Two of seven calls to Ullapool this year will be maiden visits: Phoenix Reisen’s Artania and KD Bereederburg’s Astor. Arion will be the first call of the season on May 11 and Hebridean Princess the last on October 5. In all about 2,200 passengers will visit the Scottish port.
Ullapool has been working to improve its share of the cruise market over the past four years. In 2010 it invested £100,000 in a dedicated cruise tender landing pontoon and in 2011 a reception marquee and luxury restrooms were added.
Judging by the 10 calls already booked for 2013, it is already working. Next year Hebridean Princess calls five times. Also calling will be Swan Hellenic’s Minerva, ResidenSea’s The World and Peter Deilmann’s Deutschland amongst others.
Most of the ships anchor in the bay just 200m from the pontoon according to Kevin Peach, chief executive/harbourmaster Ullapool Harbour Trust. The centre of town is about 100m away and there is plenty of room for coaches alongside the reception marquee.
There is a quay of 110m in length and with a depth of 6m for the smaller ships to come alongside.
