Galway is set for a €200,000 tourism boost when the largest cruise ship to ever dock in the bay arrives next month.
The Oriana is due in Galway on August 30 and with 1,928 passengers and 794 crew members on board, the 70,000-ton cruise liner will be the biggest ever seen off Galway.
The 260-metre ship comes as a part of Galway’s cruise ship season that has seen the bay visited by a number of vessels over the course of five months.
Harbour Master, Captain Brian Sheridan told the Connacht Tribune that the arrival of the cruise ships will provide the city and county with a strong economic boost with the projected spend for the visitors from the Oriana alone expected to be around €200,000.
“Of course they will have a strong economic impact on the area with almost 2,000 passengers and nearly 800 crew members coming. That’s a seriously significant showing of people,” said Capt Sheridan.
“All of these visitors will be spread out between Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Glenlo Abbey, Cnoc Suain and they’ll be going to see all the attractions in the countryside.
“In the city you will have tourists going on walking tours, stopping for a pint or a coffee and just general shopping,” Capt Sheridan added.
A number of passengers will be travelling from different locations around the world including the US and Germany. but Captain Sheridan said that some of the tourists would be coming from closer to home than would be expected.
“The Oriana is making its journey from Southampton to Galway so it just shows that there is a tourism interest from the UK which is important.”
The Oriana will be followed by two more vessels travelling to Galway including the Silver Muse which is making its maiden voyage with 596 guests and 411 crew members on board.
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