Exciting prospects for Shetland port
The 2025 cruise season is underway at Lerwick Harbour with the arrival today (Friday 4 April) of Viking Vela, the first of 145 vessels expected by late October.
On a maiden visit, the 228 metre, 53,769 gross tonnes Viking Vela anchored in the Inner Harbour with more than 980 passengers from countries including USA, Canada, UK, Australia and Ireland on board, with many disembarking to see the town and tour the islands’ multiple attractions.
En route from Aberdeen. Scotland, to Bergen, Norway, she is due to return on Tuesday 8 April and a further seven times throughout the busy 2025 cruise season. Viking Ocean Cruises is Lerwick’s top cruise line visitor, with its vessels scheduled to call 21 times during the season.
Viking Vela is one of eight maiden visits booked for Lerwick in 2025, including Virgin’s Scarlet Lady and Ritz Carton’s Ilma (ILMA), two exciting new cruise brands to debut at Lerwick this season.
Melanie Henderson, Cruise & Marketing Manager, Lerwick Port Authority, commented: “We are all looking forward to another very busy season, representing another great selection of cruise lines and ships visiting over seven months, reflecting Shetland’s continuing popularity as a leading Scottish destination across the industry and making an important contribution to the local economy. The service sector is geared up to provide its world-renowned Shetland hospitality.”
The 181,541 gross tonnes, MSC Virtuosa, which last year became the largest cruise ship call at Lerwick, will return twice in June, adding to over 6.7million gross tonnes of expected vessels in 2025.
As a member of Cruise Scotland, the Port Authority will participate on booth 1812 at the Seatrade Cruise Global conference and exhibition in Miami from 7-10 April as part of its annual marketing plan.
The Port Authority’s future plans include dredging the channel and approaches to Mair’s Pier which will improve berthing for mid-sized cruise ships, and this project is anticipated to start later this season.
