The German cruise ship, Arkona, more than 550 feet long, yesterday became the largest passenger vessel to negotiate Waterford Harbour and the River Suir and to dock at the city-centre quays. The ship's 600 passengers and crew spent a day sightseeing and shopping in Waterford and its hinterland, defying the high winds and heavy rain which - for some visitors - are an expected and characteristic feature of an Irish tour.
The Arkona's visit marked the end of a cruise season at Waterford which has seen more than 10,000 visitors in some 20 ships visit the port city and region - a highly valued icing on the local tourism cake.
Waterford is now firmly established as a major Irish/European cruise call and further growth can be anticipated in the years ahead, said the Harbour Master, Philip Cowman, whose pilotage operation is crucial to the safe passage of the big vessels.
Although the 18,591-tonne Arkona was the longest and largest passenger ship to reach the city-centre, some of the other cruise vessels have been much bigger and have either anchored off Dunmore East or berthed at the ESB's Great Island jetty or at Belview Port.
A recent innovation has been the establishment of Waterford Cruise Co-Operative, representing all the local beneficiaries of cruise calls at Waterford. The trustees of the co-op at Waterford Harbour Commissioners are Waterford Crystal and Waterford Chamber of Commerce. The function of the organisation is to embellish the cruise ship visits by affording a special welcome and send-off to the visitors.
Next year, even larger numbers of cruise passengers are expected to arrive in the city. The schedule of visits will include three calls by the 76,000-tonne Norway, the world's largest cruise liner. This vessel can carry 2,000 passengers, but will not be able to berth at the city-centre quays.
Waterford has become accustomed to the regular descent on the city by hundreds of very temporary visitors anxious to purchase souvenirs and high-value clothing and craftwork. When a cruise ship is due to visit on a Sunday, for example, a number of the major commercial outlets make special arrangements to have their premises open for the visitors.