Port celebrates “excellent” cruise liner season

LERWICK Port Authority is already looking forward to an even better cruise liner season next year after an almost record summer season 2011.

More than 30,000 passengers arriving on 50 cruise liners visited Shetland between May and September.

Back in June this year, the port welcomed the largest liner yet – the 114,288 gross tonnes Costa Pacifica with 3,007 passengers on board.

Now a return visit by the Costa Pacifica is included in the 46 ships already lined up for 2012 – two more than for 2011 at this time last year.

The LPA’s deputy chief executive Victor Sandison said: “The sustained level of activity meant another excellent season for cruise tourism in Shetland, and one which had the potential to be even better, but for cancellations due to various factors, including weather-related.

“However, that potential is again reflected in advance bookings for next year which could see almost 35,000 visitors arriving.”

Highlights of the season included:

– 30,747 passengers, close to the record 30,843 in 2010;
– Calls by a record 50 vessels, beating the previous highest figure of 48 set in 2003 and equalled in 2005 and 2010;
– 1,211,514 gross tonnes of ships, just short of the record of 1,220,455 gross tonnes last year.

The port authority is a member of Cruise Europe and Cruise Scotland and marketing of the harbour and the islands’ many attractions includes participation at Seatrade Europe in Hamburg, from 27-29 September.