Helsinki expects busiest cruise ship season to date
This summer an estimated 400,000 visitors aboard 283 cruise ships are expected to arrive in Helsinki. This would represent an increase of approximately 9.6 percent in the number of cruise ship passengers and 6.8 percent in the number of cruise ship visits.
According to the Cruise Baltic network, the anticipated growth figures for the entire Baltic Sea region are 4.7 and 1.6 percent, respectively. Accordingly, Helsinki is expected to enjoy significantly higher growth than the regional average.
“The number of international cruise ships operating in the Baltic Sea varies each year, but this summer Helsinki will be the port of call for more cruise ships than ever before,” reports Cruise Coordinator Noora Heino.
Each cruise ship will carry on average 2000 passengers. The largest cruise ship in terms of passenger numbers will be Adventure of the Seas, which will arrive in Helsinki on 21 June and again on 3 July with around 3800 passengers onboard. Adventure of the Seas will be visiting Helsinki and the Baltic Sea for the first time.
It will be joined by four other newcomers this season, which began already at the end of April: Norwegian Star, Aidamar, Costa Neo Romantica and Ocean Dream (Peace Boat). The last of these will be among the most unusual cruise ship visits this summer. The ship will carry predominantly Japanese passengers supporting natural conservation and opposing nuclear power. The Peace Boat will arrive in Helsinki on 19 May.
The busiest day of the cruise ship season will be on 15 May, when four cruise ships arrive in Helsinki carrying over 10,700 passengers in total. Other days on which over 8000 passengers will arrive are 22 May, 31 May, 28 June, 3 July, 15 July, 24 July, 3 August, 14 August and 4 September. The peak months will be June and July, when a total of 36 cruise ships will call on Helsinki.
“International cruise ship passengers are an important segment for the local tourism sector. The average passenger spends 66 euros during their brief visit, so a giant cruise ship like Adventure of the Seas will generate income for the local service sector of around half a million euros during its two visits,” Heino calculates.
Cruise visitors appreciate Helsinki’s offerings and friendly locals
The international cruise ship survey carried out by the Port of Helsinki in 2011 also asked visitors to rate their experiences of Helsinki. According to the results, cruise visitors were either very satisfied or satisfied with all the services they tried in Helsinki.
Helsinki is also considered an interesting destination, as 96 percent of all cruise ship passengers choose to come ashore compared to a European average of 82 percent.
Tour offerings continue to expand and diversify
Approximately half of all cruise visitors who come ashore choose to see Helsinki by themselves, while half join special tours.
“Helsinki continues to develop as a cruise destination, with new offerings being introduced each year. Cruise visitors are also increasingly interested in the unique and local appeal of Helsinki. For example, home visit products that introduce visitors to different aspects of the Finnish lifestyle are growing in popularity,” Heino says.
In addition to home visits, this summer’s most interesting tours include kayaking and steamship cruises in the archipelago, as well as visits to the popular Winter Wonderland. In addition, Carnival Cruise Lines has begun offering hop on/hop off bus tours alongside traditional guided sightseeing tours, as well as outings to the Tytyri Mine in nearby Lohja.
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