Kiel recorded 834,431 passengers, a 4% increase, on 243 calls, a nearly 39% spike above 2019. While the turnaround segment — a core business for Kiel as one of Germany's leading cruise hubs — prospered, transit calls grew even more spectacularly.
Transit segment growth
The 34 transit calls corresponded to 14% of the total calls — considerably more than in previous years. Passengers on transit calls numbered about 70,000, or 8.4% of the total.
According to the Port of Kiel, many transit passengers spent time in Kiel itself, but some took excursions further afield, including to Hamburg.
Maiden calls
Port of Kiel MD Dirk Claus said 2022 saw more maiden calls than any previous year — 20 — with more than half of those by US operators including Norwegian Cruise Line and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Shore power used for 19 calls
Nineteen calls were supplied with shore power, including AIDAprima, Mein Schiff 4, Mein Schiff 6, Artania and Nieuw Statendam.
Claus expects this number to triple in 2023, adding that numerous vessels have already scheduled integration tests in preparation for using shore power. He called on operators to continue adapting ships for cold ironing.
Tariff incentive
Seatrade Cruise News understands Kiel's tariff structure, granting reduced fees to ships ready to take shore power, is an incentive. Even the owners of a 1960s-era vessel are said to be interested.
Kiel currently supplies cruise ships docked at Ostseekai in the city centre with shore power; two additional plants are scheduled to become operational at Ostuferhafen late next year that will make cold ironing available also at Berth No. 1 located there.
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