By
Alex Smith |
Aberdeen has seen a surge of cruise traffic in the 2025 season, with 43,000 passengers arriving over the course of the season – a 79 per cent increase compared to 2024.
The growth was supported by a record 65 cruise calls, up more than 50 per cent year on year, and a rise in the number of larger vessels berthing at the £420 million ($561 million) Aberdeen South Harbour.
The 2025 season concluded on 20 September with the arrival of Viking Vela. Other highlights included maiden calls from Viking Cruises and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma, the return of the 292-metre Costa Favolosa, and the hosting of Cruise Britain’s Annual Summer Event in June.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s Ilma was among the vessels making a maiden call in Aberdeen in 2025
Throughout the season, passengers were greeted by Alba Bagpipes and VisitAberdeenshire’s ‘Welcome to Aberdeenshire’ volunteers, who provided local information and assistance to visitors exploring the city and surrounding region. Popular excursions included open-top bus tours of Aberdeen, as well as trips to Deeside, Dunnottar Castle and the Garioch.
The CruiseAberdeenshire partnership continued to promote the region internationally, exhibiting at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami and Seatrade Europe in Hamburg as part of its strategy to attract new lines and expand the city’s cruise profile.
“Our investment in Aberdeen South Harbour has been a game-changer, unlocking substantial new opportunities for the cruise sector,” said Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of Port of Aberdeen. “This expansion is one of the key reasons behind the significant increase in cruise calls we’re seeing. We’re proud to provide cruise operators with a seamless, high-quality experience backed by first-class infrastructure and exceptional customer service.”
VisitAberdeenshire expanded its quayside volunteer programme for 2025
Chris Foy, CEO of VisitAberdeenshire, added: “The growth in cruise numbers in 2025 has been celebrated by tourism, hospitality and retail businesses across the city and shire. With support from Peterson Energy Logistics, we expanded the quayside volunteer programme to offer even more warm welcomes and visitor information. Looking ahead, our team is working with more businesses to become ‘cruise-ready’ and spread the benefits further across the region.”