The Port of Cork Company welcomed the official start of the 2026 cruise season with the arrival of AIDAluna to Cork Harbour earlier this week.

The ship, which stopped off in Cork as part of its maiden voyage, is the first of an impressive 93 vessels with more than 175,000 passengers onboard scheduled to visit between April and November at what is now recognised as Ireland’s busiest cruise port.

Bantry Bay Harbour will welcome 11 cruise liners this season, with the first due to dock on April 26th.

The busy schedule highlight’s Cork and West Cork’s continued appeal as a leading destination for cruise tourism, with an estimated €17m generated for the local economy via passenger and crew spending on land.

Visitors spend an average of €81 per passenger and €29 per crew member during their time ashore, supporting a wide range of local businesses.

AIDAluna, carrying more than 2,000 guests and over 600 crew, is one of six making their maiden call to Cork in 2026.

The schedule features a diverse mix of luxury, expedition, and large-scale ships from the US, Canada, Germany and across Europe.

The first vessel to Bantry Bay will be Le Laperouse which will dock in the inner port. Next is the Douglas Mawson on May 12th (inner), followed by the Vasco de Gamma on May 16th (outer).

Next in the timetable is the Douglas Mawson again on May 22nd (inner), followed by the Hanseatic Nature on May 31st (inner) and the Deutschland on June 2nd (inner).

The Spirit of Discovery will drop anchor on June 6th (outer), followed by Le Champlain on June 17th (inner) and the Vista on August 6th (inner).

The busy Bantry season will wind up with the Europa on August 11th (inner), the Azamara Quest on the same date in the outer bay, and the Insignia on August 12th (inner).

The start of the cruise season signals a boost for Cork’s wider tourism economy, supporting jobs and activity across shops, restaurants, cultural sites and transport services.

Passenger spending remains a valuable contributor to local businesses throughout the season.

Ann Doherty, chief executive officer at the PoCC and chair of Cruise Ireland, welcomed the start of the cruise season.

‘The launch of the 2026 cruise season is an important moment,’ she said. ‘We are pleased to welcome a strong schedule of vessels again this year, and we continue to see the positive impact cruise tourism has on local businesses, suppliers and communities.’

She said that as the only Irish port with a dedicated cruise terminal the Port of Cork was ‘laser-focused’ at showcasing facilities.

‘The success we have experienced so far is a testament to the collaborative network we have built up with partners and stakeholders both at home and abroad,’ she added.

The Port of Cork recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Belfast Harbour across a range of initiatives, including cruise tourism.

This will see the two largest cruise ports on the island of Ireland collaborate on jointly marketing and improving cruise facilities to enhance the passenger experience and drive regional tourism spend, building on the success of their current collaboration through Cruise Ireland.