Londonderry: 'Invaluable' cruise ship tourism to expand north west

Cruise ship tourism in the north west of Northern Ireland is expected to expand in 2027, with Foyle Port saying 36 cruise liners have already been confirmed for the year. Between April and September 2026, three landing areas—Lishahally near Londonderry, Fort George in the city centre, and Greencastle in County Donegal—handled almost 12,000 passengers. The port estimates large ships generated £1.1m for the local economy in 2026. Harbour master Bill McCann said about 25,000 passengers are expected next year across the three sites, describing “unbelievable growth.” The port also expects more cross-border spending, especially from Greencastle tender operations.