Orkney wins another top cruise destination award

ORKNEY has once again topped a table for cruise visitor satisfaction, with Kirkwall being named Top Cruise Destination for Western Europe and the United Kingdom by Cruise Critic.

Cruise Critic is the world’s largest online cruise resource. Their awards are given based exclusively on consumer ratings and reviews posted to the Cruise Critic website over the past year.

Councillor Graham Sinclair, chairman of Orkney Islands Council’s development and infrastructure committee said: “We’re absolutely delighted about the award which is based on first-hand feedback from cruise passengers themselves.

“This result reflects a phenomenal effort by our Marine Services team to ensure smooth port operations and a slick meet and greet service for passengers.

“But it also is testament to the local community – to the pride we have in our county, and the warm Orkney welcome that awaits our visitors at every turn.”

It’s not the first time Orkney has received accolades from the cruise industry.

Earlier this year, passengers from Viking Ocean Cruises voted Orkney as their top Northern European cruise destination from a total portfolio of 46 competing ports. In 2013, Orkney took second place in the global Seatrade Insider Cruise Port of the Year. And in 2010, Kirkwall was voted Best Cruise port in the UK by Cruise Critic – a high point reached again in 2016.

Brian Archibald, Orkney Islands Council harbour master and head of marine services, engineering and transport said: “I am very proud indeed with this award which shows, once again, that it is Orkney which sets the standard.

“I am immensely grateful to my own teams at harbours and transport but also to the huge cast across Orkney which works so hard to make the cruise sector here so successful.

“From the meet and greet and shore excursion teams, to the coach, tour guides and private tour providers and to all those sites and shops which do so much to give our visitors a wonderful experience – it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to reach this standard.

“With other ports snapping at our heels, it’s great that Orkney – once again and in common with so many other things which we do here – is top.

“The challenge of course is to stay at the top and to wisely manage further growth and opportunity and, of course, we will have to move forward without the energy and drive of my recently retired business development manager, Michael Morrison who did so much to achieve this.

“But, as I have said, it is a very broad team effort and I am convinced that we can continue to manage, grow and develop our world class cruise opportunities here in Orkney.”

Futher details in The Orcadian Marine Scene section on Thursday.