Aberdeen’s record cruise season will see 73 ships call into port
“Our bold ambition is to have 100 calls a year by 2028” – Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive, Port of Aberdeen
Aberdeen is gearing up for a record cruise season with more than 70 ships scheduled for 2026.
While estimates vary about how much cruise guests spend per visit, the scale of activity this year is set to deliver a multi-million pound economic boost for the Granite City and wider North-east region. Port bosses said they were expecting 73 cruise ship calls and up to 57,000 guests during 2026.
Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive, Port of Aberdeen, said: “The North-east of Scotland is now firmly on the map for cruise tourism and that benefit is felt across the city and Aberdeenshire. This year could see up to 57,000 guests spending their money in local business and communities, helping to diversify the regional economy and our activity within the port.”
He added: “Our bold ambition is to have 100 calls a year by 2028 and the CruiseAberdeenshire partnership is relentless in attracting new cruise operators, including Norwegian Cruise Line this year.”
A highlight of the season is expected mid-summer. Norwegian Cruise Line - a new line for Aberdeen - brings the 294-metre Norwegian Star to the city on July 15. The maritime giant is set to become the longest ship to berth in Aberdeen and can carry more than 2,300 guests on board.
Port of Aberdeen’s increased cruise capacity and capability is highlighted with more than half of the calls for vessels measuring more than 200 metres.
Chris Foy, chief executive of VisitAberdeenshire, said: “The year-on-year increase is a vote of confidence that the North-east can deliver the wide range of high-quality visitor experiences expected by cruise passengers from across the world.
“Our distinctive, blue-uniformed ‘Welcome to Aberdeenshire’ volunteers look forward to greeting passengers when they come ashore and to helping them make the most of their days in the region.”
The wider value of cruise tourism to Scotland was highlighted in recent research by Oxford Economics, commissioned by Cruise Lines International Association, which found it generated some £343 million for the Scottish economy in 2023.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.