According to the report prepared by Cruise Baltic, 2018 saw a record number of cruise passengers disembarking at a Baltic Sea port, also revealing a record number of port calls received by Baltic Sea ports, data that point to further growth in 2019.
Cruise lines and cruise passengers from around the world are increasingly choosing the Baltic Sea. For this reason, the report on the development of the 29 Baltic cruise ports, as well as the ports of St. Petersburg, Riga, and Kiel, shows a 7.3 percent increase in the number of cruise passengers in 2018, receiving a total of 5,424,943 cruise passengers.
“These figures show that cooperation between Cruise Baltic ports provides an effective launching pad for growth, based on a clear focus on developing cruise destinations and creating new passenger experiences. At the same time, it is proof that Baltic seaports have successfully adapted to market trends,” commented Claus Bødker, Director of Cruise Baltic.
The number of port calls in the Baltic Sea last year also reached a record high. Although the number of cruise passengers since 2008 has increased from 1,340 to 2,017, more and more cruise lines are choosing the Baltic Sea as their destination. Thus, in 2018, the number of port calls was 7.7% higher than in 2017. This increase is good news for the ports and cities in the Baltic Sea region, which can expect even more cruise passengers in 2019.
“The forecast for this year looks very promising. Last year, Baltic ports welcomed 5.4 million cruise passengers, and we expect to surpass that record this year, with 5.8 million anticipated,” added Claus Bødker.
With 868,000 cruise passengers last year, the Port of Copenhagen was the busiest cruise port in the Baltic Sea region. This is the conclusion of the Cruise Baltic Market Review, which highlights this figure as the highest in the Port of Copenhagen's history, indicating the potential for further growth. The forecast for 2019 shows a 12.3 percent increase. The report lists Rostock, St. Petersburg, Tallinn, and Stockholm as the second, third, fourth, and fifth busiest ports in the Baltic Sea, respectively.
The estimates for 2019 are generally positive, as an increase is expected in both the number of stops and the number of passengers.
Cruise Baltic was founded in 2004 as an alliance of 12 cruise destinations in the Baltic Sea region. Since then, the association has grown and now includes 29 destinations.
