The 2026 cruise season at Port of Cork officially started on April 13 with the arrival of the AIDAluna on its maiden call to Cork Harbor.

This is the first of 93 vessels and over 175,000 passengers scheduled to visit between April and November.

Eleven cruise ships are also scheduled to visit Bantry Bay Harbor this year, starting on April 26, the Port of Cork Company (PoCC) said in a statement.

“The launch of the 2026 cruise season is an important moment for the Port of Cork. We are pleased to welcome a strong schedule of vessels again this year, and we continue to see the positive impact cruise tourism has on local businesses, suppliers and communities,” said Ann Doherty, PoCC CEO and chair of Cruise Ireland.

The AIDAluna is one of six vessels making their maiden call to Cork this year.

The 2026 schedule will feature luxury, expedition and large scale ships from the United States, Canada, Germany and across Europe.

Apart from this, PoCC shared that Port of Cork recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Belfast Harbour across various initiatives, including cruise tourism.

Under the MoU, the two largest cruise ports in Ireland are set to collaborate on jointly marketing and improving cruise facilities to enhance the passenger experience and drive regional tourism spend.