Baltic ports welcome record numbers

A total of 5,909,784 guests visited Baltic Sea ports in 2019, representing an increase of 9.1% compared to 2018 and a 16.9% jump since 2017.

Moreover, the region has experienced growth in the number of calls too, according to the newly released 2020 edition of the Cruise Baltic Market Review.

Shoulder seasons stronger

Activity in the shoulder seasons, which are defined as off peak periods from January to May and September to December, have increased by 10.5% and overnight stays grew 6.4% from 730 in 2018 to 777 in 2019.

‘The numbers are very positive, as the increase in shoulder seasons helps to spread out the guests and thereby extend the season. The increase in overnight stays means that guests can enjoy more time at each destination and, for example, get a chance to spend more money onshore,’ explains Claus Bødker, director of Cruise Baltic. 

Small ports witnessed a 37.8% hike in 2019.

‘This is positive in terms of sustainability as the cruise industry then generates a positive economic impact in more cities in the Baltic Sea – and not just in the large destinations,’ said Bødker.

Copenhagen top draw

Copenhagen maintains its position as the top Baltic cruise port with 940,000 guests in 2019, a 8.2% increase since 2018. The most visited cruise ports, besides Copenhagen, were Kiel, St. Petersburg, Stockholm and Tallinn.

Cruise Baltic is a network of 30 cruise ports in 8 different countries in the Baltic Sea. A new partner, Nyborg, was added to the Cruise Baltic Network in 2019. Three additional ports (St. Petersburg, Kiel and Riga) are included in the analysis to achieve a full view of the entire region.