Archive ( 27.04.05 )
ABERDEEN HARBOUR ATTRACTS MORE CRUISE SHIPS
Highest number since early 1990s
Aberdeen Harbour is set for more than a dozen visits by cruise ships this summer - the most since the early 1990s and matching the highest figure since records began.
Four new additions to the programme bring the total so far to 13 for the period between this May and September, and compares with seven in 2004.
Thirteen cruise ships also visited the port in 1991 and 1992, the highest annual number to date since these vessels were first noted separately in traffic statistics in 1983.
The latest cruise ships lining up for Aberdeen are the Grigoriy Mikheev - which will call twice - Professor Molchanov and Explorer, all of which will embark passengers at the port.
The Harbour Board are members of the Cruise Europe and Cruise Scotland marketing organisations. "The increase in the number of cruise ships calling reflects our continuing marketing efforts and operators' awareness of the attractions of Aberdeen and the North-east," said Board Chief Executive, Barclay Braithwaite.
"The City Council recently announced a five-year programme which will also promote Aberdeen as a port-of-call, and we look forward to this contributing to a further increase."
With the city on its doorstep, the modern port provides ease of access to Aberdeen and to the surrounding area.
The season begins in May with two vessels - Polar Star and Grigoriy Mikheev - bringing visitors on the same day.
Facilities at the port are best suited for small- to medium-sized specialist cruise vessels, including those for bird-watchers on coastal voyages and the programme includes a number of these. Passengers on the Clipper Adventurer will be on a golf cruise taking them to various courses.
The full list for 2005 is: Polar Star & Grigoriy Mikheev - 20 May; Island Sky - 30 May; Professor Molchanov - 31 May; Grigoriy Mikheev - 3 June; Explorer - 12 June; Andrea - 16 & 18 June and 6 July; Clipper Adventurer - 15 July; Arion - 18 July; Bremen - 29 August; and Ocean Majesty - 5 September.
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