Cruise Europe
Cruise Europe
04/24/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/24/2026 06:11
Cruise Season Officially Underway at Foyle Port with Debut Visit from Cruise Line
The 2026 cruise season has officially commenced at Foyle Port with the arrival of its first passenger vessel of the year, an inaugural visit from leading French luxury cruise line, Ponant. The ice-class rated expedition vessel, Le Lapérouse, anchored in Greencastle on Thursday 16th April, marking the beginning of what is set to be a record year for cruise tourism for the Port.
The ship is calling as part of a 10-day "Celtic Secrets & Landscapes" cruise, sailing from Greenock to Cobh, with stops across Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This marks the earliest cruise call ever to the region and with the final call scheduled for 19th September, this is set to be the longest season on record for Foyle Port.
To commemorate the inaugural call, a traditional plaque exchange was held on board between the ship's Captain Adrien Eyssautier and local representatives from Foyle Port, Fáilte Ireland, Donegal County Council, Go Visit Inishowen and Hamilton Shipping Services.
Foyle Port's Harbour Master and Operations Director, Captain Bill McCann said, "We are delighted to welcome Ponant to the North West for the first time. The arrival of a prestigious luxury expedition cruise line of this calibre is a strong endorsement of the region's offering and its growing reputation on the global cruise stage. Ponant guests typically seek out culturally rich and off-the-beaten-track destinations, making the North West an ideal fit and creating valuable opportunities for local tourism businesses."
He added, "This is the first of eight inaugural calls scheduled for 2026, alongside a strong return rate, with 87% of the cruise lines choosing to revisit the region. This year is set to be a record, with the highest volume of calls and almost 16,000 passengers, the most we have ever welcomed."
Expedition vessels continue to play a significant role in the 2026 season, accounting for 36% of all cruise calls, most of which are scheduled during April and May. Le Lapérouse is due to return on Sunday 3rd May, followed by another inaugural visit from Douglas Mawson, operated by Aurora Expeditions, on Saturday 16th May.
To view the full list of cruise calls to Foyle Port in 2026, visit www.foyleport.com/cruise-and-leisure
The ship is calling as part of a 10-day "Celtic Secrets & Landscapes" cruise, sailing from Greenock to Cobh, with stops across Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This marks the earliest cruise call ever to the region and with the final call scheduled for 19th September, this is set to be the longest season on record for Foyle Port.
To commemorate the inaugural call, a traditional plaque exchange was held on board between the ship's Captain Adrien Eyssautier and local representatives from Foyle Port, Fáilte Ireland, Donegal County Council, Go Visit Inishowen and Hamilton Shipping Services.
Foyle Port's Harbour Master and Operations Director, Captain Bill McCann said, "We are delighted to welcome Ponant to the North West for the first time. The arrival of a prestigious luxury expedition cruise line of this calibre is a strong endorsement of the region's offering and its growing reputation on the global cruise stage. Ponant guests typically seek out culturally rich and off-the-beaten-track destinations, making the North West an ideal fit and creating valuable opportunities for local tourism businesses."
He added, "This is the first of eight inaugural calls scheduled for 2026, alongside a strong return rate, with 87% of the cruise lines choosing to revisit the region. This year is set to be a record, with the highest volume of calls and almost 16,000 passengers, the most we have ever welcomed."
Expedition vessels continue to play a significant role in the 2026 season, accounting for 36% of all cruise calls, most of which are scheduled during April and May. Le Lapérouse is due to return on Sunday 3rd May, followed by another inaugural visit from Douglas Mawson, operated by Aurora Expeditions, on Saturday 16th May.
To view the full list of cruise calls to Foyle Port in 2026, visit www.foyleport.com/cruise-and-leisure
Cruise Europe published this content on April 24, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 24, 2026 at 12:11 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]