Biggest cruise ship ever, 30 metres longer than the Titanic, sails into Greencastle
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The vessel brings the highest number of passengers and crew ever received by Foyle Port in a single day
A record-breaking cruise ship arrival has caused quite a stir in Greencastle after the largest vessel ever to visit Lough Foyle dropped anchor off the Inishowen coast.
The gargantuan Nieuw Statendam sailed into the Foyle on Saturday morning, June 6, marking a significant milestone for cruise tourism in the North-West.
At 299 metres in length, the luxury liner is more than 30 metres longer than the Titanic and is the largest cruise ship welcomed to the region.
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Operated by Holland America Line, the vessel brings the highest number of passengers and crew ever received by Foyle Port in a single day.
With capacity for more than 4,000 guests and around 1,000 crew members, the arrival represents a major boost for the local tourism sector.
Throughout the day, small white tender boats flying Dutch flags ferried passengers ashore at Greencastle Pier, where they embarked on a series of organised excursions across the region.
Visitors are scheduled to explore some of the North-West’s most popular attractions, including Inishowen, Derry city and the Causeway Coast.
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The ship’s arrival attracted scores of local residents and visitors to Greencastle Pier, many eager to capture photographs of the impressive vessel against the backdrop of Binevenagh Mountain across the water.
Nieuw Statendam is the third cruise ship to visit Greencastle in as many days, following calls by Spirit of Discovery and Oceania Marina on June 4 and 5. The arrivals form part of a record-breaking cruise season for the region, with 22 cruise ship visits scheduled throughout 2026.
The arrival of Nieuw Statendam, the largest cruise liner ever to call at Inishowen, is expected to be one of the standout moments of the season.
Nieuw Statendam entered service in 2018 as the second Pinnacle-class cruise ship built for Holland America Line. Constructed by Fincantieri in Italy, the vessel measures 299 metres in length and has a gross tonnage of more than 99,000 tonnes.
Designed to blend contemporary luxury with Holland America’s traditional style, the ship features world-class dining, entertainment venues and extensive leisure facilities.
Nieuw Statendam was named in honour of a previous Holland America vessel that sailed under the same name during the twentieth century. Today, she operates itineraries across Europe, the Caribbean and beyond, carrying thousands of passengers on voyages around the world.