New season of ‘No-fly’ cruises sets sail from Belfast Harbour

Thousands of local cruise passengers are set to enjoy the benefits of a ‘no-fly’ cruise with a new season of sailings from Belfast Harbour aimed at cutting down on the need to travel to ports.

A total of six itineraries by regular visitor Ambassador Cruise Line will be departing from Belfast Harbour this season, with destinations including France, Spain and Portugal.

This will be the second season of sailings by the company, which offers departures from eight different UK ports, enabling passengers to board their ship without the need to fly there. As well as giving a boost to the local economy and providing greater convenience for passengers, this also helps cut down on the environmental impact of the additional travel usually required to meet cruise ships at other ports.

Since 1996, Belfast Harbour has welcomed more than 1,300 cruise ships carrying almost 2.5million international passengers and crew. With more than 140 cruise calls expected in Belfast in 2024, the visiting passengers and crew are expected to generate around £25m of local tourism spend.

Gary Hall, Commercial Executive, Belfast Harbour, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Cruise Lines back for another season of ‘no-fly’ cruises from Belfast providing choice for the people of the Region as well as supporting our sustainability goals. Bringing a cruise line to Belfast which allows embarkations without the added cost and inconvenience of having to fly to meet a ship makes things much simpler and also provides a ‘greener’ option for local people.”

Christian Verhounig, CEO of Ambassador, said: “I’d like to thank our partners at Belfast Harbour for welcoming us back for a second season of sailings from Northern Ireland.

“In the short time Ambassador has been in operation, we have firmly established our no-fly cruise brand, offering our guests authentic experiences and affordable quality. After a successful inaugural season, we’re very much looking forward to welcoming guests from Northern Ireland onboard our second lady of the sea, Ambition, this summer.

“Operating a second season from Belfast is evidence of the strength of the Ambassador brand. Demand for sailings from Northern Ireland has been very strong, indicating that holidaymakers see a holiday as a necessity, not a luxury, and are eager to get away. Given the current economic climate, our no-fly offering is proving very popular with new-to-cruise customers and seasoned cruisers alike, courtesy of our inflation-defying prices.

“Our no-fly holiday options on our small to mid-size ships have proved a real hit, with guests telling us that they love boarding Ambition with a minimum of hassle – and that’s without mentioning how they can avoid airport queues, flight cancellations, baggage limits or exchange rate fluctuations when sailing from Belfast Harbour, where the currency onboard is in pound sterling.

“The success of our business is evident in the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our guests, with a remarkable 94% saying they would recommend Ambassador to their friends and family. This endorsement speaks volumes about the exceptional experiences we provide and we’re looking forward to offering guests boarding in Belfast Harbour the warmest welcome at sea in the months and years to come.”

The new season begins on Wednesday, June 12th, with the Ambassador Ambition setting sail on the 12-night British Isles Discovery itinerary. Other departures from Belfast Harbour include the 11-night Northern Isles and Fjordland Adventure departing on June 24th; the 12-night Hidden Gems of France, Spain & Portugal sailing on July 16th; and the 5-night UK & Ireland Getaway on July 28th, before Ambition makes her last call of the Belfast season on 2nd.