
Celebrating the launch of the new cruise ship season are Chris Foy, chief executive of VisitAberdeenshire; Rosemary Michie, of Charles Michie; Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive of Port of Aberdeen; Councillor Martin Greig; Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, with VisitAberdeenshire volunteers Charlie and Morna who give cruise passengers a warm welcome when they arrive in Aberdeen. Image - Port of Aberdeen
Aberdeen Inspired has welcomed Port of Aberdeen’s announcement this will be a record-breaking year of cruise ship visits – with a near 30% surge in calls.
The port is set to host 63 cruise calls during the 2025 season, running from April to September, bringing up to 40,000 guests to the city and shire, in a year when the port will also welcome the prestigious Tall Ships Races this July.
Port of Aberdeen announced that two major cruise lines – Viking and Fred. Olsen – have added the Granite City as a new port of call for 2025, highlighting Aberdeen's rising status as a must-visit destination for travellers.
Viking will kick off the season with the arrival of Viking Vela on April 3. The prestigious line is set to make multiple visits throughout the season.
Bob Sanguinetti, CEO, 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 ships 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.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “There is a rising tide of optimism and opportunity for Aberdeen in the coming months thanks to the ever-growing number of cruise ships and the wave after wave of visitors they carry to Port of Aberdeen.

The Viking Vela will be the first cruise ship to arrive this year - marking the Viking line's first of many visits to Aberdeen. Image - Courtesy of Viking
“Add to that the much-anticipated return of the Tall Ships Races for the first time in almost 30 years and you can understand why there is a buoyant mood among so many shops and businesses in the city centre about the boost that 2025 will bring.”
“That benefit will only grow in years to come as the cruise ship sector secures its place as a welcome and significant driver in Aberdeen’s economy, helping the Granite City weather the tough times we are facing at the moment and sail on to thrive in the future.”
Local business Charles Michie’s Pharmacy has already gone above and beyond to ensure cruise guests have the best possible experience when visiting Aberdeen.
From investing in multilingual welcome boards to curating a selection of Scottish and Aberdeen-themed gifts, the pharmacy is dedicated to making visitors feel at home—and is now preparing to welcome the many guests the Tall Ships will bring to the city.
Rosemary Michie, Manager, Charles Michies Pharmacy, said: “We have been delighted to welcome cruise guests as they arrive in ever greater numbers, and we are extremely excited to welcome the Tall Ships when they arrive later in the summer. We have created a programme of events specifically to mark the occasion, including talks related to Aberdeen’s rich maritime history and workshops exploring the city’s link to the sea.”

Welcoming a record cruise season are Bob Sanguinetti, Port of Aberdeen chief executive; Councillor Martin Greig; Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, and Chris Foy, chief executive of VisitAberdeenshire.l Image - Port of Aberdeen
To further support local businesses in capitalising on the influx of tourists, Port of Aberdeen and VisitAberdeenshire will host community Q&A sessions, ensuring they are well-prepared to offer an informed welcome to guests. Additionally, VisitAberdeenshire’s volunteers will be stationed at the port to guide guests on the many attractions in the city.
Chris Foy, CEO, 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.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of Aberdeen's Organising Committee for Tall Ships 2025, said: "The recent increase in cruise ship visits and tourist numbers is really giving our area a major boost. The economic benefits are very substantial. It's great to be able to showcase the city to new international audiences.”

The Borealis will head for Aberdeen as Fred. Olsen include Aberdeen on their ports of call. Image - Fred. Olsen
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 was 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 the city, including maiden calls from sister vessels, AIDAbella and AIDAluna, both 252-metres long, and bringing in over 4,000 guests and crew between them. The magnificent Costa Favolosa, the largest vessel to ever visit 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 remarkable ship can carry over 1,300 passengers.