New cruise ferry will triple passenger numbers on Spanish route from South East to Bilbao

Brittany Ferries has confirmed that the introduction of a new ship on the Rosslare to Bilbao route will triple passenger capacity and offer a drastically improved on board experience. Huge cruise-ferry the ‘Galicia’ is due to take over the route from November of this year and is one of the newest additions to the Brittany fleet, having been launched in December of 2020.

Currently the Rosslare-Bilbao route is serviced by the ‘Connemara’, a predominantly freight vessel with limited facilities for holidaymakers. While it’s successfully served its purpose of establishing freight links between Ireland and Spain, the company has now turned its attention to passenger traffic on the route and the ‘Galicia’ can comfortably accommodate up to 1,015.

It’s hoped that the introduction of the more passenger friendly vessel could result will provide a major boost to tourism across the south east and Ireland as a whole. In 2019, Ireland welcomed 431,000 Spanish visitors, generating an estimated €218 million in revenue. It’s clear, therefore, that there is certainly a market for the new ferry.

Attending today’s event, Leas-Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council Anthony Connick said the announcement was a major boost for Co Wexford.

“The additional passengers on these ferries are additional visitors to County Wexford,” he said. “The challenge is to ensure that these visitors do not just pass-through County Wexford, but instead stop and savour everything that our wonderful county has to offer.

“I am delighted to see that Visit Wexford has already taken a pro-active role in relation to this welcome development. In 2021, Visit Wexford commenced a digital marketing campaign aimed at these regions designed to encourage these visitors to make County Wexford their holiday destination of choice.”