“Cruise calls bring significant economic benefits and jobs both locally and nationally” – Craig Torrance, Capital Cruising
Forth Ports’ Capital Cruising operation has celebrated a successful season in Scotland with further growth expected in 2027.
North of the Border, the season wraps up this month with the final ship calling into the deep-water anchorage at Newhaven. The striking AIDAsol ship sailed into the Forth as part of a Scottish highlights tour allowing her passengers the chance to spend time in Edinburgh.
The cruise teams and volunteers welcomed 155 vessels into the Forth and Tay this year, bringing more than 238,000 passengers to Scotland.
Capital Cruising said 2027 was on track for further growth with Dundee increasing in popularity. July is expected to be busy with the attraction of The Open in St Andrews adding to summer cruise calls.
The cruise calendar in Scotland traditionally runs between April and October with cruise ships sailing into the firm’s locations in Leith, Rosyth, Dundee and two deep water anchorages in Newhaven and South Queensferry.
The 2027 season will kick off earlier than usual in January when the Viking Libra sails into Rosyth having embarked guests at Capital Cruising’s London Greenwich facility.
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The firm welcomes 15 cruise lines to London all year-round, with 15 calls still to come from the 101 scheduled in 2026. Its London operation combines Tilbury’s historic terminal building with iconic moorings at Greenwich and Tower Bridge, offering direct access to the heart of the UK capital.
Craig Torrance, asset manager for Capital Cruising, said: “Scotland continues to be an attractive draw for cruise lines who call into our ports and anchorages each year, and more importantly, book to return.
“Our 2026 season has been strong in Scotland and next year is already showing growth as passengers are drawn to itineraries which include the capital cities. Scottish residents can also take advantage of accessing cruise holidays departing from our ports, to enjoy a number of popular European destinations.”
He added: “Cruise calls bring significant economic benefits and jobs both locally and nationally as hundreds of thousands of passengers visit not just Edinburgh but local attractions and major events across Scotland too.”
Capital Cruising is part of Forth Ports Group and manages eight ports, deep water anchorages and city moorings. Edinburgh and London are viewed by the cruise market as “marquee” cruise destinations.
Earlier this month, the Port of Aberdeen announced another record cruise season, with visitor numbers up by more than a quarter and bookings now extending to 2033.
Bosses said 2026 marked a step change for the port with almost half of its 71 cruise calls involving vessels measuring 220 metres or longer. Combined gross tonnage increased by 24 per cent to almost 2.5 million.
The 294m-long Norwegian Star was one of 13 maiden calls and set a new benchmark as the longest vessel ever to visit the Granite City facility.
Cruise lines operated across expedition, luxury, premium and mainstream markets, and Viking was Aberdeen’s busiest cruise line with 21 calls throughout the season. In total, visitor numbers were up 26 per cent on last year at around 54,000.