Monday, November 30, 2015 - 09:46 by ce-press
Bergen’s season ended on October 21 with calls from AIDAsol and Magellan. With a total of 276 calls and 429,504 passengers this year, it maintains its position as Norway’s leading cruise port even though the numbers show a decrease from the 323 and 442,759 in 2014.
Helen Hovland, marketing manager cruise Port of Bergen, commented: “The decline in the number of cruise calls has not only effected Bergen, but also the rest of Norway and Northern Europe in general. Although there is a 17% decline in calls, passenger numbers are down by only 3%.”
In terms of nationalities, Germany accounted for 123,773 passengers, UK 110,118, USA 33,040, Spain 28,867, France 27,978 and Italy 24,716.
The season started very early with Black Watch calling on January 2. There were 12 newcomers including Britannia in April and Disney Magic in June. Norway’s Constitution Day, May 17, was a special day for the Norwegian port. Viking Ocean Cruises’ first vessel, Viking Star which homeports Bergen, was christened by mayor Trude Drevland.
On July 24 all four Fred Olsen Cruise Line vessels arrived at the same day: Balmoral on Bontelabo, Boudicca on Skolten South, Black Watch on Skolten North and Braemar on Festningskaien. Passengers were able to visit each other’s vessels on this festive occasion.
This year the port received 46 calls from ships over 100,000gt demonstrating the increasing size of vessels visiting. On eight calls Bergen was the only Norwegian port visited.
The 2016 season is scheduled to begin on February 28 with the arrival of Magellan. To date 290 calls are expected.
Hovland commented: “Our goal is to maintain Bergen as the leading cruise port in Norway in the future.”
