Skip to content

Shetland cruise ship numbers hit record levels

Cameron Angus-MackayBBC Scotland
BBC A large white cruise ship anchored in dark blue water. A small Viking boat can be seen in front of it. There are hills in the background.BBC
Some 122,000 passengers visited the isles between April and October

The number of cruise ships visiting Lerwick harbour has reached record levels.

Some 137 cruise vessels docked between April and October, bringing more than 122,000 passengers to Shetland.

Nearly a million tonnes of seabed have been removed from waters around Lerwick to improve access for large cruise ships.

Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) described the season as a "significant milestone" and said the completion of a £25m dredging project would allow larger vessels to berth next year.

A harbour spokesperson said 2026 had been its "busiest" year yet, with first time visits from a range of luxury brands.

Alexander Simpson A professional style picture of a large cruise ship near a coastal town. It is night time and the boat is lit up by orange lights.Alexander Simpson
Lerwick is a growing destination for international cruise operators

Lerwick is an increasingly popular destination for international cruise operators, partly credited to the success of BBC One TV crime drama Shetland.

The industry is a core part of the local economy but it is considerably smaller than in Orkney, where 223 vessels visited Kirkwall in 2024.

Melanie Henderson, the port authority's cruise and marketing manager, said it had been an impressive season with many local businesses and organisations playing their part.

The harbour said cruise bookings now extended until 2035, with a focus on developing a sustainable programme.

A bearded man in his 50s standing in front of a harbour. He is wearing a high-vis jacket and a shirt underneath.
Capt Calum Grains has been overseeing a major dredging project

The largest cruise ships are typically anchored off Lerwick, with passengers brought to shore in small shuttle boats.

The harbour said the completion of a £25m dredging project in October would strengthen its ability to accommodate bigger vessels.

Capt Calum Grains, chief executive of LPA, said it had been its "single biggest project" to date and would support other sectors like fishing, aquaculture and energy.

Specialist contractor Boskalis Westminster finished the capital dredging project last month.

The complex operation involved explosives to crack underwater rocks with all of the material shipped to an offshore disposal site.

Grains said it had been challenging because of environmental considerations but it had been done using high-tech equipment in order to have the "lowest impact".

A brightly lit stone building with a purple and white sign that says 'tourist centre'. There are people inside the shop and a large planter outside on the street.
Lerwick tourist office reopened in April

Lerwick has also seen strong numbers using its tourist office with 82,000 people visiting since it reopened in April.

The Shetland tourism association stepped in to save the shop after national agency Visit Scotland moved its services online.

Association chair Amanda Hawick said 74 crafters were trading through the new office with "a list of more creatives waiting to come onboard".