£500,000 boost for economy from visit of massive cruise ship MSC Meraviglia
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
At 315 metres long and 65 metres tall, and weighing in at just under 171,600 tonnes, the MSC Meraviglia can carry up to 5700 passengers – more than the population of Invergordon – across its 19 decks.
It’s the world’s fourth largest cruise ship – and is the biggest vessel of its type to ever visit Scottish waters.
And the thousands of early season visitors she brought to the Highlands have been welcomed.
“We are one of the few ports in Scotland who can accommodate a vessel of her size and her visit will generate almost half a million pounds for businesses and tourist attractions throughout the Highlands,” said Port of Cromarty Firth cruise manager Allison McGuire.
Invergordon was the first Scottish port of call for the Meraviglia after leaving Hamburg, Germany. She will go on to visit Kirkwall, Glasgow, Dublin, Cork and Southampton before returning to Germany.
“This is the first of five visits the ship will make to the Port of Cromarty Firth this season,” Ms McGuire added. “Her passengers hail from across Europe and took shore excursions to destinations including Loch Ness, Dunrobin Castle and Cairngorm National Park. Many of the passengers also took advantage of the early morning sunshine and headed into Invergordon.”
The Port of Cromarty Firth estimates 170,000 passengers from more than 90 cruise ships will visit in 2018, boosting the Highland economy by roughly £17 million.
James Gibbs, Inner Moray Firth area manager with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said: “Cruise ships are a growing market.
“In 2016 Invergordon celebrated the arrival of its 1000th ship and HIE has, with the Port of Cromarty Firth, supported workshops to help local tourism providers and communities secure greater benefits from these visits.”
