Cruise Baltic working on initiatives to bring in more cruise passengers

‘We are working closely with our partners to introduce initiatives that will bring more cruise guests to the Baltic Sea region and secure the market position of the region,’ he said.

The region continues to face challenges due to St. Petersburg's absensce from Baltic Sea itineraries. Cruise Baltic said it had already carried out actions to help destinations navigate this uncertain geopolitical situation and is building a strategy directed at the American market in particular.

Added Aarø-Hansen, ‘Building our new strategy is a process where we need to think ahead, but at the same time, we need to take the current situation into account…[it] will also highlight our sustainable actions and ways to secure the region’s market position in a new tomorrow.’

While further details are yet to be revealed, the plans will get underway this year.

Still some positive results 

Despite the Baltic Sea region failing to attract the same number of cruise passengers last year as it did before the pandemic, Cruise Baltic’s annual market review found that in 2022 it welcomed 3,450,469 cruise passengers, an increase of 256% compared to 2021. The total number of calls also increased from 648 in 2021 to 2,415 in 2022, plus there were calls to at least one Baltic port every month throughout the year. According to Aarø-Hansen, it is a ‘very positive outcome.’

‘...We are pleased that despite the challenges we are facing, the number of calls has increased significantly compared to 2021, which indicates a strong collaboration within the Cruise Baltic network,’ he said.

Cruise Baltic stated that predictions for the rest of the year are uncertain owing to the conflict.