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AWARD WINNING BELFAST'S MUSICAL
WELCOME FOR MEIN SCHIFF 2
Luxury
German cruise liner Mein Schiff 2 sailed into Belfast Harbour,
winner of Best Improved Port Facilities Award from the
prestigious Dream World Cruise Destinations magazine. Over
2,000 visitors and crew arrived onboard to visit the
city on the ship's maiden visit. With an early morning
port call, guests were greeted to the sounds of
the bagpipes as they disembarked for a day of sightseeing
and exploration across Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Mein Schiff 2 is the
27th of 31 cruise ships to dock in Belfast this
year, a number which is set to increase to 40 in 2012.
The success of the
Cruise Belfast Initiative, which promotes the city as a port of
call for international cruise liners’ itineraries, can be
attributed to the partnership between the Belfast Visitor &
Convention Bureau (BVCB) and Belfast Harbour.
Dockside, the Mayor
of Belfast, Councillor NiallÓ
Donnghaile, was ready to welcome the
passengers ashore. The Mayor then engaged in the traditional
exchanging of plaques custom with the Mein Schiff’s Captain Michael
Block. Steeped in history, this international maritime
practice commemorates a vessel’s first time visit to a
city.
Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Niall
Ó Donnghaile, said: “It
was a pleasure to welcome Captain Michael Block and the impressive
Mein Schiff 2 to Belfast. I am encouraged to see the number of
cruise ships docking in the city and next year we will welcome 40,
our highest number yet. This will bring additional tourism and
revenue opportunities for the city and beyond. The number of repeat
visits by cruise ships is also on the increase, evidence of
Belfast’s popularity as a must-see tourist destination and
reflecting the warm welcome and wide variety of things for
passengers to do.”
2011 marks the thirteenth year since the
first liner docked in Belfast. Since
then, the Cruise Belfast initiative has attracted 269 cruise
ships to the city, welcoming 347,847 passengers and crew to Belfast
and Northern Ireland.
The last liner to visit Belfast in 2011,
Fred Olsen’s Black Watch, will arrive on Thursday 29th
September 2011 bringing to an end another successful and busy
cruise season for the city.