The Port of Aberdeen set a new benchmark for its capability and capacity as it welcomed the 290m long Costa Favolosa cruise ship, the largest vessel to visit the port in its history.
The Costa Cruises ship, which has 13 decks and a gross tonnage of 113,307, arrived at South Harbour from Kirkwall for a day-long stopover before departing to Edinburgh.
The 4,000 guests and crew received an authentic Scottish welcome from the Robert Gordon College Pipe Band, Alba Bagpipes, and VisitAberdeenshire’s ‘Welcome to Aberdeenshire’ volunteers.
Costa Favolosa, which berthed in the port’s South Harbour on 26 July, is the latest arrival in a record-breaking season of 60 cruise calls, up more than 150 per cent from 2022. The port’s current cruise call bookings extend through 2027, with over 100 cruise calls anticipated, including visits from industry giants such as Fred. Olsen Cruises and Holland America.
Marlene Mitchell, Commercial Manager, Port of Aberdeen said. “It is wonderful to welcome Costa Favolosa to Port of Aberdeen. Her arrival is testament to the hard work of many – the port team who delivered the transformational South Harbour, which enables us to welcome ships of this stature, our marine and operational teams, and all our CruiseAberdeenshire partners who have been focused on raising the profile of our amazing region and all it has to offer.”
Chris Foy, CEO, VisitAberdeenshire, said: “VisitAberdeenshire is enhancing the visitor welcome offered to passengers through the bolstered volunteer programme and continues to develop more opportunities for local suppliers to benefit from cruise calls.”
Under the Cruise Aberdeenshire banner, Port of Aberdeen and VisitAberdeenshire continue to actively market the North East region as an attractive cruise destination, with a presence at Seatrade Cruise Med in Malaga, Spain on the Cruise Britain stand (360), on 11 and 12 September 2024.
