Stockholm is a popular cruise destination, and the season, with a total of 121 cruise ship calls, is now getting underway. Stockholm is positioning itself as a sustainable, premium destination and this year welcomes several brand-new ships with modern technology such as onshore power connection facilities. Ports of Stockholm is also investing in facilities for cruise ships, and is building one of Europe’s first onshore power supply for cruise ships.

The cruise season at Ports of Stockholm begins on 16 April when AIDAmar calls in Stockholm. In total, 121 cruise ships are booked to call during the season, which runs until the end of October. This year’s cruise season mirrors the 2023 season closely in terms of the number of calls and number of passengers.

“It’s great to see that Stockholm is maintaining its attractiveness and continues to be one of the most popular cruise destinations. The cruise shipping companies are committed to sustainable development and work actively on sustainability initiatives. They are upgrading their fleets with new technology that reduces the impact of their vessels on the environment,” says Stefan Scheja, Marketing Manager Ferries and Cruises at Ports of Stockholm.

A number of cruise shipping companies are investing in new vessels with more modern technology and alternative fuels. For example, this year, the Baltic Sea and Ports of Stockholm will welcome brand new cruise ship Mein Schiff 7, which is designed to be able to connect to electricity at the quayside and use methanol as fuel. Queen Anne is another brand-new cruise ship making its debut in Ports of Stockholm this year.

Ports of Stockholm is investing in becoming a sustainable, premium destination, and building an onshore power connection facility for cruise ships at the Stadsgården quay. The facility is expected to be completed this year and is one of the first in Europe. Around half of the cruise ships in Ports of Stockholm are expected to be able to connect to electricity at the quayside once ready. Connecting to shore-provided electricity reduces the impact of vessels on the surrounding environment by allowing the auxiliary engines to be shut down, which reduces noise and air pollution. Aboard the ships, the cruise lines work with waste separation at source, separation of organic waste and black and grey water management facilities.

The Cruise Baltics network has a sustainability manifesto that aims to make the Baltic Sea the most sustainable cruise ship destination. For example, 19 leading cruise shipping companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding where they commit to use the onshore power connection facilities that are available.

These days, the winter cruise season is also popular in Ports of Stockholm and cruise ships have continued to call during the winter months for the past few years.