Thousands of cruise ship passengers will arrive in the north today bringing a tourist boom to the region.
More than 4,600 people will pour into Invergordon this morning when three huge cruise liners dock at the Highland port.
Scores of coaches and taxis are due in the town as visitors head off to see the best of the region’s attractions.
Tourism leaders have welcomed the influx but there are also calls for Moray to capitalise on the growth in cruise liners coming to the region.
The largest of the liners, Cunard’s Queen Victoria, carries 2,000 passengers. She is making her maiden visit to the port and will berth at Admiralty Pier.
German cruise liner Mein Schiff, with 1,900 passengers will dock at Invergordon Service Base.
And the smallest vessel is the Marco Polo, a regular visitor to Invergordon, carrying 760 people.
A fleet of buses and taxis will be used to whisk passengers on tours of sights including Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Inverness, Dunrobin Castle and Glenfiddich distillery.
Bob Buskie, chief executive of the Port of Cromarty Firth, said: “This will be a busy day for the port and for the Highlands. With all three ships arriving between 0730 and 0900, the team has put into place a lot of planning ahead of Monday.
“The port is very lucky to be able to accommodate three modern cruise ships at once. This brings such benefit to the local economy in the form of direct and indirect spend.”
Cruise development manager for Cruise Highlands Ltd, Captain Iain Dunderdale said that his organisation worked with the port to ensure “a trouble free experience” for the visitors and the town.
Councillor John Cowe, chairman of the Moray Economic Partnership, said that he hoped that long term plans to develop Buckie harbour would attract cruise ships.
He added: “It is huge boost to the economy of Invergordon. It would be nice to see some of that money come further east.
“It is a shame that the tours do not come here, we have so much to offer, with distilleries and castles.”