Munster Express Online

Somewhat quietly Waterford has been stirring itself in the cruise world.

Last Sunday, Holland America Line’s (HAL) Prinsendam, 37,845 tonnes, skipped a rough anchorage at Dunmore and sailed up-river to Belview emulating the achievement of her fleet mate Rotterdam on May 27th last.

Coming alongside adds so much more to a cruise call. It may be a colourful sight to see tenders scurrying to and from ‘mother’ at anchor but it’s no fun if the sea is choppy and if it is rough the whole show will be called off.

Waterford has had more than its share of disappointments at Dunmore which has undermined prospects of the port/region reaching full potential from cruise ships.

Passengers and cruise companies do not expect failed calls these days unless the circumstances are truly extraordinary.

Passengers much prefer to walk off and berthing adds immeasurably to the smooth working of the shore excursions. In addition, Belview offers very quick access to the city and is more central to regional attractions.

Prinsendam is rather a special ship at Waterford. Ship enthusiasts will remember her first call here on August 16th 1990 as the brand new Royal Viking Sun and many subsequent calls flying the flag of that prestigious company.

Indeed she was an annual visitor, sometimes twice, and in 1995 and over the next five years she was under Cunard ownership and for a brief spell became the Seabourn Sun; Seabourn Cruises being a sister company to Cunard in the US-owned Carnival Group. Another change saw her move to the Holland America fleet and adopt her present name. Holland America has a Dutch lineage of many years and the European style of that much respected Line has been retained although ownership is now American.

Prinsendam is a unique ship, never had the planned sister in Royal Viking days, and stands out in the HAL fleet where quartets of sisterships are the norm.

In line with HAL tradition her hull is a serviceable navy blue not the spectacular, pristine white which RVL and most cruise lines prefer.

Prinsendam is 16 years late arriving at Belview! The official opening of the new port facility there was actually timed to coincide with her call to Waterford on September 4th 1993, and even the catering for this momentous event was to be on board ship.

However, things did not work out and she hugged the shore at anchor off Dunmore while the brass played away at Belview.

Since then improved access channels and that splendid 190-metre extension at Belview have made it so much easier to accommodate mid-sized cruise ships on favourable tidal windows.

It’s also third time lucky in another curious tale about Royal Viking Sun. On July 15th, 1992, it was planned that she should anchor at Passage and all was set fair for the debut at the picturesque riverside village. Bunting, welcome signs and heaps of sandwiches were in readiness.

Indeed, she arrived off the village, tailed by the cruise ship Berlin en route to the city, and after a tentative look around the Captain, Ola Harsheim, decided to return to Dunmore East.

As she sped back over the Duncannon Bar the other flight was a line of coaches and the cars of ashen faced tour operators and guides beating it fast for Dunmore. What might have been?

Captain Harsheim was back in Waterford and at Belview on The World. At that time, and it was before the 190-metre extension, he was asked if his old command (now Prisendam) could come alongside and he said yes with a tug; and so it has happened.

Prinsendam, at 204 metres (same length as Rice Bridge) swung on arrival just below the berth and did so with tug assistance. Rotterdam at 238 metres berthed bows up and went astern unaided to swing at Great Island on departure.

Prinsendam sailed at 2030 for Newport, South Wales, which sounds like a maiden visit and at a port not a well recognised cruise call. Every port has a beginning in the business and Waterford, although well established, has to capitalise on its recent achievement of accommodating two large cruise ships at Belview if growth and potential are to be realised.

Dublin will host over 80 cruise ships this year, Cork over 50, Belfast 41 and with plans to take on Dublin, Waterford is struggling to make double figures, half the number recorded in the 1990s, and should be looking at around 30 calls per annum.

Although 20 years old, Prinsendam will enjoy more years in the HAL fleet and when she drydocks at the Grand Bahama Shipyard next January it is planned to add 22 high-end staterooms.

Sixteen of the rooms will be deluxe verandas and two slightly smaller with verandas and four standard insides. Passenger capacity will increase to 837 from 793.

Waterford can look forward to another call from her on August 29th next and again in 2010. Having such a ship on berth is a matter of managing the tidal window.

Advance planning with owners can ensure that calls are worked on berth around that window and, vitally, that schedules and location are as published.