Greencastle-Londonderry (Foyle Port, Northern Ireland)

Foyle Port is a major seaport serving Londonderry (aka Derry City) - Northern Ireland's second-largest city (after Dublin) and the 4th-largest on Ireland Island, with population around 85,000 (metro around 240,000).

Foyle Port's cruise ship berthing facilities include the dedicated Fort George Berth (in downtown Derry), Lisahally (Londonderry Port's main passenger terminal) and the tender port Greencastle (Donegal) where the vessels are accommodated at anchorage.

Both ports (Londonderry and Greencastle) are on Lough Foyle/Loch Feabhail which is the Foyle River's estuary. Unlike Londonderry's Lisahally docks (designed to accommodate larger vessels), Greencastle is a tender port which means that cruise ships anchor off the harbor and transport/ferry their tourists ashore (to the Greencastle Pier) via the ship's tender boats.

Port Londonderry (locode GBLDY) is the UK's most westerly seaport. Tidal Foyle River is navigable along Derry's coast to approx 16 km (10 mi) inland. The city's economy was based mainly on the textile industry - shirt-making factories, with shirts exported mainly to Scotland (Glasgow). The largest shirt factory was Messrs, employing ~18000 workers in the city and around UK during the industry's peak in the 1920s.

Port Greencastle (locode IEGNC) is also managed by/part of Foyle Port and is located approx 22 mi / 35 km to the north-northeast of Londonderry (via coastal road R238). Greencastle (County Donegal) is at Lough Foyle's entrance and serves predominantly as a commercial fishing harbour. The Magilligan-Greencastle ferry route was opened in 2002 and is currently served by the Lough Foyle Ferry Company. Port Greencastle's pier is also used by smaller-sized/expedition-type cruise vessels as Greencastle is an alternative disembarkation port for Derry.

Among the major cruise lines visiting Derry are the ultra-luxury travel brands Azamara, Crystal, Oceania, RSSC-Regent Seven Seas, Silversea, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC Explora Journeys, Saga Travel UK.

The old town Derry was established in the 6th century (as Doire Calgach/a settlement surrounding a monastery) on the west bank of River Foyle. The current city spreads on both river banks - Waterside (east) and Cityside (west).

Derry has two large shopping malls (Foyleside and Richmond), two smaller (Quayside and Lisnagelvin) plus numerous streets with Irish and international stores. Crescent Link Retail Park (Waterside) is ranked Northern Ireland's 2nd largest (Sprucefield in Lisburn) and houses many international brand stores.

Foyle Port's largest cruiser so far is NCL's Norwegian Star (91740 GT-tons, max capacity 2813 passengers+1031 crew), handled/at anchorage on October 12, 2023.

On cruise shore excursions from Foyle Port are visited popular tourists attractions like Doagh Famine Village (where animated guides lead tourists through 19th-century buildings with exhibitions themed on Ireland's history and culture), Ulster American Folk Park (open-air museum outside Omagh/County Tyrone), Dunluce Castle's ruins, Inishowen Peninsula's scenery, Glenveagh National Park (Ireland's second-largest NP/after Wicklow Mountains).

Foyle Port (Londonderry)

Foyle Port (locode GBLDY) is located at Lisahally but historically was part of Derry City.

Foyle Port incorporates the main cargo terminal and general port operations.

Foyle Marine Services handles dredging and towage services. Foyle Consulting Engineers provides structural and civil engineering services. Foyle Engineering manages steel fabrication. Foyle Cruise and Leisure provides passenger shipping services, respectively for ships and boats/yachts.

The port supports around 1000 local jobs.

Lisahally Terminal's quay has length 440 m (1440 ft) and can handle ships with GT tonnage up to 62,000 tons. Port Foyle serves mainly bulk carriers importing oil, coal, animal feed, fertilizers, plywood. Cruise ships dock in downtown Londonderry berths.

The port has two permanent pontoons (Foyle Port Marina) located in downtown. The facility has a wooden structure (length 200 m / 660 ft) and a second concrete structure (length 140 m / 460 ft). Foyle Port Marina offers a total deep-water berthing of 600 m (2000 ft). A new (3rd) pontoon was opened for season 2019.

In 2018, the cruise port had scheduled 7 ship calls with around 4200 passengers. For 2019, the booked ship calls were 15. Among the port's regular customers are the top-luxury cruise lines Oceania, Azamara, Phoenix Reisen, as well as smaller boats from the fleets of major companies like Princess and Holland America. Most cruise liners to Derry also visit Belfast. itinerary lengths vary between 7-10-days.

In 2023 (May through October), Foyle Port had scheduled a total of 15 cruise ship calls (including 8 maiden/first-time visits) with estimated ~10600 tourists.

Following some infrastructure developments, Londonderry cruise port's annual capacity could reach 50 ships.

Greencastle-Londonderry cruise terminal