Dublin nets 10 cruise liners for 2005

Dublin city is set for a €23m windfall after it was revealed that 10 giant cruise liners will dock at Dublin Port next year.

Princess Cruises - one of the largest vacation companies - intend to ferry 26,400 passengers and 14,100 crew to Dublin in 2005.

Dublin Port has seen the number of cruise liners it handles increase steadily over the last few years.

This year sees an estimated 40,000 passengers visit the capital - a 100% increase on the 2000 figure.

Cruise liners arriving at Irish ports contributed €65.9m to the economy in 2003 in direct and indirect purchases of goods and services.

Dublin Port accounted for €30.6m (46%), according to the centre for policy studies at the University College Cork.

However, it is believed that in order to attract further large cruise liners, the port will need to build a dedicated terminal for these vessels.

Enda Connellan, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company said today : "This deal represents a major endorsement for Dublin Port as an attractive international destination by one of the major international cruise liner operators, contributing a further €23m to businesses in Dublin.

"However, we now need to consider investing in a dedicated cruise terminal at Dublin Port to maintain and grow this lucrative business.

"A first step will be to see how this investment will be funded so that the cost is shared by those who will benefit from the increased cruise liner traffic," Connellan added.