A record 65 cruise calls, an increase of more than 50% year-on-year, along with a trend of larger ships berthing at the new Aberdeen South Harbour, worth USD 560 million, have established the city as one of the UK’s leading cruise destinations.
In 2025, 43 thousand guests were received, a 79% increase compared to 2024.
The 2025 cruise season ended in late September with the arrival of the Viking Vela. Among the highlights were the inaugural calls from Viking Cruises, the arrival of Ilma, from The Ritz-Carlton, the return of the 292-meter-long Costa Favolosa, and the celebration of the prestigious Cruise Britain Annual Summer Event in June.
“The investment in Aberdeen South Harbour has been revolutionary, opening up substantial new opportunities for the cruise sector. This expansion is one of the main reasons for the significant increase in cruise calls we are seeing,” said Bob Sanguinetti, Chief Executive of the Port of Aberdeen.
“We are proud to offer cruise operators a seamless, high-quality experience, backed by first-class infrastructure and exceptional customer service. We are excited to welcome even more visitors to discover all that Aberdeen and the region have to offer,” added Sanguinetti.
Chris Foy, Chief Executive of Visit Aberdeenshire, stated that “the growth in cruise numbers in 2025 has been celebrated by tourism, hospitality, and retail businesses across the city and shire. The first impression of our destination remains as important as ever, so, supported by Peterson Energy Logistics, we expanded the quayside volunteer program this year to provide an even warmer welcome and visitor information to passengers from around the world.”
Looking ahead, the VisitAberdeenshire team will advise more businesses on how to prepare for cruise calls, with the ambition of extending the benefits to Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
