Weather scuppers Galway city’s cruise bonanza

The refusal by the captain of the luxury cruise ship Crystal Symphony to allow up to 1,500 passengers and crew come ashore in Galway yesterday because of poor weather has been branded a “disaster”.

Following a test run of a tender boat from the ship into the port, the captain decided it would be unsafe to allow passengers ashore and set sail again.

The estimated loss to Galway and the greater region is around €650,000, and has put renewed impetus on the need for the proposed new port here, the Harbour Master said.

Trips had been arranged for passengers to visit the city and take tours to sights such as Kylemore Abbey, Ashford and the Cliffs of Moher.

The €190 million ship docked near Mutton Island at around 8am, but set sail again at 9.50am when the captain decided passengers could not be brought ashore on tenders because of choppy conditions.

It’s the second major cruise ship in less than four months that has been unable to dock in Galway due to poor weather.

Galway Harbour Master Captain Brian Sheridan said he was heartbroken by what happened, as it had taken months of planning to bring the Crystal Symphony here.

It is understood that around 600 passengers from the ship were temporarily ‘stranded’ in in the north west on Tuesday evening because of the weather, and this was fresh in the captain’s mind when making the decision on Galway.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune