CruiseAberdeenshire is gearing up for a milestone 12 months with almost a 30 p.c surge in cruise calls and the return of the Tall Ships Races to town after 28 years.
The Port of Aberdeen is ready to host 63 cruise calls in the course of the 2025 season, operating from April to September, welcoming as much as 40,000 company.
The season will kick off with the arrival of the Viking Vela on April 3, marking the primary of a number of visits by Viking.
Wendy Atkin-Smith, managing director of Viking UK mentioned: “We’re delighted to have added Aberdeen as a brand new port of name on a few of our British Isles and Scandinavian itineraries and we’re wanting ahead to our first ever go to in April this 12 months.
“The Viking Vela, our latest ocean ship which launched in early December 2024, would be the first ship in our fleet to go to Aberdeen and we all know she is going to obtain a really heat welcome.”
Costa Cruises and AIDA will return to Port of Aberdeen, with maiden calls from sister ships the AIDAbella and AIDAluna, bringing over 4,000 company and crew. The Costa Favolosa, the most important ship to go to Aberdeen, may also return to South Harbour.
Fred. Olsen’s Borealis will make its inaugural go to, marking the cruise line’s debut in Aberdeen.
Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of Port of Aberdeen, mentioned: “One other record-breaking 12 months of bookings and a various lineup of visiting vessels set the stage for continued progress within the years forward. With spectacular vessels scheduled to make a number of calls, together with maiden visits from Viking and Fred. Olsen, Aberdeen is additional solidifying its popularity as a premier vacation spot within the international cruise market.”
The Tall Ships Races is ready to draw roughly 400,000 visits because it returns to Aberdeen after almost 30 years. The occasion is anticipated to supply a major financial enhance for native companies and the hospitality trade.
To assist companies put together for the customer surge, CruiseAberdeenshire will host Q&A classes, and VisitAberdeenshire volunteers will help cruise passengers at key arrival factors.
Chris Foy, CEO, VisitAberdeenshire mentioned: “Genuine, people-led experiences throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are attracting the eye of cruise strains, and in consequence, are putting the area on their itineraries in 2025/26. As soon as once more, our volunteers will likely be again on the quayside, offering the all-important heat North-east welcome, enhancing the expertise for arriving guests.”
