HARD to believe, but less than two months from now the first cruise ship of the season will dock at Greenock’s Ocean Terminal.

The luxurious Hebridean Princess, a favourite of the Queen, has the honour of making the inaugural visit of 2016, and will also be here for the last four calls in November.

This year’s schedule is the busiest ever and features many of the world’s top cruise lines, including Cunard, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Fred Olsen, MSC, Holland America and, of course, Disney, in a debut appearance on the Clyde.

Disney Magic arrives in June from Kirkwall with 3,325 passengers, some of whom may or may not be dressed as Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Terminal bosses are justifiably cock-a-hoop with the growing success of the port as a cruise ship destination, praising the warm welcome given to visitors by Inverclyde Tourist Group and local people.

Passengers arrive from all over the world, and give our shops and services a very welcome boost.

ON a more sombre note, it was sad to see the passing of Greenock-born politician Sir Albert McQuarrie at the age of 98.

The former Tory MP, nicknamed the ‘Buchan Bulldog’, was always proud to talk about his Greenock roots, including his formative education at Highlanders’ Academy.

A founder president of Gourock Horticultural Society, he enjoyed travelling down from his Aberdeenshire home every year to their autumn show.
Sir Albert was certainly one of the real characters of politics.