by Karen Jones, Account Director

Weighing more than 130,000 tonnes the MSC Splendida cruise ship carrying over 4,600 passengers and crew barely made a sound as she moved through the water on her maiden call to Dublin Port. Her sheer size and elegance a sight to behold in the stillness of the Bay at dawn, she did indeed live up to her name Splendida.

We – me and the press photographers – fastened our life jackets and boarded a small 12-seater rib to meet her at the mouth of the Liffey. Our job, to head out into the Bay and capture her arrival. We were joined by other ‘early birds’ perched on the Great South Wall, cameras in hand waiting for her to pass en route to port. We zipped by and waved across to them, acknowledging the momentous occasion between us. This was the longest ship ever to visit Dublin Port and we were among the first to witness this historic event for the city.

Even the sun had come out to welcome her, breaking frombehind a cloud to bathe her in a warm light as she began her approach. The shutters on the cameras clicked faster now, catching her best side. Edging closer, her silhouette dwarfed iconic landmarks like the Poolbeg Lighthouse and made the tug boats working below her look tiny by comparison.

We followed her still, our gaze transfixed as passengers peered from their balconies to see the city unfold beneath them, the day’s sights and activities waiting to be explored. In the distance, the Samuel Beckett Bridge, Liberty Hall and Aviva Stadium. What a way to arrive. By now the locals had gathered at Poolbeg Yacht Club in numbers to wave in welcome, wish her well for her short stay that was making a huge impact.

Later, the city’s streets would bustle with passengers, tills ringing in the shops, pints sinking in the pubs. Mid-deck the staff were out taking a breather from morning duties, drinking in the view and waving back at us too. Within the hour she had made her way up the river stern first, her length too long to swing around like all the smaller ships, and come to rest on Berth 33 for the day. Her journey was complete, but Dublin’s journey to fast becoming one of Europe’s finest cruise capitals is just within reach.

The thing is, MSC Splendida had asked to visit Dublin Port. The cruise line eager to bring the ship right into the city and her passengers excited to explore our sights and charm. Dublin Port put a special plan in place to facilitate her arrival, with weeks of planning and simulation exercises to guarantee a safe arrival.

But there are still cruise ships worldwide for whom Dublin Port remains out of reach. Geographical distance, location and a desire to call at Dublin Port aren’t the barriers, but berthing facilities are. The kind of facilities that would see 7,000-8,000 passengers descend on the capital in a single day, that would allow two cruise liners of this size to berth near East Link Bridge at any one time, that would accommodate the growing ship lengths of this fast evolving industry. Imagine what that would do for our city’s tourism?

The coastal town of Nice in the Cote d’Azur couldn’t believe its luck when a Chinese billionaire boss and his 6,400 employees descended for a holiday this week, spending €13 million on hotels, food and excursions during their four day stay. With MSC Splendida just one of 83 cruise calls confirmed for 2015 to Dublin Port – and growing – we are most certainly in luck and Dublin Port hopes to hear later this year whether its ambitious and timely plan to allow larger cruise ships to routinely call to Dublin will be given the green light.