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Odessa welcomes 4,000 river cruisers and hopes for returning ocean calls in 2020

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River cruise ships berthed at Odessa's Passenger Terminal in the city centre
Despite the absence of ocean cruise ships visiting the Black Sea port of Odessa this year, the city continues to attract international tourists on river cruise ships.

During this summer season 2018, 17 river cruise vessels and almost 4,000 tourists were welcomed by Odessa Sea Port including guests from the US and Europe.

The itineraries included visiting Kiev and other Ukrainian cities (Dnipro river cruisse) as well as visiting Romania’s Feteshti (on Danube cruises).

MedCruise Black Sea Working Group to meet in Odessa

On October 17, Odessa Sea Port will host the MedCruise Black Sea Working Group with representatives from ports across the region as well as MedCruise directors and the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation participating.

On the agenda is the question of the return of ocean cruise ship deployment in the Black Sea, the current barriers and creating an action plan for developing the future of cruise shipping in the Black Sea.

A return to the Black Sea in 2020

During meetings held at Seatrade Cruise Med 2018 in Lisbon last month, Odessa Sea Port Administration says it was informed by several cruise lines they are planning a return to the Black Sea in 2020.

Odessa recorded 3m tourist visit to the city in the first eight months of this year a number that has been growing around half a million year on year which is a sign of growing interest in tourist traffic noted Marila Luzhanska, specialist in the strategic planning and development dept of Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.