Helsinki expects 540,000 cruise passengers this season

About 302 cruise vessel calls and 540,000 passengers are expected in the Helsinki city this season, according to the advance reservations received by the Port of Helsinki.

Most of them will arrive in the city via Hernesaari, as the Port of Helsinki’s two existing cruise quays will be joined by a new LHD quay that will serve large cruise ships this season, said a press release of the Port of Helsinki.

The cruise season was kicked off on 27 April with the arrival at Katajanokka of the classically beautiful Astor of Global Cruise Lines, which accommodates roughly 650 passengers.

The popularity of Helsinki as a destination for international cruise ships has grown steadily. A total of 140,000 cruise ship passengers visited Helsinki in 2000, whereas last year the previous record was broken, with a total of almost 520,000 passengers. The upcoming cruise season is also expected to be busy.

This summer will see many popular cruise days, on which the shops and attractions in Helsinki will be filled with travellers, and the region’s services and events will welcome new, curious visitors.

The busiest cruise day of the summer may very well be 5 August, when as many as six cruise ships accommodating a total of over 11,600 passengers will arrive in Helsinki.