New BPO Report on Baltic and Norwegian cruise market

The report provides a short analysis of the Baltic and Norwegian cruise market in 2023. In this report we took under the analyze data from the 33 cruise ports from nine Baltic countries: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Russia. In addition, 14 largest Norwegian cruise ports were also analyzed.

The data presented in this report come from Cruise Baltic, Port of Gdynia Authority and Norwegian Coastal Administration.

Cruise sector is being still recovering after it was severely hit by the pandemic. However, still the Baltic cruise traffic haven’t return to its pre-pandemic levels. The pandemic was not yet finally over when another unexpected event occurred - Russia’s invasion on Ukraine, that started in early 2022 and affected Baltic cruise market too.

In 2023 Baltic Cruise market was characterized by fewer vessels’ calls but larger ships, which contributed to an increase in the number of cruise guests on the Baltic comparing to 2022.

Summary of the report:

• In the year 2023 there was less cruise vessels calls at the Baltic ports, but more passengers on the board compared to 2022 – it was preassembly the result of that bigger cruise vessels with larger passenger capacity called at Baltic ports in 2023 than in 2022.
• In 2023 situation on the Baltic cruise market still hasn’t back the one before ethe pandemic (in many ports there were still less vessel calls and passengers then in 2019).
• In 2023 the cruise operators were still omitting St. Petersburg and replacing this destination with other ports (mainly located on the West Baltic)
• Ports in countries bordering with Russia (Helsinki, Tallinn) still influenced by the geopolitical situation (noted decreases)
• In 2023 more two-nights stays ware noticeable in Baltic ports than in 2022.
• In 2023 more Christmas calls (in December) were recorded in Baltic ports. Incerase of cruise vessels calls is observed in other winter months as well
• Last year was a record cruise season for Norwegian ports. Number of cruise vessel calls and passengers was not only larger then in 2022, but also then pre-pandemic year
• Still lower cruise traffic in the Baltic than before the pandemic, with a simultaneous very high growth on the Norwegian market, may suggest a transfer of part of the Cruise traffic from the Baltic region to the Norwegian fjords. After Russia started the war in Ukraine, the Baltic region may be associated as a region located close to the ongoing war.
  
  

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Monika Rozmarynowska-Mrozek, Head of Consulting at Actia Forum, one of the authors of the report comments:

The situation on the Baltic cruise market has not yet returned to its pre-pandemic state. Last year, in turn, the Norwegian cruise market recorded exceptionally high growth, with it being a record season in history. Cruise traffic in the Baltic Sea is still lower than before the pandemic, with a simultaneous significant increase in the Norwegian market, which may suggest a transfer of part of the cruise traffic from the Baltic region to the Norwegian fjords. After Russia started the war in Ukraine, the Baltic region can be associated as a region close to the ongoing war.

Interested in the report? Please contact bpo.office@actiaforum.pl