Belfast cruises into bumper season

A few years ago there was no such thing as a cruise programme in Belfast and
no-one would have thought it possible that the city would become an
essential port of call on the cruise circuit but how times have changed....

The Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau (BVCB) and the Port of Belfast
announced that a staggering 23 cruise ships will be calling at the Port of
Belfast this year before the end of September, carrying over 30,000
passengers and crew.

Well-known cruise companies such as Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Fred
Olsen Cruise Lines and Celebrity Cruises will be making a number of visits
to Belfast throughout the summer season.

Cruise visitors provide a welcome boost not only in terms of their numbers
but also, more importantly, in what they will spend during their short stay
in the city and its environs.
With so many vessels sailing into Belfast this year, the local economy can
expect to receive an injection of approximately £9 million in tourism
revenue.

BVCB Communications Director, Lisa McMurray, is happy to be announcing such
a busy cruise season.

"When you consider that relatively recently there was no cruise programme to
speak of in Belfast and this year, high profile companies are making up to
four cruise calls here, it is amazing to think how far we have come. The
revenue and positive PR generated by these visits are excellent news for the
tourism industry in Belfast and indeed in Northern Ireland as a whole," said
Lisa.

"The Cruise Belfast Partnership, a partnership between BVCB and the Port of
Belfast, works hard to promote Belfast as a destination for European and
U.S. cruise liners through marketing, sales calls and a series of cruise
initiatives.
Once the vessels arrive, we ensure the best possible visitor experience,
with free shuttle buses provided to bring as many passengers as possible
into the city," she added.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Wallace Browne, looks forward to welcoming
so many cruise visitors to Belfast.

"We have so much to offer in Belfast, particularly for cruise visitors who
perhaps have little time to spend in exploring. With a compact city centre
and many attractions of interest close by, it is the ideal cruise stop and
we can be confident that we have an excellent tourism product to promote,"
said the Lord Mayor.

Port of Belfast Commercial Officer, David Giffen, said: "It is encouraging
that Belfast is hosting so many cruise visitors this year from all over
Europe and America, and that the number of vessels docking in the Port of
Belfast has increased from 16 in 2005 to 23 this year.
"This busy summer cruise season is great news for the city and builds on the
success of last year when Belfast welcomed its 100,000th cruise visitor."

Allison Offor, DIAGEO NI Corporate Relations Manager, added: "Belfast is a
modern, dynamic European city with lots to offer visitors. Our bars,
restaurants and eateries for example will appeal to both those searching for
something traditional and those seeking out the stylish décor and relaxed,
welcoming atmosphere that Belfast is becoming known for.
Our hope is that many people who have not been to the city before will be
delighted by what they find and will come back and visit again for a longer
stay."

The first cruise ship to arrive this year was the Black Prince which docked
in the Port of Belfast on 24th April and the season will continue until 28th
September 2006 when the Princess Cruises liner 'Star Princess' is expected
to bring 2,600 passengers and 1,100 crew to the city.

BVCB is a partnership organisation funded by Belfast City Council and the EU
Programme for Peace and Reconciliation administered by the Northern Ireland
Tourist Board and sponsored by Diageo NI.
The Port of Belfast is Northern Ireland's premier maritime gateway. In 2005
the Port handled 17m tonnes of cargo, 1.2m passengers and over 6,000
vessels. For more information visit Cruise Belfast


Eric I.
Admin
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