Islands cruise to record season

Forget the Bahamas, Barbados or Bermuda, Britain’s most northerly destinations lured a record number of cruise ship passengers this year.

Orkney is riding on the crest of a wave after 146,000 passengers stepped off at Kirkwall since March – making it the country’s most popular place for cruisers.

Neighbours Shetland also had a record breaking season with 90,336 visiting passengers from 91 port calls.

Both islands have now seen their final cruise ships of the year. Between March and this month, 144 ships visited Kirkwall – 10 more than in 2017.