Gdansk has 22 calls confirmed this year. This compares with 26 calls in 2010 carrying 8,379. The latter was down from 16,753 in 2009 due “most probably to the economic crisis”, explains Janusz Kasprowicz, public relations Port of Gdansk Authority.
In 2011 Oceania Cruises’ newbuilding Marina and Iberocruceros’ Grand Mistral will call the Polish port.
Ships which have called in the past include 205.4m Albatross, 237.9m Rotterdam, 206.5m Seven Seas Voyager, 260m Oriana as well as 285.1m Arcadia, 292.5m Costa Mediterranea.
Cruiseships tend to come alongside the embankment WOCII (up to 170m long) and the embankment Kpt Ziolkowski’s (120m long). There is parking for about 1,500 cars nearby. Road connections to central Poland are good with new links including a tunnel under the Vistula towards Germany. It is 15 to 30 minutes by bus, taxi or tram to the Old Town of Gdansk.
For larger ships a dedicated ferry passenger terminal, Defenders Westerplatte, has been built near the entrance to the port and within walking distance from the Old City of Gdansk. Three ships, each of 200m, can tie up simultaneously. The depth is 9.4m. This and Terminal PZB are both in the ‘internal harbour’ where the draught is 9-10m. Both are used primarily for ferries but cruiseships can also dock.
For vessels with a deep draught there is the possibility of the Deepwater Container Terminal (15m draught) which is in the external part of the port.
