Aberdeen (Scotland)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Ireland - UK - British Isles
Local Time
2021-02-28 07:16
5.3°C
1.7 m/s
37 °F / 3 °C
Aberdeen is a port city in Scotland, located on North Sea and between the rivers Dee and Don. The city has population around 230,000, ranking it the UK's 37th most populous. The company Northlink Ferries provide regularly scheduled crossings connecting Aberdeen with the Northern Isles, Lerwick (Mainland Shetland) and Kirkwall (Orkney Island).
During mid-18th-mid-20th centuries, town's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, that can sparkle like silver due to its high mica content. Aberdeen is Scotland's oil industry center, university center and one of country's largest seaside resorts. Best-known tourist attractions include St Machar's Cathedral (15th-century), Mercat Cross (17th-century), Brig o' Balgownie (14th-century, Scotland's oldest bridge) and Winter Garden (Europe's largest indoor garden). Old Aberdeen is city's students quarter, also housing the campuses of two 15th-century universities - King's College (est 1495) and Marischal College (est 1500) - now combined into University of Aberdeen. The city is perfect as base for touring the nearby castles Crathes, Dunnotar, Slains, as well as the whisky distilleries Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Speyside Cooperage. Other popular sites include the Royal Family's summer residence Balmoral Castle, and the Braemar Castle, which hosts Highland's largest games every September.
Founded as fishing port, Aberdeen Harbour (on Dee River's estuary) has continually been improved. It is currently a major cargo port for export goods shipped from UK to Scandinavia (Baltic Sea in general). Major exports include granite, chemicals, fertilizers.
By cruise liners, the port is usually visited on "Around Britain" itineraries, as well as on some Scandinavian (Baltic Sea) itineraries. Port's cruising season is early-May through early-September. Harbour's water depth (max draft) is 10,5 m (35 ft).
In 2017, the cruise port handled 25 ship calls and 2095 passengers. In 2018, at Aberdeen Harbour were handled 27 cruise ship calls and 3387 passengers (61% increase over 2017). In 2018, NorthLink ferry traffic increased by 5% (to 151,000+ passengers). The total number of ship calls increased from 6775 (2017) to 9266 (2018). Port's total ship tonnage increased 5%.
In 2018 were continued the works on harbor's north breakwater - part of GBP 350 million port expansion project at Nigg Bay (scheduled completion in 2020). Harbour's expansion will allow docking of large ships, also ranking Port Aberdeen Scotland’s largest by berth capacity.
On May 29, 2019, Aberdeen Harbour welcomed its ever-longest vessel - the 175-m (574-ft) long MV Beltnes (IMO 9432206). The Self Discharging Bulk Carrier arrived to discharge 35,000 tons of Norway-quarried fill material at South Harbour (behind the concrete caissons). The operation was part of the GBP 350 million South Harbour construction project and particularly for creating the two new quays (Dunnottar and Castlegate). Both docks are designed to support activities associated with the booming renewable energy industry.
In late-September 2020, Aberdeen Harbour Board awarded Royal Van Oord (Dutch company specializing in dredging, land reclamation and artificial islands construction) with two contracts for Aberdeen South Harbour's expansion. The project included rock removal and revetment (coastal engineering/shore protection) works.
Aberdeen cruise terminal
In 2017, Port Aberdeen started building a new deepwater harbour to attract larger-sized cruise liners (with max capacity 5000 passengers and crew). The new facility is scheduled for completion in 2020.
Currently, Aberdeen is a tender cruise port and handles annually around 30 smaller-sized vessels. After the vessel anchors, its passengers are transported ashore via the ship's tender boats. The new / deeper harbor will allow direct (quayside) disembarkation.
Port Aberdeen cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Aberdeen, Scotland. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
2 May, 2021 Sunday | ![]() | ||
6 May, 2021 Thursday | ![]() | 10:00 | 22:00 |
- Cruise Industry
Azamara Cruises introduces late 2022-early 2023 sailings
The ultra-luxury brand Azamara Cruises announced new itineraries for 2022-H2 and 2023-Q1. The program includes 80+ new itineraries with 170...
September 20, 2020 - Cruise Industry
Aberdeen Harbour’s Upgrade Delayed
North-east cruisers will have to travel 100+ miles to board their ship this autumn. Those who had been hoping to travel on Cruise and Maritime...
February 4, 2020 - Accidents
Drugs Worth GBP 50,000 Seized at Ferry Terminal in Aberdeen
Two Glaswegians were charged in connection with a GBP 50,000 haul of heroin after a series of drug busts in Port Aberdeen over the weekend. The drugs...
April 29, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Aberdeen Harbour Announces Increased Activity Levels
Aberdeen Harbour announced growing activity levels in 2018 across ship and cargo tonnage, passengers and arrivals. The growing port saw a 5% increase...
January 31, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Cruise and Maritime Voyages Launch 2020 Cruise Program
Cruise and Maritime Voyages launched its 2020 cruise program offering a total of 108 different voyages sailing from 15 UK and Ireland ports...
January 3, 2019 - Cruise Industry
Aberdeen Expects More Cruise Arrivals
Aberdeen welcomed over 2,200 cruise passengers in 2017, and more are expected to arrive in 2018. The Granite City was visited by a total of 25 ships...
January 10, 2018 - Cruise Industry
Aberdeen to Become ‘World Class’ Destination for Cruise Ships
Aberdeen is preparing to be positioned as world-class cruise ship travel destination. The city’s brand new deepwater harbour is expected to...
December 16, 2017 - show more news