Scotland's Lerwick Harbour recently concluded its most successful cruise season to date, rewriting the record book for the maritime sector at this Shetland port.
The 2023 cruise program officially ended with the arrival of AIDA's liner AIDAsol on September 27th. This marked the 129th and final cruise ship of the season, setting a new record for the Shetland port.
AIDAsol, a vessel measuring 253 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 71,304, arrived with 2,142 passengers on board. It had sailed from Bergen Norway, en route to Invergordon and anchored at the inner harbor.
This season witnessed a new annual high in terms of the total number of passengers, reaching approximately 124,000. Notably, there were 19 maiden calls, marking the highest number in a single season. The year also featured new operators, such as Explora Journeys and Swan Hellenic. In addition to regular cruise ship visits, the port hosted cruise ships during The Tall Ships Races.
Melanie Henderson (Lerwick Port Authority's Cruise & Marketing Manager) said the successful performance of their marine tourism sector on 3 overlapping fronts had made it a year like no other.
“The Shetland supply chain, the islanders with their warm welcome, stakeholders and our staff deserve the highest praise for their efforts.
“The favourable impression made on cruise operators means there are already 160 vessels booked for 2024, with the schedule yet to be finalised, and another busy yachting season is anticipated as we continue to develop marine tourism.”
The cumulative tonnage of cruise shipping during the season, which commenced in mid-April, set a new record at 5.8 million gross tonnes. Furthermore, this season saw the highest number of yachts arriving, with 594 vessels coming to Lerwick since March, including the 34th Bergen-Shetland Race. This represented a 15% increase compared to pre-COVID levels, highlighting Lerwick's popularity as a gateway to Shetland's various attractions.
An exceptional highlight of the tourist season was the 4-day visit by 37 vessels participating in the internationally renowned Tall Ships Races. This event, hosted for the third time in Lerwick, featured quayside entertainment and attracted approximately 40,000 spectators over the course of four days.
In total, Lerwick welcomed 69 Tall Ships and sail training vessels this year, including 15 that visited for the first time.