First of seven cruise ships arrives in Galway
The first cruise ship of the 2016 season arrived in Galway Bay last weekend, with more than 400 passengers and crew on board.
L’Austral – which is described as a “luxury mega-yacht” by its owners, French-based Ponant – docked in the bay last Friday morning to glorious sunshine.
Passengers had six options while on the day-long stopover here – many opted for a trip to Kylemore Abbey, while others went shopping and sight-seeing around the city centre.
Others options included visits to Ashford Castle or Dunguaire Castle and on to the Burren.
Chief Executive Officer of Galway Harbour Company, Eamonn Bradshaw told the Galway City Tribune said the main drawing power for cruise ship tourists is the people of Galway.
“Invariably in Galway, they all have a good experience, the main drawing power being the people, and then the scenery. The passengers on cruise ships tell us time and time again that the Number One attraction for them is the natural friendliness of the people,” said Mr Bradshaw.
Six more cruise ships are due into Galway this year, bringing more than 3,600 passengers and more than 1,800 crew.
For more on the cruise ships in Galway, see this week’s Galway City Tribune