Helsinki eyes 120K Int´l cruise passengers this season

An estimated 120,000 international cruise passengers will arrive in Helsinki this season beginning on Saturday, said the Port of Helsinki in a press release on Thursday.

MS Bolette will be arriving in Hernesaari on 15 April, on the opening day of the season and 93 vessel calls have been booked in advance for the season, which lasts until October.

The port authority, however, does not expect any major growth in the international cruise traffic on the Baltic Sea in near future citing major challenges due to the geopolitical situation.

Two maiden calls, vessels calling in Helsinki for the first time, are expected this season: the vessel opening the season, MS Bolette, arriving on 15 April and MS Riviera, arriving on 8 September.

“We are expecting fewer vessel calls compared to the previous season, but we believe that shipping companies have been able to fill the vessels better than last summer,” said Harbour Master Staffan Teromaa.

The busiest cruise days next summer seem to be May 29 and July 2 with three international cruise ships visiting quays in Helsinki in addition to the normal liner traffic.