77 Association perspectives Cruise Baltic, Cruise Europe and Cruise Norway share why Northern Europe is attracting more cruise guests than ever before “What makes the Baltic particularly interesting is the variety you can offer within one itinerary. You have major cities and well-known cultural destinations but also a large number of smaller ports where guests can get very close to local communities, nature and experiences. We increasingly hear from cruise lines that they are looking for these smaller, less obvious destinations and places that can add something different to an itinerary. Combined with relatively short sailing distances between many destinations, that gives planners a lot of flexibility when building an itinerary in the Baltic Sea region.” “Our members offer world-class destinations combined with modern and efficient port infrastructure. We have very strong source markets in our region, with Germany and the UK as the frontrunners. We see a clear change in the seasonality – a broader season is a different kind of opportunity than summer growth. More calls in the shoulder months, and eventually deeper into winter, spread revenue across a longer calendar and reduce the concentrated infrastructure pressure of peak summer. The capacity being added to the Cruise Europe region has been matched by comprehensive port infrastructure investments in all of our regions. Outside Alaska, the Cruise Europe region is the frontrunner for shore power plug-ins for cruise ships, with around 20 of our member ports offering the capability. Some have even made connecting to shore power a licence to operate.” “Norway offers dramatic natural landscapes, vibrant coastal communities, culture and history throughout all four seasons. Today, cruise lines can explore a diverse range of destinations along Norway’s extensive coastline, from urban experiences in Oslo to fjords, smaller coastal communities, Kirkenes and Svalbard. This diversity provides opportunities to develop varied itineraries, combining well-established destinations with lesser-known places and experiences. For Cruise Norway, it is equally important that cruise tourism benefits both visitors and local communities. Through collaboration across the cruise value chain, we work to protect nature, support emission reductions and create lasting value for coastal communities.” Klaus Bondam Director, Cruise Baltic Monica Berstad Managing Director, Cruise Norway Jens Skrede Managing Director, Cruise Europe Photo: Live Riga Photo: Visit Bergen/Robin Strand Headshot: Faxaflóahafnir/Ports of Reykjavík Photo: Cruise Europe
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