One of Disney Cruise Line's ships is calling in the UK for the first time, but it won't be at any mainland port as only Orkney is on its itinerary in this country.
The of 984 foot Disney Magic carries 2,700 passengers along with 950 cast and will call at Kirkwall in July on a cruise that also includes Norway and Iceland.
The first direct sailing from Scotland to the Caribbean on Fred Olsen Lines' Black Watch in November and the Queen Mary 2 making a maiden call to Oban in May, will also feature on what is predicted to be a record breaking year for the cruise ship industry in Scotland.
It is estimated that the market was worth more than £49 million last year when 457 vessels brought 401,325 passengers to Scottish ports, with value and passengers reaching new highs and a number of ports breaking their own records. Passengers increased by nearly 16,700 on 2013.
While approximately the same number of ships are booked in 2015, the continuing trend to larger vessels is expected to see passengers up by over 8 per cent to an estimated 434,530.
It means Greenock Ocean Terminal is on course to become the first Scottish port to welcome over 100,000 passengers in its busiest season yet. Other cruise destinations from the Clyde to the Western Isles, Shetland to the Highlands and on to the Forth are all, reported to be confident.
The latest industry update has been released by marketing organisation, Cruise Scotland, as its members prepare to return to the USA for the global industry's premier annual event, Cruise Shipping Miami which opens on Monday.
Victor Sandison, Chairman of Cruise Scotland, said: "The combination of the multitude of Scotland's attractions and the quality of facilities and services, supported by our marketing efforts, are delivering results and making a major contribution to the Scottish economy, as last year's records and this season's positive outlook demonstrate."
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