Biggest cruise liner in years to visit Galway tomorrow

The biggest cruise liner to visit Galway City in modern times is set to dock near Mutton Island tomorrow (Wednesday).

The 238 metre Crystal Symphony will moor in Galway Bay for the day with 922 passengers and 545 crew on board.

It is more than 20% bigger than The World, which docked near Mutton Island last summer.

Based in Miami, the Crystal Symphony is coming to Galway as part of a seven day tour of Britain and Ireland which includes stop-offs in Cork, Dublin, and Derry.

“It is a magnificent ship,” said Galway Harbour CEO Eamonn Bradshaw yesterday. “They have just spent US $65 million (€49 million) to refurbish it.”

The 238 metre liner has 480 State rooms, 18 penthouse suites, and 44 penthouse State rooms on board.

The week-long tour of Britain and Ireland costs passengers approximately $7,600 (€5,700) and is fully booked out.

It is the sixth and biggest major cruise liner to visit Galway in 2014, with Artiana and Club Med 2 yet to arrive over the coming weeks.

Valued at $250m (€188m), the Crystal Symphony is run by Crystal Cruises, which was voted the world’s best cruise line.

It features 24-hour butler service, bars, restaurants, shopping arcade, casino, library, children’s centre and cinema, gym, fitness centre and treatment rooms, tennis court and outdoor pool.

Its sister ship, the Crystal Serenity, is also one of five cruisers which have been booked to visit the city next year.

“The quality of these ships, and the type of passengers they attract, give a huge boost to a place like Galway,” said Mr Bradshaw.

“Many of the passengers will be brought on bus tours of Connemara or Clare, but most of them intend to stay in the city and explore the streets of Galway.”

Mr Bradshaw said that attracting major cruise liners was a significant element of the plan to expand Galway Harbour in the coming years.

Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel