In March 1989 on Invergordon’s first visit to Seatrade Miami with Captain Iain Dunderdale and Gordon Ireland, Mrs Anne Dunderdale came up with the idea of Cruise Europe.
She suggested that ports in Europe which were interested in attracting US cruiseships should get together to form an association to market Europe as a destination. “A revolutionary idea,” husband Iain called it. He then went on to implement it along with a number of others (see ‘Cruise Europe celebrates 20 years’).
Invergordon had seven calls of 147,000gt with 2,845 passengers in 1991. Ships included Caledonian Star, Royal Viking Sun (pictured), Europa and Maxim Gorkiy.
This year, there are 45 calls of 2,610,000gt and over 71,000 passengers. “Eight of the calls carried more passengers on each ship, than in the whole year of 1991,” remarks Dunderdale.
Calls included six from 113,561gt Crown Princess, three from 102,587gt Costa Magica as well as Queen Elizabeth and Costa Deliziosa.
One of the highlights of the last 20 years was in September 1995 when the QE2 called for the first time. Dunderdale comments: “I think that really put Invergordon on the map. At that time she was a gigantic ship.” Her arrival followed a visit to Cunard Line’s offices in New York where the port persuaded them that she could indeed be accommodated at the Scottish port.
