Cruise News was delighted to meet up with Magnus Karestedt, President & CEO at Port of Gothenburg

What makes Gothenburg a popular cruise destination?

Gothenburg has all the advantages of a European metropolis, but with a charming small town feel. The city has excellent shopping as well as many parks and a beautiful archipelago.

The two terminals and the two cruise quays are situated in, and close to, the city, which is an important factor for cruise visitors.

Furthermore, the Port of Gothenburg is the largest port in the Nordic Region and has an excellent location on the West coast of Sweden, halfway between Copenhagen and Oslo.

The port is well equipped to receive cruise ships of all sizes.

How big was the cruise market at your port in 2016, and how many cruise ships did you handle?

In 2016, a total of 34 cruise ships called at the Port of Gothenburg, carrying 56,000 passengers. This is fewer than we have come to expect in recent times. In 2015, 50 vessels arrived, compared with 73 the previous year.

How many cruise passengers are you expecting in 2017?

This year will be slightly better, 40 calls have been booked, with a total of 52,000.

Where do you see growth in 2017?

Despite the slump last year, we are optimistic about the future. Gothenburg is ranked highly in prominent international travel guides and is described as a trendy, vibrant port city with a great deal to do and see.

We are also stepping up our efforts to reverse the trend. There is a big potential for increasing cruise tourism in Gothenburg – the city’s attractiveness and the fact that it is the largest port in the Nordic region has proved to be a winning combination.

Cruise tourists are becoming younger and want to make their own way around town. Gothenburg is the ideal size for this and it is also close to an archipelago that is quite unique.

What are your expansion plans?

With effect from March 2018, we will offer a new, centrally located cruise terminal – America Cruise Terminal.

It was from here, more than 100 years ago, that the first liners departed for North America and they continued to do so until 1979. This beautiful and historic setting is about to be revived as the central cruise terminal in Gothenburg.

America Cruise Terminal is within walking distance of the centre and the inviting, vibrant districts of Linné, Haga and Järntorget. The beautiful terminal building – Amerikaskjulet – was constructed in 1912 and has become one of the landmarks of Gothenburg.

As we develop America Cruise Terminal, the cruise terminal in Frihamnen will cease operating in 2018 as it has become part of a major urban development scheme.