Over the past decade, Port Belfast (Northern Ireland) has emerged as a significant player in the cruise industry, hosting some of the largest and most well-known cruise lines globally.
Operating under the umbrella of Belfast Harbour and Visit Belfast, Cruise Belfast collaborates with excursion partners, agents, and service providers to offer a seamless and top-tier experience to both cruise lines and their passengers.
In a noteworthy move, 4 years ago, Belfast Harbour invested GBP 0,5 million (EUR 582,932) to establish the first dedicated cruise terminal on the island of Ireland. Following this, in 2021, Cruise Belfast expanded the existing terminal building by 215 m2 (2314 ft2) to enhance capacity. This extension facilitated functions like baggage handling, security scanning, and passenger processing for turnarounds, as well as passenger amenities during transit calls.
This year marked a milestone as Belfast Harbour welcomed its 2 millionth cruise passenger since the inaugural call in 1996. Over the past 25 years, the local tourism industry has experienced significant growth.
By the conclusion of the 2023 season, Belfast is set to host 150+ cruise calls from 57 ships representing 32 different lines, including 13 maiden calls.
Belfast's maritime landscape has seen 1160+ cruise calls from vessels of 75 cruise lines to date, featuring notable names like Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas and MSC Virtuosa.
In 2022, Belfast Harbour collaborated with Fred Olsen UK and other North Irish Sea ports for 7 partial turnarounds as part of a multi-port embarkation offering. The same year saw a full turnaround for RSSC-Regent's ship Seven Seas Voyager, where nearly 1000 passengers were processed efficiently within the existing cruise terminal facilities.
With the capacity to cater to up to 3000 passengers for embarkation and disembarkation, Belfast Harbour is well-equipped with the necessary facilities and space.
Thanks to its proximity to Belfast City Airport, Belfast International Airport, and Dublin Airport, Belfast Cruise Terminal provides well-connected embarkation and disembarkation/homeport options for travelers from various regions. Many travelers are now leveraging this accessibility to enjoy the city's accommodations and the attractions of Northern Ireland before or after their cruises.
Looking forward, Belfast Harbour envisions expanding port facilities to accommodate the growing cruise trade and support complementary sectors such as offshore wind. A proposed new berth, spanning 1115 ft (340 m) in length, aims to meet the demand for seasonal cruise shipping and provide an even more enticing point of departure and return for cruise travelers.