Cruise tourism returned to Killybegs today as the first liner of the post-pandemic season came to town.
The German cruise liner AIDAaura sailed into the deep water harbour at 2pm this afternoon with up to 800 passengers and 400 crew members on board.
It’s the first commercial voyage for the liner in more than 700 days. Departing from Hamburg, the voyage takes in towns around Scotland and Ireland, with an overnight stay in Killybegs and Dublin being the highlights.
Despite the rain, the fishing town was buzzing with welcomes and with tour buses departing on excursions to nearby tourism gems. Local businesses such as Shines Tuna rolled out welcome stands for visitors to experience a taste of Donegal during their stay.
The AIDAAura, measuring 203m, features two pools, five bars and multiple open-seating restaurants, mostly offering buffet-style service, in addition to a relaxed and informal atmosphere. The vessel is also equipped with a library, a two-story theatre and more.
The next big visitor to Killybegs is the Seven Seas Splendor on Friday 27th May.
The pace picks up from then on, with 22 cruises on the schedule between now and September.
