#CruiseLiners – The dual serving liner and cruiseship Queen Mary 2 was not the only passenger vessel visiting Dublin Bay today, as the Serenissima docked within Dun Laoghaire Harbour and Artania called to Dublin Port, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The contrast could not be so diverse between the Dun Laoghaire cruise callers. The 2,620 passenger Cunard Line giant of 151,400 tonnes, making an impressive sight at anchorage (see web-cam) while Noble Caledonia's 2,500 tonnes Serenissima slipped into port berthing at Carlisle Pier. She had sailed overnight from Waterford and has accommodation for just over 100 passengers.
Serenissima is a former member of the Norwegian Hurtigruten Coastal Cruises fleet and her hull form and overall appearance certainly reflects her era. She was built in 1960 and launched as Harald Jarl serving a career along the many fjords of Norway.
As an exploration cruiseship she has also travelled to the other end of the world on cruises to the Antarctic under the name Andrea.
Also making a mid-May morning arrival albeit heading for Dublin Port was Phoenix Reisen Cruises Artania from Belfast.
The 44,500 tonnes Bermuda flagged vessel with a 1,200 passenger capacity was formerly launched for Princess Cruises as Royal Princess and christened by Diana, Princess of Wales.
