Nieuw Statendam Becomes Largest Cruise Ship to Visit Lough Foyle
It was Holland America Line’s first Lough Foyle call since Prinsendam in 2018, and the line has return visits scheduled for 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam became the largest cruise ship to visit Lough Foyle during a June 8 call that brought close to 3,700 passengers and crew to Foyle Port. The 99,500-GT, 297.75-meter ship called as part of Holland America Line’s 28-day “Arctic Circle & British Isles Collectors’ Voyage,” giving the port its highest single-day cruise passenger-and-crew volume.
The visit came during Foyle Port’s busiest cruise season, with 22 scheduled calls from 15 cruise lines expected to bring about 16,000 passengers in 2026. It was also Holland America Line’s first Lough Foyle call since Prinsendam visited in 2018, and the line has scheduled return visits in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Foyle Port points to cruise-line confidence
Foyle Port held a traditional plaque exchange onboard between Nieuw Statendam Captain Noel O’Driscoll and Foyle Port Harbour Master and Operations Director Captain Bill McCann.
“Welcoming the Nieuw Statendam — the largest cruise ship ever to call to Lough Foyle — is a landmark moment for Foyle Port and for the wider North West region,” McCann said.
McCann said Holland America Line’s multi-year return schedule showed “the confidence that leading cruise lines now have in our Port facilities and local tourism offering.”
Karen Farndell, associate vice president for sales and marketing at Holland America Line, said the call gave guests access to “the history, culture, and landscapes that make Northern Ireland so special.”
A larger ship in a record-season program
Nieuw Statendam is a Pinnacle Class vessel delivered in 2018 from Fincantieri’s Marghera yard in Italy and registered in the Netherlands. The ship carries 2,666 guests at standard capacity and has 1,339 staterooms, with crew capacity listed by the port at 1,053.
Foyle Port’s 2026 schedule includes a mix of larger cruise calls and smaller expedition traffic. Expedition vessels account for 36% of the season’s cruise calls, primarily in April and May, with Ponant’s Le Bellot opening the season and Le Lapérouse returning on May 3. Aurora Expeditions’ Douglas Mawson is also among the season’s expedition vessels.
The port’s cruise facilities include Lisahally Terminal, Queen’s Quay, Greencastle Anchorage and Foyle Port Marina. Greencastle Anchorage is listed for vessels up to 325 meters in length, providing capacity for ships beyond the size limits of the port’s smaller berth locations.
Shore program expands with Celtic production
Passengers on Nieuw Statendam had access to shore excursions across the North West. New to the season’s excursion program is Celtic Gra, a live Celtic music and dance production that has been performed for audiences on land and at sea.
Niamh McCarthy, managing director of Excursions Ireland, said the region’s cruise growth was tied to the combination of destination appeal and port development. “2026 is a busy season in Foyle Port and we look forward to being a part of the impressive growth this region is seeing,” McCarthy said.
Foyle Port’s latest cruise schedule remains under review, with cancellations or call changes possible at short notice as the 2026 season continues.
See current Nieuw Statendam fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
