Scots ports lined up as top spots for cruise ship stops

So far this year 368 ships have brought more than 270,000 passengers ashore with the value of cruise tourism now estimated to be over 34 million.

Kirkwall had the highest number of calls at 72, although Invergordon tops the league for most passengers at 63,008.

As the last liner of the season prepares to arrive in Invergordon this week it will be the 53rd ship to visit the East Ross port - a 15 per cent rise on last year's 46.

The number of passengers disembarking also rose from 48,788 in 2009 - a 29 per cent increase.

Their arrival, plus 20,000 crew members, have directly benefited attractions such as Loch Ness, Cawdor Castle, Dunrobin Castle, Royal Dornoch Golf Club and Glenmorangie Distillery and contribute to the 7m value of cruise tourism in Highland alone.

The most recent visitor to Invergordon will be the MV Boudicca of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines carrying 817 mostly British passengers.

Already bookings at Invergordon for 2011 are looking very healthy, with more than 50 cruise liner visits confirmed and passenger numbers anticipated to rise by 20 per cent.

Captain Iain Dunderdale, cruise development manager for Cruise Highlands Ltd, the Cromary Firth Port Authority's joint venture cruise marketing arm, said: "We are delighted to see the level of cruise activity has increased and we are looking forward to another successful year in 2011.

"I would like to pay tribute to the volunteers of the Invergordon Tourism Alliance, who have welcomed all these passengers and crew to Invergordon and the Highlands, and to all the other people who have made this such an outstandingly successful cruise season for Invergordon."

Lerwick harbour finished its season with the arrival last month of its largest passenger-carrying vessel, the 108,806 gross tonne, 289.5 metre long Grand Princess.

It rounded off a record-breaking five months which also saw the highest number of passengers yet at about 30,000.

A total of 48 cruise ships have visited Lerwick this year, with passenger numbers up from 24,146 in 2009.

Victor Sandison, Lerwick Port Authority deputy chief executive: "It's been another milestone cruise season, and not just for the hat-trick of new records reflecting increased activity and the valuable contribution to the Shetland economy."We have also continued to develop our visitor facilities and the trend to larger vessels continues to be seen in the already high level of bookings for 2011."

Edinburgh, which recently joined Cruise Scotland, the national marketing body, hosted 64 calls delivering some 60,000 passengers to the capital.

Portree received 15 calls with more than 7,500 passengers and welcomed their largest ship ever, Holland America Line's Westerdam which brought 1,900 passengers.

Fort William is also beginning to establish itself as a cruise ship port of call.

Gordon Ireland, from Cruise Scotland, said: "Prospects for 2011 are good with most Cruise Scotland members anticipating another record year."