublin, DPC has achieved proof of concept that Dublin Port can sustain a major cruise business with large numbers of valuable turnaround passengers.

“After 2023, when works on Alexandra Quay West are completed, it will be possible to again increase the number of cruise ships back towards 150.

“The extent to which this will be possible will be determined by the growth in cargo volumes between now and then.

“The period from 2023 to 2025 will be an interim period to rebuild cruise volumes ahead of the development of North Wall Quay Extension.”