Cromarty Firth Port Authority welcomes maiden voyage for world's newest cruise ship
Published: 7 June 2010
As the first port of call on her maiden voyage, Seabourn Sojourn will visit the Port of Invergordon, following an official naming ceremony on Friday (June 4) on the River Thames with British supermodel and fashion icon, Twiggy.
The brand new 31,500 tonne cruise liner will arrive into Invergordon on Tuesday 8 June, direct from her christening in the Pool of London. The 400 passengers on the sell-out maiden voyage will visit a variety of local attractions, including Cawdor Castle, Beauly and Foulis Castle and will receive a welcome from the clan chief, and other passengers will go on the President of Seabourn’s special tour to Dunrobin Castle.
The deluxe vessel has 225 ocean-view suites measuring 295 to 1,682 square feet, of which 90 percent have private verandas, four restaurants and in-suite dining, as well as the latest Spa at Seabourn.
Delivered from an Italian shipyard, the 200 metre long vessel was built at a cost of $290 million. The cruise liner is the second of three identical sister ships being built at the yard for the Yachts of Seabourn, a Miami Florida based company.
On her 14-day maiden voyage the Seabourn Sojourn will sail from London to Invergordon then on to Thorshavn (Faroes), Reykjavik and Heimaey Island in Iceland, Olden and Bergen in Norway, Amsterdam and then Dover to complete her cruise.
Highland Council will present a plaque, and Cruise Highlands Ltd. will hand over a copy of “This Noble Harbour”, the official history of the Cromarty Firth at a plaque exchange ceremony onboard the Seabourn Sojourn on Tuesday.
Seabourn Sojourn will return to Invergordon in July and again in August, as the port celebrates a record number of cruise passengers and an increase in tonnage.
This cruise season, which started in May, will see 52 cruise liners call at Invergordon, bringing a total of 60,800 passengers to the area. This compares to the 48,787 passengers last year and 48 cruise liners visiting the Port.
Tonnage is also up 29% on last year with 2.34 million tonnes of cruise vessels expected to call at the port, which compares to 1.82 million in 2009.
Captain Iain Dunderdale, cruise development manager for Cruise Highlands Ltd., cruise liner marketing arm of Cromarty Firth Port Authority (CFPA), said: “I am delighted to welcome the Seabourn Sojourn on her maiden voyage. Cruise liners visiting the port provide an enormous boost to the local economy, bringing approximately £7 million to the economy and thousands of passengers every season.
“Cruise Scotland figures show the cruise activity in Scotland is up 16% this year and the Port of Invergordon is expected to have the highest volume of passengers and tonnage.
