Easter Ross port on cruise control!
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AN Easter Ross port which will welcome 75,000 passengers over the next five months hopes to cash in on a record-breaking, multimillion-pound season, which starts next week.
Invergordon will welcome its first cruise ship of the 2012 season on Wednesday with the arrival of the Marco Polo.
The Cromarty Firth port is set to receive 64 cruise ships carrying 75,060 passengers between April and September.
Eight ships will be paying a maiden visit while on 11 occasions this year, the port expects to host two ships at the same time.
Invergordon is set to beat its previous record by 20 per cent. Last year, it was estimated that around £10m was generated in direct and indirect income for the Highlands as a direct result of the cruise sector.
The Marco Polo will visit on four occasions this season. It is coming Tilbury, with UK residents on board, on a cruise, which is calling at Invergordon, Stornoway, Tobermory, Dublin, St Mary’s, St Peter Port Guernsey and Honfleure in France.
Captain Iain Dunderdale, cruise manager for Cruise Highlands, the joint venture between Cromarty Firth Port Authority and Bannerman’s, said: ”2012 looks set to be our strongest performing year. The greeting received by tourists from the local community is a factor in attracting repeat visits from cruise ships.
More on this story in this week's Ross-shire Journal.
