13/06/2013

£7m Invested In Titanic Cruise Facility

£7m is being invested by Belfast Harbour to build a purpose-built cruise facility in the Titanic Quarter.

Last year, 45 cruise ships and approximately 75,000 passengers and crew visited Belfast, generating an estimated £3.9m in visitor spend.

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "Since the first cruise ship docked in Belfast in 1996, our local cruise sector has become a thriving industry. Luxury liners are bringing large numbers of visitors to our shores and passenger numbers are forecast to grow again this year.

"Today’s announcement is particularly exciting because it will ensure that Belfast is equipped to handle cruise ships which carry over 4,500 passengers and crew. It will also enable passengers to disembark within walking distance of Titanic Belfast, the Pump house, and the SS Nomadic.

"Last year 471,702 visitors came to Titanic Belfast from 128 countries outside Northern Ireland. Now that the last remaining vessel of the White Star Line, the SS Nomadic, has opened for visitors on the Belfast docks where she was built, visitors to the Port can enjoy a very special experience."

(IT/MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

04 December 2019
Belfast Harbour Named Best Cruise Port
Following a record year for cruise tourism to Northern Ireland, Belfast Harbour has been named the best port of call in the UK and Ireland for cruise ships. The accolade was awarded by a global panel of cruise experts as part of the 2019 Cruise Critic Editors' Pick Awards.
27 February 2023
Record Number Of Cruise Ships To Dock In Belfast In 2023
A record 170 cruise ships are due to dock in Belfast in 2023, the partnership between Belfast Harbour and Visit Belfast, Cruise Belfast has announced. As the cruise industry in Northern Ireland continues to provide a welcome boost to the economy, the number of ships expected this season represents a 20% increase on the previous record set in 2019.
20 October 2023
Record Number Of Cruise Ships Land In Belfast In 2023 Season
Cruise Belfast has welcomed a record number of cruise ships to the city in the 2023 season, with a total of 158 calls made. Cruise Belfast is a partnership between Belfast Harbour and Visit Belfast, which markets the city as a leading cruise tourism destination.
01 April 2022
130 Cruise Ships Expected To Dock In Belfast This Year
Some 130 cruise ships are expected to dock in Belfast Harbour during the 2022 season, including 18 first time visitors.
29 July 2019
New Cruise Terminal Opens In Belfast
Cruise ship visitors to Northern Ireland will now be greeted by the first dedicated cruise terminal on the island of Ireland as they step off their ship in Belfast. A partnership between Visit Belfast and Belfast Harbour, the new facility includes a Visitor Information Centre and the latest technology to showcase local attractions.