Carry on cruising: 235,000 passengers and 161 ships set to visit Edinburgh, Fife and Dundee amid record season

Kicking off this season’s activities, Forth Ports’ Capital Cruising business said a record 161 cruise visits had been booked in for 2024, calling across Scotland’s east coast ports. It marks further strong growth for the cruise operation, which welcomed 149 vessels in 2023, involving ships sailing directly into the Port of Leith, Rosyth and Dundee’s cruise berth as well as deep water anchorages in the River Forth for Newhaven and South Queensferry.

The cruise season in Scotland traditionally runs between April and October bringing thousands of passengers who visit the attractions of Scotland including its capital city. Edinburgh is viewed by the cruise market as a “marquee” cruise destination with iconic attractions, events, heritage and culture.

Dundee, meanwhile, is enjoying further strong growth in cruise ship business, with 16 calls booked for 2024. The city’s season starts on April 27 with the arrival of the Seaborne Venture. In 2023, the port welcomed 14 cruise ships and in 2022 it had just four. Capital Cruising, part of Leith-headquartered Forth Ports, manages seven ports and anchorages.

Rob Mason, head of cruise at Forth Ports, said: “We are excited to have started our busiest ever cruise season. Cruise is an important contributor to our local and national economy. Over the past decade, there has been an incredible 93 per cent growth in the attraction of cruise in Scotland with an expected one million passengers calling into Scotland’s ports, generating an incredible £130 million for the country’s economy.

“Some 91 per cent of cruise passengers repeat a cruise with 60 per cent returning to a destination. We are working hard with the city, destination partners, communities and the wider cruise industry to meet the industry's challenges and deliver another successful cruise season. We look forward to giving a warm Scottish welcome to cruise passengers this year.”

Forth Ports has set out a commitment to reduce its own carbon footprint with targets to be “carbon neutral” by 2032 and net zero by 2042.

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