Lerwick Harbour's 2023 cruise season welcomed its largest vessel to date as the Norwegian Getaway, with volume 145655 GT-tons, arrived on Saturday, September 23. Operated by NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, the ship embarked on a 16-day Northern Europe voyage, marking her inaugural visit to Lerwick.
Anchoring in the inner harbour, NCL's Getaway, measuring 326 m (1068 ft) and spanning 18 decks, carried 3855 passengers, primarily Americans and Canadians. Passengers opting to disembark were ferried to Victoria Pier, where Lerwick's meet-and-greet team provided information on Shetland's attractions. As a special gesture for the ship's first-time call at the port, members of Lerwick's Jarl Squad were on hand to welcome passengers.
Melanie Henderson, Cruise & Marketing Manager for Lerwick Port Authority, noted that Norwegian Getaway was "another demonstration of the harbor’s capacity to accommodate larger vessels, as well as the more regular traffic of smaller expedition and medium-sized ships" which accounted for most of their program.
She also highlighted that this marked the 18th maiden call of the year, reflecting Shetland's appeal to first-time visitors, new operators, and returning business.
After departing from Southampton, the Norwegian Getaway's next destination is Reykjavik Iceland.