Port of Bergen and Cruise Destination Bergen can note a new record this year, 291.877 passengers visited Bergen, an increase of 3,2% from 2009 season. With this result, Bergen confirms it's role as the leading cruise port in Norway. The number of calls decreased by 19 to 241 compared to 260 in 2009.
The season started on March 18 with Saga Pearl II and ended on September 27 with Grand Princess. Twelve cruiseships had maiden voyages/inaugural calls to Bergen. Queen Mary 2 visited Bergen three times this year. Norwegian Cruise Line' ship, Norwegian Sun, visited Bergen on September 22. Only two ports in Western Norway had the pleasure of her visit, Bergen and Ålesund.
Through many years we have been in contact with the decision-makers in Norwegian Cruise Line with the intention of getting their ships to visit Bergen and Norway, and that work has given results. We also had one call from Norwegian Cruise Line in 2008, Norwegian Jade.
Most of the cruiseships that visit Bergen are of medium size, but 17 of the calls were from ships of more than 100,000 gt. In 2009 11 cruise calls were from ships over 100,000 gt. The Port of Bergen is able to handle the ships in an excellent way.
The cruise calls were quite equally divided through the whole season.
Using the Jekteviken/Dokken-area we are shuttling the passengers right into the city centre free of charge, which is very popular and well received by the the passengers. The same offer is avaiable for disabled people, and wheel chair users. Regarding the wheel chair users we have heard that this is a unique offer.
Divided into nationality in 2010, passengers:
Germany: 110,202 (2009 81.801) + 34,7%
UK: 83,072 ( " 90.267) - 8,0%
Italy 19,775 ( " 24.274) - 18,5%
Spain: 15,723 ( " 20.163) - 22,0%
USA: 15,341 ( " 13.225) + 16,0%
Benelux: 10,421 ( " 10.307) + 1,1%
The 2011 cruise season seems to be better than the 2010 season. 265 cruise calls have already been confirmed, starting with Saga Pearl II on March 1.
It seems as though the season is stretching - it starts earlier and lasts longer. Maybe Port of Bergen will now have the pleasure of both winter cruises and Christmas cruises.
