This year winter navigation at the passenger port of St. Petersburg Marine Façade is scheduled for December 31, the MF’s press release said. On the January holidays two passenger vessels set sail from the port, the Silja Festival and the Victoria, on the following routes: St. Petersburg - Stockholm - Tallinn - St Petersburg and St Petersburg - Tallinn - Riga - Stockholm - Helsinki - St Petersburg.
The cruises remain one of the most popular segments of the tourism industry and maintain its popularity even in the economic crises, the company said. According to the forecasts of the European Cruise Council based on strong growth figures the number of cruise tourists should increase by the end of this year by 5.5% y-o-y. Over the past 5 years the number of European tourists increased by 50%, and even in the crisis year of 2009 amounted to 4.9 million people. This true also for the Baltic region and for St. Petersburg in particular.
Construction of the passenger port of St. Petersburg "Marine Façade" began in 2006. The port’s first cruise terminal was launched two years later and in September of 2008 the Italian ship Costa Mediterranea delivered its first passengers. There are currently three terminals operating at the port. The completion of the passenger project, including 7 piers and coastal infrastructure facilities is scheduled for 2011.
Construction of the passenger port of St. Petersburg "Marine Façade" began in 2006. The port’s first cruise terminal was launched two years later and in September of 2008 the Italian ship Costa Mediterranea delivered its first passengers. There are currently three terminals operating at the port. The completion of the passenger project, including 7 piers and coastal infrastructure facilities is scheduled for 2011.