Wednesday, June 24, 2015 - 09:31 by ce-press
The draught alongside at Kristiansund has been increased from 9.5m to 10.5m. There are two berths, one of 366m and one of 205m. There is a plan to extend the longer one so that it can take two smaller ships at once. This would be achieved by installing a dolphin but talks are still taking place as to whether the extension should be by a further 20m or 30m. A decision will probably be taken in the summer. Investment is likely to be from the municipality and the port which is publicly-owned by 11 municipalities.
Calls are up to 26 this year from 21 in 2014. Costa Cruises visits for the first time in 2015 with seven calls. “They have younger tourists so they want some more activities such as hiking, may be fishing and bicycle tours,” said Synnove Henden, project manager/consultant Destination Kristiansund & Nordmore. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is also new this year with two calls and in 2017 Crystal Cruises is returning to the port for the first time in 15 years. Viking Cruises, TUI Cruises and AIDA Cruises will call next year for the first time.
Kristiansund has the oldest opera house in Norway which hosts an annual two-week opera festival in February. There is also an international photo festival in April/May which brings in many tourists but has yet to catch on with the cruiselines.
