More than 25 cruise calls this summer have been confirmed with a £400 million expansion of the port of Aberdeen.
The arrival of 12,000 passengers on excursions could boost the regional economy in the north east of Scotland by more than £1.5 million.
The first cruise call to the new £400 million Aberdeen South Harbour is the Aidaaura on April 28, which can carry more than 1,200 passengers.
A new deepwater harbour, which is due for completion in the second quarter of the year, significantly increases the port’s capacity for cruise calls and will be able to accommodate the majority of ships.
Teams from Port of Aberdeen and major cruise lines, such as the Carnival Corporation, will take part in reciprocal training and familiarisation visits this year.
This collaborative approach will see a wide range of larger vessels, carrying thousands of guests and crew, call at South Harbour from 2024.
Port of Aberdeen chief executive Bob Sanguinetti said: “We expect to see year-on-year increases in the number of cruise calls as we ramp up our capacity and capability.
“It’s encouraging to see that major international cruise lines are already booking their larger cruise ships for calls to Aberdeen in 2024 and beyond.”
He added: “Port of Aberdeen is a gateway to the amazing attractions of north east Scotland. Our investment in South Harbour will enable tens of thousands more guests to experience this incredible region every year.”