Flags welcome international visitors

The welcome extended to cruise ship passengers and crew alike stepped up a gear in Kirkwall in the past week, as flags of many nations are put on display to welcome visitors from afar.

Susanne Carter and Calum Walter of Ship2Shore Orkney are again providing the welcome and cruise co-ordination services for the cruise season, and are behind the colourful displays of flags at Hatston and Kirkwall piers, as well as at the Kirkwall Travel Centre.

They said that the feedback they have received so far has been great, both from crew and passengers from the visiting ships.

Today, Monday, is a particularly busy day as passengers came ashore from the Crown Princess, with a passenger capacity of 3600, many of whom were taken into Kirkwall harbour by tender. Meanwhile, at Hatston was the Viking Sun, with its passenger capacity of 930.