Bosses at Europe’s busiest white fish port are determined to make their harbour a popular cruise destination after revealing that five vessels will visit this year.
Peterhead Port Authority confirmed the ships will bring more than 2,000 visitors into the town centre to provide a boost to the local economy.
The vessels booked to anchor in the Blue Toon include the glamorous Sea Cloud II which made a temporary visit to Aberdeen harbour last year.
The five-star Maltese passenger ship stopped briefly in the Granite City, en route to Edinburgh from Orkney.
The ship, which has 23 sails stretching to a combined 32,000sq ft, is the sister to the historic Sea Cloud which served on US armed forces’ operations during World War II. Sea Cloud II will stop in Peterhead on June 27.
The Seabourn Quest – the largest of the vessels so far confirmed with space for 450 passengers – will be the first to arrive and is due on May 6.
The other confirmed cruises are FTI Berlin on June 10, Saga Pearl on July 19 and Saga Sapphire on August 7.
PPA’s deputy chief executive Stephen Paterson said: “We look forward to welcoming these visitors to Peterhead and will work with the vessel agents and ground handlers to make the visit pleasant and memorable for the passengers and as efficient as possible for the vessel.”
A variety of onshore activities will be organised, including trips to Fyvie Castle, Duff House and the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses in Fraserburgh.
Efforts are also being made to include the popular Peterhead Prison Museum on the itinerary after the former Victorian jail opened its gates as a visitor attraction.
