A record-breaking cruise season for Lerwick Harbour draws to a close today, with port managers already preparing to receive more ships and passengers next year.
During its busiest year to date, 50,500 passengers visited the Shetland port in 2016, surpassing the 2014 record of 43,273.
A total of 79 vessels arrived, with the same number already booked to visit next year. The previous record number of cruise ship visits, set in 2012, was 52.
Lerwick Port Authority harbourmaster and deputy chief executive Captain Calum Grains said the records showed the “successful package” offered to operators was continuing to pay off.
Capt Grains said: “Despite increasing competition in national and international markets, with operators spoiled for choice, Lerwick and Shetland have had their best season, thanks to modern facilities, great teamwork, popular attractions and the warm welcome.
“There’s no complacency, but it’s a successful package which is already paying off again for next year, with 79 vessels currently scheduled and increased tonnage and passengers expected.”
Capt Grains added that 34 visits had also already been booked for 2018.
The cumulative tonnage of cruise vessels visiting Lerwick this year amounted to 2,192,651, well-ahead of the of the previous high of 1,684,699 gross tonnes recorded in 2014.
The record for the largest cruise ship to call at the port was broken twice in the year, first by P&O Cruises’ 115,055 gross tonne Azura, then by Celebrity Cruises’ 122,210 gross tonne Celebrity Silhouette. The previous record, set in June 2011, was held by Costa Pacifica, at 114,288 gross tonnes.
The Celebrity Silhouette is booked to return to Shetland in August, 2017. The port authority said its popularity with operators was underlined by the number of return calls by ships, as well as nine maiden visits this year.
Marketing activities by the authority have included participation in the recent Seatrade Cruise Med exhibition, in Tenerife, as a member of the Cruise Scotland organisation.
Arriving today, the Cruise & Maritime Voyages-operated Marco Polo, will be the port’s final cruise ship visitor of the season. The vessel, making a return visit, is en route from Dublin to Torshavn, Faroe, on a 12-nights Iceland, Faroe and Northern Lights cruise.
