MSC Virtuosa to close Port of Cork’s 2026 cruise season
The final scheduled Cobh call follows a season that included six maiden visits and 160,000 cruise passengers.
The Port of Cork Company’s 2026 cruise season was scheduled to conclude with the arrival of MSC Virtuosa at Cobh Cruise Terminal. The visit was set to be the final call of the season at what the port describes as Ireland’s only dedicated cruise berth.
MSC Virtuosa, a regular visitor to the port, can accommodate 6,300 passengers and 1,700 crew. During the season, cruise vessels called at Cobh, Ringaskiddy and Cork City Quays, with six ships making maiden visits.
Paul Hegarty, the port’s chief commercial officer, said 160,000 cruise passengers arrived during the year. He reported 76 calls at Cobh, 13 at Ringaskiddy and six in Cork City. A further nine cruise vessels visited Bantry Bay between April and August, bringing more than 6,000 passengers to West Cork.
The port also recorded increased turnaround activity during the season, which it regards as a strategic opportunity for the wider tourism economy. Hegarty estimated that cruise tourism contributes €17 million to the region annually, based in part on average onshore spending of €81 per passenger and €29 per crew member.