Port of Cork Targets Turnaround Growth After 160,000 Cruise Visits
MSC Virtuosa is scheduled to make the season’s final call at Cobh Cruise Terminal on October 16, where the railway station sits directly opposite the berth.
The Port of Cork expects to finish its 2026 cruise season with approximately 160,000 passenger visits across 95 calls. MSC Virtuosa is scheduled to make the final call on Friday, October 16, at Cobh Cruise Terminal, Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth.
Cobh accounts for 76 of those calls, with 13 at Ringaskiddy and six at Cork City Quays. Bantry Bay separately welcomed nine cruise vessels this year.
The season included six maiden visits and three scheduled partial turnaround calls. The port wants to expand its turnaround business to encourage passengers to spend more time in Cork and the wider southern region.
Paul Hegarty, chief commercial officer at the Port of Cork Company, said: “Realizing this ambition will require investment in terminal facilities to deliver modern infrastructure and transport connectivity through further collaboration with Irish Rail and Cork Airport.”
Cobh railway station is directly opposite the cruise berth, with services toward Cork City. Passengers disembark beside the Cobh Heritage Centre, about a three-minute walk from the town centre.
The port links its turnaround ambitions to the Government’s tourism policy objective of extending the visitor season from St Brigid’s Day through Halloween. Hegarty also credited local communities and tourism partners for their role in welcoming cruise visitors.
“Cobh and Cork Harbour are Ireland’s national gateway for cruise tourism,” said Colin Morehead, president of Cobh and Harbour Chamber. He said the town looked forward to receiving a broader mix of cruise passengers in 2027.
The season opened on April 13 with AIDAluna’s first visit. Other ships on the schedule included Majestic Princess, Ambience, Seabourn Ovation and Celebrity Eclipse, alongside Nieuw Statendam, MSC Preziosa, Spirit of Adventure and Le Laperouse.
The Port of Cork plans to publish its 2027 cruise schedule early next year.
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