Cruise ship carrying 1,000 passengers unable to dock at Greencastle due to bad weather
‘Unfortunately Crystal Serenity was unable to proceed with tendering operations in the interest of guest safety’
A cruise ship carrying more than one thousand passengers was unable to dock in Inishowen this week due to adverse weather conditions.
The massive 'Crystal Serenity' liner sailed into Greencastle Harbour early on Tuesday morning, September 9, however the choppy conditions in Lough Foyle left passengers stranded aboard.
The 250-metre-long ship – with capacity for 1,040 passengers and a crew of 655 – had been the last scheduled cruise call of a busy 2025 summer season for the Inishowen port.
Passengers arriving into Greencastle disembark cruise liners on smaller ‘tender’ vessels, which then ferry them ashore in groups of 100 or more. However, it was deemed to be too rough to launch the tenders on this occasion – and the ship left with its full complement of passengers still on board as a consequence.
Several buses had been arranged to bring the cruise guests on a number of different outings across Inishowen and Derry – but the coaches had to leave the pier empty-handed, and were seen travelling back through Moville again just before 9am on Tuesday morning.
A delegation from the Go Visit Inishowen tourist office had also been due to meet the disembarking passengers in Greencastle.
A spokesperson for Foyle Port explained what happened.
“Unfortunately, due to weather conditions, Crystal Serenity was unable to proceed with tendering operations in the interest of guest safety.”
“This is not unusual for tender ports – not only in Greencastle, but worldwide,” they said.
That said, the Foyle Port official said it is quite rare for cruise passengers to be left unable to disembark at Greencastle.
“Greencastle is generally very sheltered, and we have enjoyed a successful season despite some challenging weather conditions.”
Meanwhile, after its brief Inishowen layover, the Crystal Serenity sailed on to the Scottish port of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, before continuing its voyage.