First cruise ship of 2025 arrives in the Granite City

Unfortunately, the article is paywalled, at least in the US.

Here is an excerpt.

"Nearly 1,000 visitors hopped off the Viking Vela ship today, eager to explore what the region has to offer.
Bob and Susan, from Texas, were among the first cruise ship passengers to visit Aberdeen this year. Hundreds of American tourists basked in the sun while exploring Aberdeen today as the first cruise ship of the 2025 season sailed in. And they had nothing but praise for the “warm welcome, the beautiful architecture and the kind local people” of the Granite City. The Viking Vela brought nearly 1,000 visitors to the north-east this morning in a welcome boost to traders all across the region. This is the first time the Norwegian-flagged cruise ship has glided into the city. It is the first of one of 62 planned cruise ship visits this year, making 2025 the “busiest season” since they started coming here a few years ago. A pipe band welcomed the cruise ship passengers to Aberdeen.
Around 40,000 visitors will get to explore the region in the coming months, with today’s eager tourists praising the Granite City “as the best they’ve seen so far”. We hit the city centre streets to see what they think of Aberdeen?
‘We can’t wait to explore more of Aberdeen – it’s a beautiful city’
The plaza outside Marischal College is heaving with visitors, attentively following their tour guide as he takes them through the story of Robert the Bruce. Dozens take out their phones to capture the granite walls as they are told the history of the prominent building, glittering in the sun. Sheila Nicholson is in awe of the “brilliant” city centre architecture, which is a far cry from the Beverly Hills mansions and palm-lined streets of her American hometown. The 86-year-old is from Los Angeles and has just hopped off one of the tour buses with her friend Barbara Nelson. Admiring the sun-lit Marischal College, she says: “This is our first stop so we haven’t seen much of Aberdeen yet, but everything so far has been absolutely beautiful. “The buildings, the people, the history…It’s all been fantastic and we can’t wait to explore more of city. “And the weather has definitely been on our side. What are all these myths about the gloomy Scottish weather? Look at this bright sun we have today!” Taking a quick snap of the Robert the Bruce statue outside the college, Barbara adds that her favourite thing so far has been learning about the history of Scotland."

All Aberdeen Cruise Calls this year-
April
April 3 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
April 4 Ambience – 1,400 passengers (South Harbour)
April 9 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
April 14 Renaissance – 1,100 passengers (South Harbour)
April 25 Ultramarine – 150 passengers (North Harbour)
April 28 Amera – 835 passengers (South Harbour)
May
May 1 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
May 3 NG Explorer – 148 passengers (North Harbour)
May 4 Le Champlain – 180 passengers (North Harbour)
May 8 Deutchsland – 552 passengers (South Harbour)
May 8 Ocean Nova – 84 passengers (North Harbour)
May 9 MV Hamburg – 408 passengers (North Harbour)
May 10 Ocean Albatros – 189 passengers (North Harbour)
May 16 MS Seaventure – 149 passengers (North Harbour)
May 17 Viking Sky – 930 passengers (South Harbour)
May 18 Ocean Albatros – 189 passengers (North Harbour)
May 22 World Traveller – 176 passengers (North Harbour)
May 23 NG Explorer – 148 passengers (North Harbour)
May 26 Ocean Albatros – 189 passengers (North Harbour)
May 26 Hanseatic Spirit – 230 passengers (Clipper)
May 27 Island Sky – 122 passengers (North Harbour)
May 27 Ocean Nova – 84 passengers (North Harbour)
May 29 AIDAbella – 2050 passengers (South Harbour)
May 29 Viking Jupiter – 930 passengers (South Harbour)
May 29 Greg Mortimer – 126 passengers (North Harbour)
June
June 3 Ocean Endeavour – 199 passengers (North Harbour)
June 5 Viking Saturn – 930 passengers (South Harbour)
June 18 AIDAsol – 2,194 passengers (South Harbour)
June 19 World Voyager – 200 passengers (North Harbour)
June 20 Silver Spirit – 608 passengers (South Harbour)
June 21 Hebridean Sky – 115 passengers (North Harbour)
June 23 Azamara Quest – 716 passengers (South Harbour)
June 23 Ocean Endeavour – 199 passengers (North Harbour)
June 25 Island Sky – 122 passengers (North Harbour)
June 28 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
July
July 18 Viking Sky – 930 passengers (South Harbour)
July 19 MS Europa – 408 passengers (South Harbour)
July 20 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
July 24 Azamara Journey – 680 passengers (South Harbour)
July 24 AIDAluna – 2,100 passengers (South Harbour)
July 25 Hebridean Sky – 115 passengers (North Harbour)
July 29 Renaissance – 1,200 passengers (South Harbour)
August
August 4 AIDAsol – 2,194 passengers (South Harbour)
August 6 Borealis – 1,360 passengers (South Harbour)
August 9 Viking Sky – 930 passengers (South Harbour)
August 14 AIDAbella – 2,050 passengers (South Harbour)
August 14 AIDAsol – 2,194 passengers (South Harbour)
August 14 Vasco De Gama – 1,260 passengers (Anchor)
August 15 Viking Jupiter – 930 passengers (South Harbour)
August 17 Azamara Journey – 680 passengers (South Harbour)
August 22 Viking Saturn – 930 passengers (South Harbour)
August 23 Sirena – 688 passengers (South Harbour)
August 23 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
August 27 Silver Dawn – 596 passengers (South Harbour)
September
September 1 Hebridean Sky – 120 passengers (North Harbour)
September 5 Costa Favolosa – 3,012 passengers (South Harbour)
September 8 MS Europa – 408 passengers (South Harbour)
September 10 Ambience – 1400 passengers (South Harbour)
September 14 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
September 15 AIDAsol – 2,194 passengers (South Harbour)
September 20 Viking Vela – 998 passengers (South Harbour)
September 21 Viking Saturn – 930 passengers (South Harbour)

Hi, Stuart,

Thanks for downloading that P&J article for me. It saved me a lot of work!

Good to see Aberdeen getting some recognition. Thankfully the weather cooperated for that first group!

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

I've made edits to keep this thread legally acceptable.