Saaremaa harbour

Saaremaa Harbour celebrates its 20th anniversary with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral

June 5, 2026 08:52

Port of Tallinn celebrated the 20th anniversary of Saaremaa Harbour on 3 June, marking two decades since the opening of Estonia’s dedicated cruise harbour on the island of Saaremaa. The anniversary was celebrated together with Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral, which arrived in Saaremaa from Tallinn with 1,157 cruise guests on board before continuing her voyage to Riga. The call was especially symbolic, as Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has been part of Saaremaa Harbour’s story from the very beginning. In 2003, when the decision was made to build a cruise port on Estonia’s largest island, Mr Nigel Lingard, former Marketing Director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, made the first booking for a call to the future Saaremaa Harbour. Welcoming Balmoral at the pier for the harbour’s 20th anniversary therefore carried special historical meaning for Port of Tallinn and the Saaremaa cruise community. “We are very grateful to the Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines team and the crew of Balmoral for celebrating this special occasion with us. Having Balmoral alongside was truly meaningful — both for the historical connection and because she was such a beautiful sight at the pier,” said Sirle Arro, Head of Marketing and Communication at Port of Tallinn. A festive anniversary event was held at Saaremaa Harbour in the evening, bringing together cruise partners, local community members and visitors. The programme included performances by the well-known Estonian band Curly Strings, the Mustjala folk dance group Kuldking and special guests. To mark the occasion, an oak tree was planted at the harbour, referring to the harbour’s historical name, Tamme Harbour. Saaremaa Harbour was officially opened on 16 June 2006 on the shores of Küdema Bay. The harbour was designed and built specifically to serve cruise ships, making it a unique cruise port in the region. Over the past 20 years, Saaremaa Harbour has welcomed 126 cruise ship calls and 55,500 cruise guests. The 2026 cruise season is expected to be one of the harbour’s most active so far, with 11 cruise calls and more than 7,000 cruise passengers expected. The season began on 4 May with a call by Hamburg, which also returned to Saaremaa on 30 May. Balmoral will visit Saaremaa again on 26 July. Other calls this season include ships from Phoenix Reisen, including Amadea and Deutschland, as well as Ponant’s Le Champlain, which will call Saaremaa four times and close the season on 20 August. Tallink’s Victoria I will bring the largest number of guests to Saaremaa this season as part of a special opera cruise for the Finnish market on 22 July. As a cruise destination, Saaremaa offers guests an authentic and distinctive experience in the Baltic Sea region. Estonia’s largest island is known for its untouched nature, peaceful landscapes, rich cultural heritage, historic villages, local traditions and warm hospitality. For cruise guests sailing in the Baltic Sea, Saaremaa provides an opportunity to discover Estonia from a different perspective — beyond the capital and closer to island life, nature and local culture. Port of Tallinn extends its sincere thanks to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, the crew of Balmoral, local partners, Visit Saaremaa and everyone who has contributed to developing Saaremaa as a unique cruise destination. Port of Tallinn looks forward to continued cooperation with cruise lines and partners, and to welcoming cruise ships to both Tallinn and Saaremaa for many years to come.

Saaremaa gains popularity

September 15, 2025 11:21

Today marks the end of this year’s cruise season at the Port of Saaremaa with the visit of the Norwegian cruise company Vestland Classic’s ship Nordstjernen. The vessel arrived from Pärnu and will continue its journey to Stockholm. Nordstjernen, whose name means North Star, was built in 1956 and is one of the classic vessels of the Norwegian fleet. With its ice-class hull and preserved retro-style atmosphere, the ship offers passengers an authentic seafaring experience reminiscent of the golden age of ocean travel. The tourism company Arensburg Reisid has arranged an excursion for the mostly German passengers, taking them to discover the Angla Windmill Hill, the Kaali meteorite crater and museum, as well as a guided walk through Kuressaare. This season, six different mainly small vessels from five cruise lines called at Saaremaa a total of seven times, bringing 1,227 passengers to Estonia’s largest island. Most visitors came from the United States, followed by France, Canada, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom. In total, passengers of 39 different nationalities visited the island, making Saaremaa a truly international meeting place. Saaremaa as an unique cruise destination Among Baltic Sea ports, Saaremaa stands out for its untouched nature, distinctive cultural heritage, and warm, welcoming atmosphere. With its seaside Kuressaare Episcopal Castle, authentic rural architecture, and unique natural landmarks – such as the Kaali crater – Saaremaa is a valued destination for cruise travelers. Adding to the experience are the island’s culinary traditions, relaxed pace of life, and genuine hospitality, which together create a memorable impression and entice cruise guests to return again and again.