World’s travel journalists to arrive in Galway on cruise ship

The successful stopover of ‘The World’ liner in Galway Bay is set to attract further cruise companies to the city, the Harbour Master has said.

And travel journalists from around the world will arrive in Galway this Wednesday evening on board ‘Le Soleal’, which is on her maiden voyage with up to 260 passengers.

Harbour Master Brian Sheridan told the Galway City Tribune that the Chief Operating Officer of Companie du Ponant in France had decided to use Galway as the location for its “media splash”, which will be of huge benefit for the city, and Le Soleil will drop off travel writers in Galway, and take more on board.

While there were 190 passengers on board ‘The World’, next month the city will welcome the ‘Prinsendam’ – which could have up to 740 passengers and 460 crew on board.

Capt Sheridan said he is convinced that Galway could be on a par with Cobh in Cork – which attracts around 60 cruise ships per year.

“We’re delighted with how The World stopover went, and we’re very happy with how our promotion of Galway as a cruise destination is going. Next Wednesday evening, ‘Le Soleal’ will be docking on her maiden cruise. Next month, there’ll be Prinsendam.

“I have no doubt we can be right up there with Cobh. Last week, P&O Cruises confirmed ‘Adonia’ for next year (up to 710 passengers).

“We micro-manage the cruise ships, and are constantly promoting Galway as a destination. We’ve developed our own cruise magazine and we are always pushing it,” said Capt Sheridan.

For more on this story, see the current edition of the Galway City Tribune