Linlithgow gears up to welcome a new generation of cruise visitors looking for authentic experiences, history and adventure.
Cruise readers who grew up in the 1970s may recall ‘When the Boat Comes In’, a period drama produced by the BBC between 1976 and 1981, set on Tyneside between the two World Wars, starring James Bolam as Jack Ford, a First World War veteran who returns to his poverty-stricken (fictional) town of Gallowshield in the North East of England.
The series dramatises the interwar political struggles of the 1920s and 1930s and explores the impact of national and international politics upon Ford and the people around him.
Furthermore, in the days without iPlayer, on-demand services or the Internet and only three TV channels, it competed with ‘Bless this House’ on the other side, a sitcom starring Sid James and Diana Coupland, who struggle to understand their teenage children’s progressive ways, protest-loving son Mike and trendy daughter Sally.
Have times really changed?
In the 70s anyone who went on cruise was likely viewed as a millionaire, film star, royalty or a wealthy retired couple. In recent times, however, following One Linlithgow’s attendance at a very informative seminar organised by Cruise Forth, it appears that the age demographic of a stereotypical cruise ship passenger is no longer a retired couple looking for tartan tat in Edinburgh.
Evidently, increasing numbers of tech savvy people born in the mid 1980s, along with the City of London’s ‘Big Bang’, PCs, CDs, disposable cameras and nicotine patches, are now embarking on cruises in their 40’s. Apparently, they identify as ‘Generation Y’ or ‘Xennials’.
They want exclusive experiences, also beyond the capital that involves meeting local people and delving into local history and culture. Admittedly, the Outlander effect (Sam Heughan and Catriona Balfe) was also evident when chatting to cruise visitors last year. Linlithgow has been identified as an authentic and worthy place to visit, away from the large crowds in our capital.
Well established local Linlithgow groups have similarly been working together to make sure the visits are memorable and well organised for the short-term visitors arriving by coach from their mother ship.
How does it work for Linlithgow?
Cruise Forth Seminar
Cruises are planned years in advance, as meticulously as a wedding for most travellers. In 2025 there will be 29 cruise days at South Queensferry and 25 in Rosyth where passengers embark for a day out in the local area. Most people have planned excursions, either as part of an all-inclusive package or pre-planned smaller adventures.
The coach trips arriving in Linlithgow this year are included in a Viking Cruise package after positive feedback from passengers in previous years, which is a very important mechanism for all cruise liners.
A smaller number of passengers venture out on their own to explore, so this is where the role of the dockside volunteers is invaluable.
It also provides an opportunity for cruise staff to get off the ship, find a local Wi-Fi connection to touch base with loved ones, before venturing out for the day. They are invaluable ‘influencers’ on the ships who have daily face to face engagement with passengers.
One Linlithgow is currently planning “fam tours” (familiarisation tours) with excursion organisers, along with cruise staff to show them the delights of Linlithgow.
Cruise Facts and Stats 2013 to 2023
Scotland – 93% growth in calls from 2013 – 2023:
Over 1 million passenger calls. 908 ship calls.
Around 104 ships (from total of 123 ships in the UK)
49 cruise lines (from a total of 53 operators in the UK)
Typical UK transit call generates an average total expenditure of £134.60 per passenger.
Cruise generated £130m+ for Scottish economy in 2023.
One of the most managed forms of tourism.
Cruise lines plan itineraries at least two years in advance.
Average Age of passengers now 46.5 years old.
Over 60% of cruise passengers will return to a destination that they visited on a cruise.
Cruise tourism provides revenue for tourist attractions up to 90 minutes away from the port.
Cruise was responsible for 0.5% of total tourist visits in Scotland.
Exclusive and Unique in Linlithgow
What’s the most iconic scene you can recall in a film, and have you ever tried to re-create it? Is it Kate Winslett standing at the front of the Titantic with arms stretched out or is it the Jaws ending when the shark bites into the cable and blows up.
Or is it the ‘most romantic pottery scene in movie history’ in Ghost when Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze shape pottery to the song Unchained Melody.
It’s a scene that made millions of people consider, just for a moment, taking up pottery as a hobby.
The effect continues in Linlithgow with three businesses in the town offering pottery classes.
It’s the kind of unique experiential activity that will appeal to cruise visitors and even our local versions of GenerationY, possibly conceived after their parent’s cinematic experience of the 1990 movie. If you’re a local, why not sign up and ‘BYOB’.
4 port calls to Rosyth this year by Viking cruises
They are bringing coach excursions to Linlithgow to visit Linlithgow Palace and have a wander around Linlithgow on the following dates.
| 19th June 2025 | 19 July 2025 | 08 August 2025 | 21 August 2025 |
On each of the dates the number of coaches and tour timings will be the same.
09:00 2 coaches arrive; depart Linlithgow at 11:30
09:30 2 coaches arrive; depart Linlithgow at 12:00
13:15 2 coaches arrive; depart Linlithgow at 15:45
13:30 2 coaches arrive; depart Linlithgow at 16:00
News article provided by One Linlithgow.
Article published in the Linlithgow Black Bitch Community Magazine, Edition 113, April 2025.
