Enjoy Your Holyhead Cruise Experience, Cruising UK Waters
A Holyhead cruise destination is gaining currency as more established cruise operators include the Anglesey port in their UK itinerary. Holyhead is a major ferry port linking Britain to Dublin, and so it already has high standard facilities and local attractions ideal for large cruise ships looking to offer their passengers a quality experience.
Holyhead Breakwater is a famous attraction and the longest sea wall in the UK, and cruise liners anchor in a sheltered spot north east of the breakwater and Anglesey Aluminium jetty in the outer harbour. The local boatyard can provide a suitable tug if the cruise ship requires assistance.
This location is ideal for cruise liners over 250 metres in length as the prevailing winds are from the south west, and it is in the lee of the town and harbour. By ships tender it is less than a mile from this anchorage to the Fish Dock landing on the east side of the inner harbour, where coaches can take guests to the various attractions across the island and further afield.
If you sailed up north from Milford Haven or Swansea in South West Wales, chances are you may have glimpsed some amazingly beautiful Cambrian coastal settings. Approaching Anglesey island you may have caught eye of some fine sandy beaches stretching from the south near Llanddwyn, where shots from Demi Moore’s Half Light movie were taken, to Trearddur Bay in the west. And don’t forget world renown South Stack Lighthouse, well worth a visit after arrival in Holyhead.
Ferries sail to Dublin, the Irish capital, and to Dun Laoghaire from Holyhead. In fact the port of Holyhead now welcomes some of the top cruise ships in Northern Europe. Cruise lines such as Holland America, Noble Caledonia, Oceana Cruises and Hapag Lloyd will increase their visits, drawn no doubt by the variety of historical and natural attractions for their passengers. Holyhead has already hosted a cruise ship carrying 750 passengers, the 48,000 tonne Seven Seas Voyager.
Plans are advanced for using the Anglesey Aluminium jetty as a more convenient embarkation facility, which will attract ever larger cruise ships otherwise bound for the larger ports at Dublin and Liverpool. The aim is for Holyhead to accommodate ships of around 85,000 tonnes and so using this pier would be a great plus. It is likely that for an upgrade of Holyhead port facilities an investment of around 7 million is needed, and around 500,000 of this would help upgrade the jetty.
Looking ahead, the extra investment in port infrastructure at Holyhead, especially when as many as 70 cruise liners sail in North European waters, increases the chance of this Holyhead cruise destination becoming a real possibility for many keen cruise passengers. And now Anglesey council is leading the “Celtic Wave” initiative to encourage co-operation between key ports in Wales and Ireland, namely Holyhead, Swansea, Milford Haven, Cork, Waterford and Dublin. The strategy is supported by 1.2 million, aiming to draw bigger cruise ships and visitors to these ports.
There are so many attractions rich in history to visit it may be hard to choose. You may want to visit the nearby historic castles of Wales, at Beaumaris on Anglesey and Caernarfon and Conwy on the mainland, all UN World Heritage sites. Or perhaps seeing the last working mill in Wales at Llynnon appeals to you, or appreciating the Rex Whistler canvas at Plas Newydd, near Llanfairpwll. Or you may be keen to stretch your legs on the Anglesey coastal path. These and more will draw more visitors to choose a Holyhead cruise destination in future.