Cruise & Ferry
Cork tourism boost as first-ever cruise ship stops at Baltimore harbour

The first cruise ship to call to scenic Baltimore harbour in West Cork has brought a welcome tourism boost to the region.
Captain Jose Fonseca of Noble Caledonia’s luxurious Island Sky vessel dropped anchor beneath Baltimore’s landmark beacon on Thursday — the first time a cruise ship has called to the harbour — and remained there for the day while guests ventured off on day trips.
Many of the ship’s 90 passengers transferred to Baltimore in the morning, and then on to Sherkin Island, the “island of the arts”, in the afternoon.
They enjoyed walking tours, focused on Baltimore’s maritime heritage, and tours of the Sherkin studios, before they got time to explore Baltimore and Sherkin for themselves, browsing crafts and enjoying some local food and drink.
Cork County Council staff were on hand on the day to greet passengers and crew, hand out maps and brochures, and provide guidance to ensure visitors enjoyed their visit to the area.
The Island Sky is a small but luxurious expedition cruise ship which left Dublin on August 5 on a 12-day ‘Wild Ireland’ tour.
It has almost 60 spacious and well-designed suites, all with a seating area and some with private balconies.
The cruise line company boasts how the feeling of luxury is enhanced on board by the wood panelling and brass, “conveying the atmosphere of a private yacht”.
She is cruising along the rugged Irish coastline, visiting the Skelligs, Galway, the Aran Islands, and Killybegs before passengers disembark in Liverpool.
The ship made the short journey along the coast to Bere Island on Friday, where passengers were tendered directly from the ship to the island for tours of the Lonehort Battery, the Martello Tower and Bere Island Heritage Centre.
They will finish off the day enjoying live music and a drink in Dessie’s Bar.
Councillor Caroline Cronin, Chairperson of the West Cork Municipal District, and officials from Cork County Council, were welcomed on board the vessel by the ship’s captain, where a formal gift exchange took place to mark the ship’s inaugural visit to Baltimore Harbour.
“I am delighted to be associated with this inaugural cruise call to Baltimore,” Ms Cronin said. “The passengers visiting Sherkin Island and the ship’s onward journey to Bere Island presents a welcome boost to our islands,” she said.
“Approximately 4,000 cruise passengers are expected to visit Cork County Council’s harbours in 2025, contributing to the local economy and supporting our tourism industry, while showcasing what makes County Cork so special to a growing number of international visitors.”
The visit is part of a busy cruise season across the council’s ports and harbours, with inaugural calls at Youghal and Ballycotton among the record 25 cruise visits planned for 2025, with Schull, Kinsale, and Bere Island receiving repeat visits.
Cruise & Ferry
Cruise ship guests scream as water slide breaks, leaving gaping hole

(CNN) – A panel broke off a water slide on a Royal Caribbean cruise, injuring a guest.
A cruise line spokesperson said acrylic broke off as an adult guest passed through the slide Thursday.
Video taken by another passenger shows the hole in the water slide on the “Icon of the Seas” ship.
Other passengers can be heard screaming “stop the slide!” as water gushes through the hole.
The cruise line said the guest is being treated for his injuries, and the water slide is closed for the rest of the cruise, pending an investigation.
“Icon of the Seas” features six waterslides and seven pools.
Copyright 2025 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
Cruise & Ferry
Royal Caribbean passenger injured after cruise ship water slide breaks – National

A water slide on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas broke on Thursday, injuring a guest when an acrylic glass panel fell off while they were going down the slide.
A cruise ship passenger captured the moment the panel on the water slide shattered mid-ride, sending a burst of water into a public area of the ship.
Passengers on the ship could be heard screaming as the water continued to pour onto the deck from the section of the slide where the glass broke. Many people began shouting, “Stop the slide! Stop the slide!” as they began searching for the guest who was on the ride when the incident occurred.
The guest received medical attention and is in stable condition, a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told CBS News.
“Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide,” said a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson.
Get daily National news
Get the day’s top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
“The guest is being treated for his injuries. The water slide is closed for the remainder of the sailing pending an investigation.”
The cruise is expected to return to Miami on Aug. 9.
The water slide incident comes just two weeks after a Royal Caribbean crew member jumped overboard to his death on the Icon of the Seas ship after allegedly stabbing a colleague, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
The incident occurred on July 24 shortly after 7:30 p.m. while the ship was sailing near the Bahamas. According to police, a 28-year-old female crew member from South Africa was stabbed multiple times by a 35-year-old male crew member, also from South Africa.
Man jumps from Royal Caribbean cruise ship – now he’s banned for life
Following the incident, the suspect reportedly fled the scene and jumped into the water from the massive ship, where he was retrieved unresponsive by rescue team members and pronounced dead by onboard medical staff, police said.
“The female victim sustained stab wounds to her upper body and was treated and is in stable condition,” they said.
Royal Caribbean did not identify the crew members involved in the incident.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Cruise & Ferry
WATCH: Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Water Slide Breaks Mid-Ride, Passenger Injured Amid Chaos | US News

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas
Photo : iStock
A relaxing cruise turned into a chaotic scene Thursday when a water slide malfunction aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas led to a guest being injured mid-ride. The dramatic moment, captured on video, shows water gushing out from a damaged section of the slide while panicked bystanders can be heard yelling, “Stop the slide! Stop the slide!” The incident occurred when an acrylic glass panel broke as a man slid through the attraction.
Royal Caribbean Group confirmed the mishap in a statement, saying, “Our team provided medical care to an adult guest when acrylic glass broke off a water slide as the guest passed through the slide. The guest is being treated for his injuries.”
The injured guest, whose identity has not been released, is reported to be in stable condition. While the cruise line did not disclose the full extent of the injuries, they confirmed that the slide has been shut down for the remainder of the voyage and an investigation is ongoing.
The Icon of the Seas, touted as the world’s largest cruise ship, is expected to return to Miami by Saturday.
This incident comes just two weeks after another safety scare aboard the same vessel. On July 27, a passenger reportedly fell over the glass barrier of an infinity pool while trying to retrieve sunglasses.
As Royal Caribbean works to address the latest mishap, the cruise line has not announced whether additional safety measures will be implemented following back-to-back onboard incidents.
-
Brand Stories3 weeks ago
Bloom Hotels: A Modern Vision of Hospitality Redefining Travel
-
Brand Stories2 weeks ago
CheQin.ai sets a new standard for hotel booking with its AI capabilities: empowering travellers to bargain, choose the best, and book with clarity.
-
Destinations & Things To Do3 weeks ago
Untouched Destinations: Stunning Hidden Gems You Must Visit
-
Destinations & Things To Do2 weeks ago
This Hidden Beach in India Glows at Night-But Only in One Secret Season
-
AI in Travel3 weeks ago
AI Travel Revolution: Must-Have Guide to the Best Experience
-
Brand Stories1 month ago
Voice AI Startup ElevenLabs Plans to Add Hubs Around the World
-
Brand Stories4 weeks ago
How Elon Musk’s rogue Grok chatbot became a cautionary AI tale
-
Brand Stories2 weeks ago
Contactless Hospitality: Why Remote Management Technology Is Key to Seamless Guest Experiences
-
Asia Travel Pulse1 month ago
Looking For Adventure In Asia? Here Are 7 Epic Destinations You Need To Experience At Least Once – Zee News
-
AI in Travel1 month ago
‘Will AI take my job?’ A trip to a Beijing fortune-telling bar to see what lies ahead | China
You must be logged in to post a comment Login