The number of international cruise ship passengers rose to an all-time record this year totalling 478,000 foreign passengers. In 2016, the number was 409,000, while the previous record was 436,500 in 2015, the company said in its press release.
The largest groups this year came from North America (26%), Germany (25%), the United Kingdom (just under 10%), Canada (almost 6%), and Spain (a little under 5%).
‘This is quite a positive development,’ says Eeva Hietanen, Communications Manager at the Port of Helsinki. ‘At the moment, it looks like 2018 will also be a busy cruise year.’
A new cruise ship quay in Hernesaari will be completed towards the end of 2018, and it is intended to be used in the 2019 season.
There were a total of 266 cruise ship visits, which is not by any means a new record, but it does show that the sizes and passenger capacities of ships are increasing.