Port of Cromarty Firth awaits summer cruise liner boom to help reboot the local economy and tourism industry – with Inverness-based D & E Coaches among the first to benefit
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A second large cruise ship of the summer arrived in the Port of Cromarty Firth yesterday morning – with 15 more expected in 2021.
The Celebrity Silhouette liner, with 2995 passengers on board, spent the day anchored near Invergordon.
Guests were able to tour local attractions in tightly-controlled “bubbles”.
Hailed as an important step in the recovery of the Highland tourism industry, the influx of thousands of cruise visitors – after an 18-month absence – will be of even greater value to the local economy if Scottish Government restrictions ease further early next week.
Currently, only UK vessels are allowed to berth in Scottish ports, although foreign cruise liners can stop elsewhere in UK waters.
Passengers disembark at Invergordon, but must currently stay on tour buses as they visit places such as Loch Ness, Cawdor Castle and Culloden Moor, Dornoch and Dunrobin Castle.
It is understood these restrictions are under review and could be eased by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Monday.
Vaccinated visitors could then be allowed to visit local shops and hospitality outlets – providing a boost to the local economy.
A further five cruise liners are scheduled to arrive at Ullapool and Scrabster in coming weeks.
Those set to visit Invergordon include the 4180-passenger Royal Caribbean vessel Anthem of the Seas and Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth liner.
The first in 2021 to arrive, on July 25, was the Marsella Explorer 2.
Gayle McEwan, who heads up Inverness-based D&E Coaches’ cruise business department, said: “We’ve had a spate of bookings since the Marsella Explorer arrived and it’s tremendously encouraging.
“When the pandemic struck, we went from bookings for 6000 passengers to zero almost overnight. Now we’re poised to transport between 2000 and 3000 people in the next few weeks.
“The scheduled relaxation on August 9 could benefit Inverness and other communities in allowing cruise people to go shopping and eat and drink locally.”
