THE arrival of the first cruise ship into Dun Laoghaire last week has kicked off the town’s summer in luxurious style.
The five-star luxury cruise ship Serenissima, which weighs in at over 2,500 tonnes, is the length of a soccer pitch, has 59 cabins and a passenger and crew complement of 160 people.
It arrived last Wednesday to allow passengers and crew to take in the sights of Dun Laoghaire and the surrounding countryside.
Welcoming the ship into Dun Laoghaire, Carolyn Hanaphy of the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company said the Serenissima is the first of eight cruise ship visits scheduled for Dun Laoghaire this summer that will bring with them nearly 3,000 passengers and crew into the town.
“We are always delighted to see these ships come to our town and spend some time here,” she said.
“Each of these ships is welcomed alongside the historic Carlisle Pier where they can disembark passengers and crew just 500 metres from the town centre. They can enjoy all that Dun Laoghaire offers in terms of hospitality, shopping and good restaurants and pubs within a short stroll from the ship.”
Dun Laoghaire Harbour Master Captain, Simon Coate, added: “The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company works hard to secure luxury ships of this kind to come and visit our harbour.
“The Serenissima which will stop off on her way around the ‘Gardens of the British Isles’ is a charming vessel with a unique style. During a major refit the owners commissioned Swedish interior designers to create an 18th century influenced Gustavian style interior.
“The unique style and grandeur of this vessel certainly is in keeping with the unique aesthetics of our 200-year-old harbour, making Dun Laoghaire a sought-after port of call on her voyage.”
The ship is on a 12-day cruise. She left Portsmouth and has already made numerous stops along the English coast, and has stopped off in Bantry Bay to visit Garnish Island and Waterford.
After calling to Dun Laoghaire to visit Powerscourt Gardens, the ship will continue onto Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland on route to her final destination in Oban in Scotland.
