By
Rebecca Gibson |
The Port of Lerwick is scheduled to receive 40 cruise ships and 29,000 visitors during the 2013 cruise season, including the return of Hurtigruten’s Fram, which will open the season on 26 April and call again in May and September.
Costa Cruises’ Costa Pacifica will also return on 15 June, which is expected to be this year’s busiest month with 12 vessels calling. July will also be a busy month with the arrival of 11 ships.
Eight vessels will make maiden calls at the port in 2013 including MSC Magnifica on 3 June, Hapag Lloyd’s Eurodam on 26 July, Royal Caribbean International’s Caribbean Princess on 31 August and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Star, which will be the last call of the season on 23 September.
The Port Authority will re-initiate its Meet and Greet project at Lerwick, with local greeters providing basic orientation information, leaflets and maps, and traditional Shetland music to welcome the visiting cruise passengers and crew.
The 2014 cruise season is also expected to be positive, with 38 calls already booked.
Victor Sandison, deputy chief executive of Lerwick Port Authority, said: “There are already 38 ships booked for 2014 – adding up to 1,840,183 gross tonnes and an estimated 40,000 passengers, the highest figures yet so far in advance – so the outlook is positive looking ahead.”