Kirkwall welcomes largest cruise ship to visit Orkney

The largest cruise ship — in terms of passenger capacity — ever to visit Orkney arrived alongside Hatston Pier this morning.

The 333m long MSC Preziosa arrived from Invergordon and is due to leave for Greenock this evening.

Although this length of vessel has called into Hatston Pier in the past, the MSC Preziosa is a deck higher, hence the higher passenger capacity.

According MSC Cruises the ship can carry 4,345 passengers and almost 1,400 crew.

On this visit there are said to be 4,768 people on board.