A busy cruise season is set to get underway at Stornoway this month, with more than 100 vessels scheduled between April and September, carrying tens of thousands of tourists to the Outer Hebridies.
The MS Spitsbergen, operated by Hurtigruten Expeditions with capacity for 180 passengers, is the first due to arrive. The ship is expected to tie up at Stornoway on 20 April, as part of an 11-day island-hopping cruise of Scotland’s west coast.
Stornoway’s 2023 cruise season is due to draw to a close on 28 September, with a call by Hebridean Island Cruises’ Hebridean Princess, which can carry up to 48 people and has been a regular visitor to the region over more than two decades.
The season’s largest visitor, at 139,072 gross tonnes and 333 metres in length, will be the MSC Preziosa, operated by MSC Cruises. The ship, which can accommodate up to 3,500 passengers, is due to anchor off Stornoway on 18 September and is one of a number of vessels making their maiden calls at the port this year.
Alex MacLeod, chief executive of Stornoway Port Authority, said: “The port is a gateway to the Outer Hebrides, offering cruise passengers the opportunity to enjoy the unique hospitality, culture, history and many famed landmarks our islands have to offer.
“The number of calls scheduled this year highlights the growing popularity of the Outer Hebrides among cruise operators and their customers from the UK and around the world.
“The season will bring a significant boost for many businesses in the islands as they continue to work to recover from the challenges they have faced in recent years.”
MacLeod added that the number of cruise ship calls is expected to increase in 2024, following the opening of Stornoway Port Authority’s £59m Deep Water Terminal.
The new facility, which is nearing completion, will have a minimum 10 metre alongside depth and be able to accommodate vessels up to 360 metres in length.
Meanwhile, a potentially record cruise year for Shetland has opened with the arrival of the first of 147 ships expected this season - almost double the previous high of 99 set in 2019.
The 229 metre Viking Venus, with about 900 passengers, berthed at Mair's Pier for a full-day visit on Thursday.
Six cruise ships will call during the visit of sailing vessels in the Tall Ships Races event at the end of July. It will be the third time Lerwick has played a part in the sailing regatta.
Lerwick Port Authority's cruise and marketing manager Melanie Henderson commented: “The islands' tourism network can look forward to its busiest cruise season yet, coinciding with another visit by the fleet of the Tall Ships Races, making for a great season.
“With strong bookings right through to 2026, the sector will continue to make a significant contribution to Shetland's economy.“
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