CruiseAberdeenshire, a collaboration between the Port of Aberdeen and VisitAberdeenshire, is set to experience a significant year with a nearly 30% increase in cruise ship arrivals. Additionally, the city will host the Tall Ships Races for the first time in 28 years, marking a notable event in the region’s maritime calendar.
Port of Aberdeen is set to host *63 cruise calls during the 2025 season, from April to September, welcoming up to 40,000 guests.
Major cruise line Viking will begin the season with the arrival of Viking Vela on 3 April, with additional visits scheduled throughout the season.
Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking UK said, “We’re delighted to have added Aberdeen as a new port of call on some of our British Isles and Scandinavian itineraries and we are looking forward to our first ever visit in April this year.
“The Viking Vela, our newest ocean ship which launched in early December 2024, will be the first ship in our fleet to visit Aberdeen and we know she will receive a very warm welcome.”
Costa Cruises and AIDA will return to Port of Aberdeen, including maiden calls from sister vessels, AIDAbella and AIDAluna, both 252-metres bringing in over 4,000 guests and crew between them. The Costa Favolosa, the largest vessel ever visiting Aberdeen, will also return to the port’s South Harbour.
The Fred.Olsen Borealis cruise ship will sail into the port for the first time, marking the cruise line’s inaugural visit to Aberdeen. At 238 meters long, the vessel can carry over 1,300 passengers.
Bob Sanguinetti, CEO at Port of Aberdeen said, “Another record-breaking year of bookings and a diverse lineup of visiting vessels set the stage for continued growth in the years ahead. With impressive vessels scheduled to make multiple calls, including maiden visits from Viking and Fred.Olsen, Aberdeen is further solidifying its reputation as a premier destination in the global cruise market.”
At the peak of the cruise season, The Tall Ships Races is anticipated to draw around 400,000 visitors as it returns to Aberdeen after nearly 30 years. The cruise season and the event are expected to impact the local economy, particularly benefiting tourism, retail, and hospitality businesses.
In addition to the city’s growing list of events, Spectra, Scotland’s Festival of Light, will return to Aberdeen, showcasing innovative light installations, large-scale projections, and interactive artworks. Meanwhile, the internationally recognised exhibition Beyond Van Gogh will make its debut in Aberdeen at the P&J Live venue.
To help local businesses capitalise on the surge in visitors, CruiseAberdeenshire will host community Q&A sessions, ensuring they are well-equipped to offer an informed and warm welcome to guests. Additionally, VisitAberdeenshire’s volunteers will be stationed at key arrival points, guiding cruise passengers to the city’s many attractions.
Chris Foy, CEO at VisitAberdeenshire said, “Authentic, people-led experiences across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are attracting the attention of cruise lines, and as a result, are placing the region on their itineraries in 2025/26. Once again, our volunteers will be back on the quayside, providing the all-important warm North-east welcome, enhancing the experience for arriving visitors.”
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*Subject to change. Cruise calls are accurate at time of publication.
