30/08/2001

Largest ever cruise ship docks in Belfast

The largest cruise liner ever to visit the province sailed into Belfast Lough on Thursday August 30.

The visit of the 804ft long five-star superliner Crown Princess has been hailed as a major boost for the tourism industry in Northern Ireland.

Owned by the third biggest cruise company in the world, the 69,800 tonne Crown Princess, carrying 1,600 passengers and around 600 crew, docked in Belfast on Thursday.

The German ship, Deutschland, docked in Belfast on Wednesday August 29 and three more liners are due to visit Belfast next week.

The imminent arrival of other ships is expected to set a new record as five cruise ships visit Northern Ireland inside a nine-day period. (CD)

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