BARGAIN hunters from a remote group of islands descended on Tyneside to fill up their Christmas stockings.
Around 1,400 people from the Faroe Islands, between the Shetlands and Iceland, docked in North Shields to sample the North East’s shops and nightlife.
The passengers arrived onboard the NorrÖna ferry, operated by Smyril Line, at around 7am yesterday after a 28-hour journey across the North Sea.
This is the third year the region has welcomed the guests, who travelled more than 400 miles, to indulge in an array of retail therapy at the Metrocentre and in Newcastle city centre.
Eager to pick up a few bargains in the run-up to the festive season, Naomi Dimon made the trip with a group of friends. The 17-year-old said: “I like coming to Newcastle because everything is very cheap here compared to back home. I came on the same ferry last year.”
Her friend Susanna Mortensen, 18, added: “I came here on the first trip in 2009 and I wanted to come back because it’s so cheap. We went to the Metrocentre to do all our shopping.”
Another passenger, Linda Elissen, said she also enjoyed taking in the sights of Newcastle. The 25-year-old said: “It’s always really fun coming here and Newcastle is a very pretty city. Of course I did some shopping as well.”
Unn Olsen, 44, loves coming over to soak up the culture and atmosphere. But she admitted that she misses the extravagant welcome the passengers got when they docked at the Port of Tyne International Passenger terminal on the first Christmas cruise in 2009.
The 44-year-old said: “I miss the man who was here playing the pipes and the wine and mince pies. It’s still great to get lots of cheap Christmas shopping done and we went to the Metrocentre to fill up our suitcases.”
For the Captain of the NorrÖna, Sverri Kjaerbaek, it was the first time he had ever sailed to Newcastle. He said: “The journey was all right, the weather was quite bad but we got here OK.
“The atmosphere on board is great and everyone really enjoys themselves and has a good time.
“The passengers really like the trip over and of course all the shops here are good for getting Christmas presents. I believe it’s quite a bit cheaper here.”
Susan Wear, director of corporate affairs at the Port of Tyne, said: “This is the third time NorrÖna has visited and it always feels like Christmas has really begun when she arrives.
“The passengers have a fantastic time and they are also supporting local shops and businesses so it’s a great opportunity for the area.”
The shoppers will set sail to make the return journey home at 3pm today.
