Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has “promised” new destinations to be included in itineraries but said there were no plans to reintroduce Dublin and Belfast as turnaround ports.
Two years ago the line reduced the UK turnaround ports to Dover, Liverpool, Newcastle, Rosyth and Southampton.
Clare Ward, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ director of product and customer service, said there was not “the depth of market” to bring back Dublin and Belfast.
Explaining the line’s decision, Ward said: “Taking Belfast and Dublin specifically, unfortunately, there is not the depth of market and we have not been able to make the sales to fill the ships at a price that is okay for our smaller ships.
“Ideally we would have [a turnaround port] in Ireland so we are covering the north and the south but the market was not there. There are no plans for Dublin and Belfast to come back on.”
Justin Stanton, the line’s sales and marketing director, said the decision was not one that Fred Olsen had taken lightly.
Mike Rodwell, Fred Olsen’s managing director, admitted it was not ideal for the Irish market but pointed to how the line offers “more cruises from Liverpool” than it did two years ago.
Ward added that new destinations, most likely to be introduced in 2020/21, would give Fred Olsen’s passengers “a real experience” which was part of the brand’s “essence”.
She said: “All I will say is that there are new destinations. Every year we put new destinations on. We are right at the beginning of our planning for 2020/21 and although I can’t tell you what they will be, there will definitely be [new destinations].
“It follows our brand essence. We work hard at trying to find destinations which give you a real experience. They will enhance the brand.”
However, she did not indicate where Fred Olsen’s new destinations would be.