Marine / Viking Venus arrives in Lerwick to kick off cruise ship season
THE 2022 cruise season got underway properly this morning (Wednesday) with the arrival of the Viking Venus in Lerwick on her maiden call to the isles.
Last week the Norwegian ship Gann docked in town, but it was on a sail training charter carrying marine cadets. She is set to return later in the year with cruise passengers.
The 229m Viking Venus arrived earlier today from Invergordon, and she is due to depart Lerwick for Bergen at tea time.
On board are 709 passengers, mainly from the USA and UK, with others from Canada, the Americas and Europe. Berthed at Victoria Pier, they are on a 15-day British Isles Explorer voyage from Tilbury, England, to Bergen, Norway.
She is scheduled to return to Lerwick on Sunday (10 April).
This year is expected to be a record cruise season for Lerwick as the sector recovers from the Covid pandemic.
Lerwick Port Authority cruise and marketing manager Melanie Henderson said: “It’s exciting to finally have the new cruise season underway with the potential of a record 120-plus vessels and all that means for the Shetland economy and the recovery from the Covid-19 impact in the past two years.
“Reassuringly, the numbers, including perhaps almost 100,000 passengers, point to the growing popularity of Lerwick and Shetland as a destination, with a mix of return visits, maiden calls and first-time operators, including Ambassador Cruise Line and Swan Hellenic.”
There will be three further cruise visits this month, with Aidasol planned for 11 April, the smaller Spitsbergen lined up for 12 April and Balmoral due to dock on 20 April.
Meanwhile Lerwick Port Authority will be represented at the Seatrade Cruise Global exhibition in Miami, Florida, from 26-28 April as a participant on the Cruise Scotland stand.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.