Record breaking cruise ship season begins
(Picture: Craig Taylor)
What is set to be a record-breaking cruise liner season got underway today when the first ship of the season arrived alongside Hatston Pier.
The Marco Polo called into Kirkwall on its way from Tilbury in Essex this morning, and is scheduled to leave for Tórshavn the Faroe Islands this afternoon.
The ship is one of three cruise ships in the area taking passengers on special voyages in northern latitudes in the hope of seeing the solar eclipse on Friday, two of which were to call into Kirkwall, the second being the liner Azores.
The ship’s visit kicks off a record-breaking cruise season for Orkney, with 83 cruise ships set to visit Orkney between now and October 4 – an increase of four on last year’s bookings.
The Cruise & Maritime Voyages vessel Marco Polo, which is also celebrating its 50th birthday this year, will also call into Orkney a further six times throughout the summer. A special presentation was made to the master of the Marco Polo on arrival in Kirkwall, when Captain Nikolaos Michaloliakos exchanged plaques with Captain Alistair Wylie, deputy harbour master operations with OIC Marine Services. He was also presented with a hamper of Orkney produce by Richard Gorn, cruise co-ordinator with OIC Marine Services, and cut a cake marking the 50th anniversary of the ship.
Captain Michaloliakos said that 2015 marked a year of celebrations for the 50-year-old vessel, which was still very popular with guests, many of which choose to travel time and time again onboard.
He added: “She is very well-known and many guests like to come back to the vessel over the years. Kirkwall is also a very popular destination for guests who particularly enjoy visiting the historic monuments such as the Standing Stones and Skara Brae.”
Chairman of Orkney Island Council’s development and infrastructure committee, Councillor James Stockan, says the bumper bookings and repeat visits are testament to the quality tourist experience offered by Orkney – which is currently the most popular cruise ship destination in the UK.
He added: “We put in a lot of pre-planning to make sure passengers experience true island hospitality as soon as they disembark, and leave the county with a real desire to return.”