November 21st 2024

As the 2024 cruise season sails off into the sunset, it’s time to reflect on what has been an incredible year for our islands and harbours. It’s been a year full of new experiences, unforgettable moments, and valuable lessons. Now, as we set our sights on the 2025 season, we would like to reflect and look back on all that 2024 brought our way.

The Orkney Experience

If there’s one thing we can count on in Orkney, it’s that no two days are ever the same when it comes to weather. As ever, the season was a true test of adaptability: one day, you might see visitors browsing sunny streets, sunglasses in hand, while the next, you might have everyone pulling out their raincoats in the face of unpredictable showers.

But no matter what the skies delivered, our local businesses and service teams welcomed everyone with a smile. Whether greeting cruise ships with a full flag parade or waving them goodbye with bagpipes and dancers - the Orcadian spirit was ever-present.

Our colleagues throughout Orkney Islands Council also gave us great support over the course of the season, helping us make sure the services and infrastructure are ready for our visitors. The collective effort of stakeholders across the islands made sure people left with a sense of what makes Orkney truly special: our rich history, vibrant culture, and, of course, the warmth of our people.

We all have a part to play in making our visitors feel welcome as well as doing what is best for Orkney. We take very seriously our role in managing cruise and we are always looking for ways to improve!

We had another record year in 2024 with 223 callers and 213,785 passengers across 12 locations. These numbers reflect Orkney’s unique cruise offering and show the incredible progress we’ve made.

On the back of updating our booking policy last year, we were the first port in the UK to become part of the Environmental Port Index (EPI). A group of ports working to gather information on our operational emissions. These actions are to ensure that we can offer visitors the best experience possible whilst continuing to consider the environmental impact on our community.

Behind the Scenes: Our Teams Go Above and Beyond

A successful cruise season isn’t just about the visitors—it’s about the seamless operations behind the scenes. We’re incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by everyone involved. The coordination between port teams, ship crews, local businesses, and tour guides ensured that every ship's arrival and departure went smoothly. It wasn’t just about keeping things up and running though. Our teams made it their mission to ensure that each visitor, whether they were exploring Orkney for the first time or returning to discover more, always left with happy memories.

Looking Ahead: 2025, Here We Come!

As we close the chapter on a bustling 2024 season, we already have our sights set on what 2025 will bring. We’re excited to welcome back many of our regular cruise callers and we look forward to introducing new vessels to our shores. The 2024 season has been one of the busiest and most rewarding to date and with a strong foundation in place, we’re ready to make 2025 even better!

In the meantime, we’ll take a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, celebrating the highlights and preparing for the new opportunities that await next year. The future of Orkney’s cruise industry is bright, and we can’t wait to set sail into another year of adventure, exploration, and connection.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Finally, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made the 2024 season a success—our dedicated teams, the local community, the cruise lines, and, of course, our wonderful visitors. You’ve helped make this season one for the books, and we can’t wait to do it all over again in 2025.

Until then, we drop anchor and prepare for another year of unforgettable moments!

Subscribe to Alerts
To receive a notification when we add a new Notice, please enter your email below and click Subscribe.