CruiseAberdeenshire is gearing up for a milestone year with nearly a 30 percent surge in cruise calls and the return of the Tall Ships Races to the city after 28 years.

The Port of Aberdeen is set to host 63 cruise calls during the 2025 season, running from April to September, welcoming up to 40,000 guests.

The season will kick off with the arrival of the Viking Vela on April 3, marking the first of multiple visits by Viking.

Wendy Atkin-Smith, managing director of Viking UK said: “We’re delighted to have added Aberdeen as a new port of call on some of our British Isles and Scandinavian itineraries and we are looking forward to our first ever visit in April this year.

“The Viking Vela, our newest ocean ship which launched in early December 2024, will be the first ship in our fleet to visit Aberdeen and we know she will receive a very warm welcome.”

Costa Cruises and AIDA will return to Port of Aberdeen, with maiden calls from sister ships the AIDAbella and AIDAluna, bringing over 4,000 guests and crew. The Costa Favolosa, the largest ship to visit Aberdeen, will also return to South Harbour.

Fred. Olsen’s Borealis will make its inaugural visit, marking the cruise line’s debut in Aberdeen.

Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of Port of Aberdeen, said: “Another record-breaking year of bookings and a diverse lineup of visiting vessels set the stage for continued growth in the years ahead. With impressive vessels scheduled to make multiple calls, including maiden visits from Viking and Fred. Olsen, Aberdeen is further solidifying its reputation as a premier destination in the global cruise market.”

The Tall Ships Races is set to attract approximately 400,000 visits as it returns to Aberdeen after nearly 30 years. The event is expected to provide a significant economic boost for local businesses and the hospitality industry.

To help businesses prepare for the visitor surge, CruiseAberdeenshire will host Q&A sessions, and VisitAberdeenshire volunteers will assist cruise passengers at key arrival points.

Chris Foy, CEO, VisitAberdeenshire said: “Authentic, people-led experiences across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are attracting the attention of cruise lines, and as a result, are placing the region on their itineraries in 2025/26. Once again, our volunteers will be back on the quayside, providing the all-important warm North-east welcome, enhancing the experience for arriving visitors.”