Port of Stornoway Receives USD 80 Million to Expand Cruise Capacity

Consecutive calls highlight the capacity generated by the Port of Stornoway's USD 80 million investment in the deep-water terminal, which allows larger vessels to berth. The destination completed its busiest week of the cruise season, receiving four vessels at the Deep Water Terminal over four consecutive days and welcoming more than 10,000 passengers, along with some 4,000 crew members, to the Outer Hebrides.

The week began with the arrival of Phoenix Reisen's Artania, followed by the Balmoral, marking the sixth of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' nine scheduled calls to Stornoway this season. Cunard's Queen Anne returned to the destination for its second visit of the year, before the Majestic Princess made its inaugural call.

At 330 meters long, the Princess Cruises ship is one of the largest and heaviest vessels to have docked at the Deep Water Terminal. The ship, under the command of Captain Giuseppe Castellano, transported some 3,700 passengers to the islands on its first visit.

The high number of calls throughout a single week also required close coordination between the port, cruise companies, port teams, local businesses, and the wider tourism sector.

Cruise activity makes a significant contribution to the local economy, as passengers and crew boost shops, cafes, restaurants, tour operators, transport companies, and tourist attractions throughout the Lewis region.

Alex Macleod, Chief Executive of the Port of Stornoway, stated that "welcoming over 10,000 passengers and more than 4,000 crew over four consecutive days made this week one of the port's busiest and demonstrated the capacity we now have at the deep-water terminal. It was an honor to welcome the Majestic Princess on its first call. At 330 meters long and over 144,000 gross tons, it is one of the largest vessels we have received and another example of the opportunities the terminal has created for Stornoway."

"The benefits of these calls extend far beyond the port. Thousands of visitors have spent time in the town and traveled throughout the region this week, supporting businesses and the wider tourism economy. Our investment in the deep-water terminal aimed to create infrastructure that could bring new opportunities to the islands, and a week of activity of this magnitude demonstrates what that investment can deliver," Macleod added.