Capital Cruising’s season in Dundee kicks off this week with the visit of the World Navigator luxury cruise vessel as part of its Vikings and Vistas sailing. The 10-night cruise also called into Capital Cruising’s sister terminal in London earlier in the week and is due to sail to the Norwegian fjords after departing Scotland.
Dundee is set to welcome 11 vessels into port this year between May and August with around 15,500 passengers either boarding a ship to begin a cruise or visiting Dundee to enjoy the City and a variety of day excursions in the area. Looking ahead, the 2027 season has over 20 vessels currently booked to call in Dundee bringing even more passengers to explore the area.
Cruise passengers are drawn to the attractions of Dundee as the UK’s first and only UNESCO City of Design and the striking Architecture of the V&A at the waterfront. Visitors also enjoy exploring Captain Scott’s RRS Discovery and Museum, Verdant Works and the Museum of Transport. Further afield, cruise passengers come to the area for golf with St Andrews, Gleneagles and Carnoustie within easy reach of Dundee. And of course, whisky (and gin) distillery visits, castles and palaces are also a draw.
Marianne Beggs, Cruise Manager at Forth Ports, said: “The Dundee cruise season this year will bring a record number of passengers coming in and out of the Tay. We are continuing to see cruise holidays increase in popularity in Scotland each year and Dundee offers the perfect regional location for people who can not only visit the city as part of a cruise itinerary but depart from here and cruise directly to many brilliant UK and European destinations. We already have a bumper cruise booking for 2027 as cruise lines recognise Dundee as an important location to add to their itineraries.
“Working with Dundee City Council and their team of fantastic volunteers, we are excited about the season ahead and collectively making Dundee a memorable port of call.”
The cruise calendar in Scotland traditionally runs between April and October and this year, across its ports, Capital Cruising it will see 159 cruise ships sail into its locations in Leith, Rosyth, two deep water anchorages in Newhaven and South Queensferry and Dundee. There are 32 different cruise lines calling across the Scottish Ports with 4 cruise lines calling in Dundee this season.
Capital Cruising also operates London with 106 cruise ships, from 15 different cruise lines, due into the Thames this year calling into the London Cruise Terminal in Tilbury and the moorings at Tower Bridge and Greenwich.