The winds are changing in Tallinn and the wider Baltic

22/01/2025 | by Cruise Europe Press

Tallinn has historically been one of the most cherished cruise destinations not only in the Baltic Sea region, but in Europe as a whole. Despite the challenges posed by recent geopolitical tensions, particularly in the northern part of the Baltic Sea, including Tallinn, there are clear signs of recovery.

In 2024, Tallinn hosted 100 calls, an increase of 10 compared to the previous year. “While this figure is still far from the 334 calls recorded in 2019 before the crisis, it indicates a promising upward trend,” says Sirle Arro, head of marketing and communication department, Port of Tallinn.

Cruiselines have returned to their previous practice of booking calls two to three years in advance. When decisions for the 2024 season were made in 2022, uncertainty lingered regarding passengers' willingness to return to the Baltic. Consequently, many cruise lines opted to deploy ships to other regions. However, the 2024 season has shown strong demand, with most ships sailing at full capacity. “One standout day, July 10, felt like a return to the pre-crisis era, with five cruiseships simultaneously visiting Tallinn, bringing over 8,000 passengers to the city,” says Arro.

Major cruise lines like TUI, AIDA, Celebrity, and P&O brought the highest numbers of passengers to Tallinn. In terms of guest demographics, the top five nationalities were: German 44%; USA 23%; UK16%; Canada 4%; and Australia 3%. While Germany remains the largest market, there has been significant growth in visitors from more distant regions, including the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and China.

“Another positive development has been the increase in extended stays. This year, ships stayed in port until midnight or even overnight on 19 occasions, offering new opportunities for both tour operators and cruise guests,” says Arro.

Popular experiences included nighttime ghost tours in Tallinn’s medieval Old Town, sunset hikes, and even late-night swims in nearby swamp lakes. Tour operators have reported better tour engagement, and Tallinn’s residents have appreciated the more dispersed and manageable cruise groups throughout the day.

The cruise season has also grown longer. The first ships arrived at the end of April, and the busy season continued until mid-October. For the first time in a decade, the cruise season extended into winter, with Ponant’s Le Commandant Charcot docking twice in December, bringing guests to experience Christmas in snowy Tallinn. “Winter cruising is a growing trend in the Baltic, with more ports and cruiselines exploring this opportunity for the coming years,” comments Arro.

“The past years have underscored the importance of strategic partnerships and networks such as Cruise Europe and Cruise Baltic. These collaborations have enabled new narratives, integrated marketing strategies and fostered regional and local cooperation to create unique cruise offerings,” she adds.

“While not everyone is familiar with the Baltic Sea cruise region, Northern Europe is widely recognised as one of the happiest, wealthiest, most sustainable, and innovative parts of the world: qualities that enhance its appeal as a cruise destination.

“It is particularly heartening that Baltic Sea cruises are no longer promoted by cruise lines through a single marquee destination. Instead, the entire region is now on the map, emphasising enriched itineraries and diverse experiences.”

“Although cruise call numbers in the Baltic have fallen to 1990s levels, the winds are changing again and there are many reasons for optimism: emerging destinations, longer port stays, year-round cruising, enhanced tour experiences, and stronger regional cooperation. These developments highlight the resilience and potential of the Baltic Sea as a world-class cruise destination and help Tallinn to regain its strong position of being at the forefront of European cruise destinations.”

Mein Schiff 1, Celebrity Silhouette and AIDAdiva in Tallinn Old City harbour © Argo Viikvald

TALLINN | Estonia

Cruise Europe Press
susanparkersp@gmail.com

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