Waterford is set to get a €3.5m summer boost as cruise ships return to the port for the first time in two years following the COVID pandemic.

Waterford port welcomes its first cruise ship of the season as the Maud, a vessel from Norway, is due to make anchor on Thursday.

The ship's 528 passengers and 300 crew members will be a welcome sight for the many local businesses and to mark the occasion Harbour Master Capt Darren Doyle will present a Waterford Crystal Ships decanter to the ship's captain.

Commenting on the return of cruise business to the Port Capt. Doyle says, “We are delighted to again welcome cruise vessels back to the Port of Waterford. This has been a much anticipated day as it has been over two years since we waved goodbye to our last cruise vessel."

This summer the Port of Waterford hopes to welcome 27 cruise liners with an estimated 35,000 passengers and 16,000 crew members who will bring a much needed economic boost to the area.

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When passengers disembark from the cruise liner over the weekend they will enjoy trips to Waterford Crystal, The Waterford Treasures Museums at the Viking Triangle, Lismore, The Copper Coast and Kilkenny City.

The port is also gearing up to welcome the $900m liner, Celebrity Apex, who will be berthing in Waterford in June, July and August, bringing in over 3,000 passengers on each occasion.

Chief Executive at Port of Waterford Frank Ronan says, “Today is a momentous one, it is the day that we begin to rebuild the robust cruise line business of the Port of Waterford company of pre-pandemic times.

"The team here have put much work into delivering a schedule of vessels for the region this summer and now that the cruise business is back  on the seas again it offers us even further opportunity to build on the business for Waterford and the entire southeast region into the future.”