Additional cruise liner boost for Orkney

Aida cruise lines called into Kirkwall for the first time this season with two port calls from the distinctive looking AIDAluna, and due to the success of these calls, it has now been confirmed that Aida have requested three additional calls for the this season.

The ships due to visit are on August 29, with the AIDAluna, followed by the AIDAdiva on September 6, and the AIDAmar on October 22.

This means that the 2015 season Orkney will have played host to 88 port calls in total.

If all goes as planned, these extra calls will extend the season into autumn, a longer than usual season, which saw the first ship of the year to calling early in the year, with the Marco Polo arriving on March 18.

Michael Morrison, business development manager with Orkney Islands Council Marine Services said: “These additional calls are very welcome, and clearly Aida Cruises have been impressed with the service that they have received earlier in the season. The tour uptake was very high for these calls which is a huge compliment to the diversity of itineraries that Orkney is able to offer.”

There are 90 port calls already booked for the 2016 season, and OIC Marine Services expect this number to increase over the autumn.

Looking even further ahead, for 2017, there are already 32 port calls reserved.