The largest cruise ship ever to enter Irish waters is due to visit Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, today. The 91,000-ton Constellation, of Celebrity Cruises, will then go to Dún Laoghaire tomorrow morning. The visit is part of a 14-day itinerary taking in Britain, Ireland and the Norwegian fiords. The cheapest fare for this trip is €3,154.
The Constellation, 20,000 tons bigger than the QE2 was built at St Nazaire, France, at a cost of $350 million. The 294-metre liner, which entered service in April of this year, has 11 decks and 975 cabins. It can accommodate up to 2,450 passengers, with a crew of 999.
The ship is due to arrive in Cork at 7.30 a.m. today and leave at 5.30 p.m. It is scheduled to arrive in Dún Laoghaire at 6 a.m. tomorrow, with passengers disembarking at the new marina and visiting Dublin during the day. Passengers will reboard the vessel in time for a 6 p.m. departure.
Among other liners due to visit Ireland during the summer are the 88,000-ton Brilliance of the Seas and the the floating hotel-ship The World.