Le Boreal’s arrival marks start of busy liner season

The first cruise liner of the season arrived at Hatston this morning.

Le Boreal, with a passenger capacity of 264, arrived from Portree and is due to sail for Leith at 1pm.

The ship’s arrival marks the beginning of a busy season as Orkney continues to be a highly popular destination for cruise ship operators.

Seventy-six have, so far, booked to visit during 2012 — with 2013 shaping up as a bumper year as well, with the number of cruise liners set to visit over the next two seasons already topping 100.

Among the visitors this year is the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth, which is set to drop anchor in Kirkwall Bay on July 31.