Cruising from the Forth has become an enterprise that has grown from strength to strength in recent years but now the area has won a major award for its successful endeavours.

The Scottish capital was named as Western Europe’s Top Cruise Destination 2018 for the first time by Cruise Critic this week, but it’s the Port of Rosyth that's providing the gateway to Edinburgh and making its popularity soar.

This year Capital Cruising, part of the Forth Ports group, will welcome 114 liners in to the Firth of Forth with over 150,000 passengers onboard.

Cruise Critic is world’s largest online cruise resource and is based solely on consumer ratings and reviews posted to their website over the year.

Rob Mason, Head of Cruise for Capital Cruising in Scotland said: “This is a significant global recognition and we are thrilled with the award especially as this is feedback directly from cruise passengers. Our cruise business is thriving, and we are seeing our cruise calls grow each year.

"We have invested heavily in the Port of Rosyth and have spent a lot of money updating the facilities there.

"This is very much an award for the whole region around the Forth with Fife being a major part of the tourism attractions here now.

"My thanks go to our hard-working cruise team and the 50 volunteers from Cruise Forth who work tirelessly all season warmly welcoming thousands of passengers.

"They work with business in Fife to make them more cruise friendly. They've also secured funding for buses to take visitors to Dunfermline from the ships and more and more passengers are finding their way into Fife.

"This is certainly a huge success story for the Forth."

Cruise Forth, is a voluntary organisation set up by locals in West Fife and they provide a warm welcome to visitors encouraging them to visit the Kingdom while helping businesses become more cruise friendly.

Peter Wilson from Cruise Forth said: "I would like to think we've played a part in getting this recognition.

"For everyone working in the sector Edinburgh is just the gateway name and we're getting more and more visitors wanting to explore Fife so local businesses are befitting from this success.

"We encourage people to fill in postcards when they visit, and their feedback is published on our website providing some great insight for future cruise passengers.

"Many visitors have never even heard of Dunfermline before when they arrive but think it's an absolute treat by the end of their trip."

Chairman of marketing organisation, Cruise Scotland, Andrew Hemphill, said: "Capital Cruising’s award is well deserved as an excellent example of the high standard of services and facilities provided by our member ports in continuing to attract record numbers of cruise passengers to Scotland’s many outstanding attractions."