Adam G
I've read that this cruise liner terminal at the deep water dock, right alongside the railway station and the Queenstown Heritage Centre, is Ireland’s only dedicated cruise port and attracts about 50 cruise ships a year. That may well be but sadly, compared to so many other cruise terminals around the world, and believe me I've seen many, this one, operated by the Port of Cork, doesn't offer passengers much as a terminal! There's no terminal building, no tourist information office, desk or counter. You just walk down the ship's gangway, disembark on to the port, and for many, simply get on to one of the waiting tour buses and you're on your way to one attraction or another in Cork.
The beautiful seaside town of Cobh, steeped in so much history, culture, tales and folklore where just about every location, every building and every pier has a fascinating story to tell, makes up for what's lacking in quality and amenities of this cruise terminal! However, given the significant importance of tourism to Cobh, I believe that the facilities and infrastructure at this now somewhat lacking cruise terminal need to be significantly enhanced. A terminal built above the Cobh Heritage Centre, and in harmony with its architecural style, would allow passengers to walk directly off a cruise liner, under cover of any inclement weather and into the terminal with access to Customs, Tourist Information, Local Tour Operator Desks, Car Rental Desks, ATMs, Currency Exchange, and Duty Free, Souvenirs and Gift Shops etc and then walk down to waiting tour buses, the train station or into Cobh Town through the Heritage Centre itself!
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