Stockholm remains a very popular cruise destination, despite the current turbulent times. When this cruise season ends, 205 cruise ships will have called at Ports of Stockholm, carrying twice as many passengers as the previous year. This year’s cruise season ends on 22 October, when the AIDADiva cruise ship departs from its city centre quay. In total 205 cruise ships, carrying 247,000 passengers, called at Ports of Stockholm during the 2022 season. This is twice as many as the previous year, both in terms of the number of cruise ship calls and passenger numbers.

“Stockholm is very popular, and due to the current situation many cruise ships have chosen to stay extra days in Stockholm. The cruise passengers are very important to Stockholm financially, and generate over 1,000 jobs in the region,” says Ports of Stockholm CEO, Thomas Andersson.

Despite the fact that these turbulent times impact the Baltic Sea region, Stockholm stands out and has retained its position as a sought after and very popular destination. This can also be seen by the number of maiden calls. This season, as many as 18 cruise ships called at Stockholm for the first time. An entirely new to Stockholm, traditional cruise line, Ambassador Cruise Line, also chose to make their maiden visit.

“During the summer a brand new cruise quay also opened at Frihamnen Port. This has increased our flexibility and means we can welcome more cruise ships to make turnaround calls in Stockholm. We have also broken ground to install Sweden’s first onshore power connection facilities for cruise ships,” explains Stefan Scheja, Marketing Manager Ferries and Cruises at Ports of Stockholm.

Ports of Stockholm works to promote sustainable port operations and shipping and this summer has begun construction of facilities to supply onshore power to cruise ships at the city centre Stadsgården quays. These cruise quays are the most centrally located and it is estimated that at least 45 percent of cruise ship calls will be able to connect to onshore power at the quayside here by 2023 and 2024, respectively. This is an environmental investment initiative together with three other Baltic Sea ports – Copenhagen/Malmö, Aarhus and Helsinki – which will result in significantly lower emissions of air pollutants in Stockholm and around the Baltic Sea.