New Members at Cruise Europe: Leknes, Norway, and Galway, Ireland
Kirwans Lane – Galway, Ireland (Courtesy Travel Guide Ireland – blog.galwaytourism.ie)
● Leknes
Lofoten is an Arctic island group that has been a cruise destination since 1889. The annual average for calls to these Norwegian islands is about 100 with expansion now beginning into the winter season. The five main islands are linked by road and can be visited in a day. Passengers are also able to disembark at one port and join at another.
Leknes calls itself ‘the gateway to the most beautiful islands in the world’. It is able to accommodate ships up to a maximum of 230m in length at the berth which has a length of 190m and depth of 7.5m to 14m. The distance from the berth to the shuttle buses is about 60m.
When it comes to anchorage, there is no limitation on size, by agreement with the pilot. The diameter and draught of the turning circle are about 500m and 6m respectively. The pontoon dock for ships’ tenders is 45m in length and 0.75nm from the anchorage. Tidal movement is 2m to 2.2m. There is a tug available.
The port is working on providing a faster and free WiFi network to passengers at the port which is planned to be available for the 2018 season. It is also improving signage, marking and maps for next year as well as taking on additional personnel at the dock on call days.
The port is offering a reduced quay fee for ships overnighting and offers a number of night-time excursions including horseback riding, golf at midnight and a midnight sun RIB trip not to mention the chance to see the northern lights/aurora borealis. Due to the warm Gulf Stream, Lofoten has a milder climate than other parts of the world at the same latitude. During the summer there is light 24 hours a day.
This year there were 43 calls, 60,441 passengers and 21,150 crew to Leknes. In total 93 different nationalities visited. A number of ships called for the first time: Viking Star, Sea and Sky, Costa Magica, AIDAsol and Pacific Princess. Next year Sapphire Princess and TUI Discovery (which is due for a name change to Marella Discovery in respect of Thomson Cruises rebranding as Marella Cruises this month) call for the first time when there are 45 calls booked.
There is a wide range of shore excursions ranging from the historical to the active. For example, the Lofotr Vikingmuseum is home to the largest longhouse in the world. In the summer passengers can sail and row in Viking ships or try their hand at axe throwing or the bow and arrow. Year-round they can join Viking Guild, a Viking party!
Guided mountain tours are on offer as well as water activities, such as RIB safaris, scuba diving, kayaking and fishing tours. The cliffs in Lofoten are abundant with nesting seabirds and marine life includes migrating orcas.
● Galway
Galway, situated on the west coast of Ireland, is primarily a tender port. When P&O Cruises’ Oriana called recently, shore tendering was provided by a local domestic ferry. Captain Brian Sheridan, harbour master Port of Galway, commented: “This proved a great success and is to be implemented for all ships at Galway greater than 50,000gt and passenger numbers greater than 1,000.”
Presently, only the very small adventure cruiseships can moor alongside due to beam restrictions at the dock gates. Ships of 110m in length with a beam of 17m and draught of 6.2m can however be accommodated at the 164m-long quay. The anchorage can accommodate any size of ship and is 2.0nm from the tender pontoon. The arrival pontoon is 10 minutes walk from the town centre.
The Port of Galway is currently in the last stages of a planning application with the National Planning Authority to expand its infrastructure. Permission is expected in late 2018. The expansion will transform the port’s capability in terms of the cruise sector as well as other areas.
The new development will have 660m of quays at dredged depths of 12m chart datum, capable of accommodating ships of 350m in length. Channel depth will be 8m with a turning circle of 400m in diameter. The permission incorporates a cruise terminal, coach parking bays, check-in and baggage control.
To be built in four stages, the development will include a marina, fishing pier and slipway, nautical centre slipway, freight rail link and commercial port formation.
In 2017 passengers visiting Galway numbered 6,136 and crew 2,985. Next year the figures will be 9,417 and 4,474 respectively.
Galway has very strong links with Holland America Line. Maasdam was a regular caller in the 1950’s, nowadays Prinsendam comes in regularly. In August 2017, the largest ship to be serviced, Oriana, called and will return on July 18 2018. Next year Seabourn makes its first call to the Irish port, also in July, with Seabourn Quest.
Currently, it is 900m walk from the port to the city. Improved signage and street walking maps have been introduced for cruise passengers. The Harbour Hotel is offering passengers reduced prices at the restaurant. The Galway Food Tour is a new excursion that is gaining popularity amongst passengers. It is geared toward those with a sense of adventure in the culinary arena.
Ships can be pre-booked up to three years in advance. A new 56km motorway from Galway to Shannon Airport opened on October 5 2017 which brings Shannon International Airport to within 45mins drive of the port.
