9 May 2025
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Bantry Bay Port Company marked the beginning of a busy cruise season today, Friday, May 9th with the arrival of the World Explorer.
A total of 14 cruise liners are scheduled to call at Bantry Bay Port throughout the 2025 season, with vessels arriving from a range of international destinations. Over the coming months, these liners will bring more than 6,000 passengers and crew from all over the world to Bantry Bay, providing a major boost for tourism and businesses in the surrounding area.
Operated by Quark Expeditions, the World Explorer was launched in 2019 and holds up to 172 passengers. This modern and fast cruise ship was designed for polar cruises, especially Antarctica, but it will be anchored on Bantry Inner for the duration of its stay. Its arrival adds to the vibrancy of the harbour, with passengers set to enjoy the town and its scenic surroundings during their visit.
Speaking about the cruise season, Michael Murphy, Harbour Master at the Port of Bantry, stated, “We’re very pleased to welcome the World Explorer to Bantry Bay and officially launch the 2025 cruise season. With 14 ships due to visit this year, we’re expecting another strong season that will bring a real boost to local tourism and businesses. Each arrival is an opportunity to showcase the beauty and hospitality of this region, and we look forward to giving every visitor a warm West Cork welcome.”
Conor Mowlds, Chairperson of Cruise Ireland and Chief Commercial Officer at the Port of Cork Company, of which Bantry Bay Port is a subsidiary, stated, “This year, we’re delighted to see continued collaboration between the Port of Cork and Bantry Bay Port in building cruise tourism across the region. With 14 cruise calls scheduled for Bantry in 2025 and 93 to the Port of Cork, the economic and cultural benefits of cruise tourism are felt throughout the county. It’s fantastic to see Bantry establishing itself as a standout destination on Ireland’s cruise map.”
Propelled with two Rolls-Royce engines, the 126-metre World Explorer makes a fitting first arrival to Bantry Bay for what promises to be an exciting and vibrant cruise season.
The cruise season schedule for Bantry Bay Port can be found at https://www.bantrybayport.com/