When the Boat Comes In – Visitors Outnumber Residents by Six to One
When the Boat Comes In –
Visitors Outnumber Residents by Six to One
Not long ago the sight of monster cruise ships off Kirkwall in Orkney, which is 10 miles off the mainland, would have been a cause for wonder, why even in 2011 a mere 130,000 visited were debarked from monster cruise liners, but this year a massive 130,000 sail-by tourists will hit the streets of Orkney with 140 cruise liners sets to dock this season. That dwarfs the population of Orkney which is six times smaller. This sea born invasion of course isn’t popular with everyone.
Behemoths of the Sea Attract the Thrifty
One monster liner berthing in Kirkwall had nearly four and a half thousand passengers with over a thousand in the crew. Disgorging all these holidaying folks off the ship is a huge undertaking and the number swamp the local shops according to disgruntled residents. The season runs from spring to early autumn and keeps numerous businesses in the archipelago afloat. But because the cruises include all food and drink the thriftier among the visitors still eat and drink on the liners and don’t spend much in local restaurants and cafes. Many locals feel that the change they bring is spoiling the essential nature of Orkney life which is normally calm and near to nature.
The Thrifty Welcome Here
Well here at James Pirie we strive continuously to improve the offering without changing our long traditions of service and good value and we welcome the thrifty shopper. With free shipping over £50 and free gift wrapping and whatever the occasion we hope to have the perfect gift for you to give. And for those in search of an even greater bargain there is our spring and summer sale. Enjoy!
