Keflavik welcomes first turnarounds

01/10/2026

New member: Port of Kemi

As the northernmost cruise port in the Baltic Sea and Lapland’s only cruise harbour, the Port of Kemi provides cruiselines with a strategic and flexible option for itinerary planning in Northern Europe. Located on the island of Ajos, just 15 minutes from Kemi’s compact city centre, the port enables efficient cruise calls and has the capability to support turnaround operations with short transfer times and clear passenger logistics. Its location offers direct access to Sea Lapland and the wider Lapland region, making Kemi well suited for both summer and winter season. Cruise traffic has been growing with interest particularly coming from expedition, luxury and boutique cruiselines. This year there are 10 calls and 7,000 passengers scheduled with Plantours and Oceania Cruises both making maiden calls and Hanseatic nature calling September 26. This compares with four/2,000 in 2022 and seven/4,800 in 2024. The port has six berths ranging in length from 160m (berth 6) to 420m (berth 7) and depth from 9.1m (berths 4 and 5) to 13.5m (berth 7), permitting the accommodation of a wide range of vessels. LNG and biofuel bunkering capability is available at berth 7. At present, there is not a permanent dedicated cruise terminal. The port continuously maintains and develops its quay infrastructure to support both cargo and cruise operations, is fully ISPS-compliant, provides vessel waste reception services in accordance with Finnish and international environmental regulations. Environmental responsibility is a key priority for the Port of Kemi, which operates under certified management systems: ISO 9001 Quality Management; ISO 14001 Environmental Management; and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety. The port is located in the sensitive ecosystem of the northern Gulf of Bothnia and actively promotes sustainable operations, energy efficiency, waste recycling and environmental awareness. The changing scenery due to upthrust, the low salinity of the sea water and the vulnerability of the Northern nature create an unique operating environment, which the port wants to preserve. “The Port of Kemi strives to provide high-quality services to fulfil the customer's needs while respecting nature. The port constantly monitors and develops its activities and operational systems and is committed to follow the legislation and regulations of authorities,” explains Ritva Torikka, development director, Port of Kemi. “In accordance with the occupational health and safety standards, the port emphasises safety in all its activities, as well as the prevention of injuries. With the environmental quality standards Port of Kemi aspires to prevent harmful environmental impacts of the operational activities and to improve the environmental awareness of its employees, stakeholders and interest groups.” Kemi’s location offers direct access to Sea Lapland and the wider Lapland region, making it well suited for both summer and winter season. As interest in northern routes continues to grow, the port offers cruiselines a ‘Lapland by the sea’ experience and is a northern anchor point for innovative seasonal and Arctic-focused itineraries. Light and darkness define the rhythm of life in Lapland. During the winter season, Kemi experiences kaamos/the polar night when the sea and surroundings are wrapped in a calm, blue twilight. Icebreaker Sampo is an iconic attraction giving visitors the chance to experience the Arctic ice and frozen sea. Around midsummer, the Midnight Sun/yoton yo lights the sky almost around the clock. Long days invite leisurely walks, island cruises, and relaxed moments by the sea. Whether visiting in winter or summer, Kemi offers cruise travellers an authentic and memorable introduction to life in the Arctic right from the harbour.

01/10/2026

Keflavik welcomes first turnarounds

This summer saw the first turnaround operations at Keflavik, marking an important milestone for the port and demonstrating its ability to offer cruiselines a practical, new turnaround option in Iceland. Of the eight calls, four were turnarounds: two from Adventure Canada’s Expedition, one each from Polar Latitudes Expeditions’ Ocean Victory and Grands Espaces’ Heritage Discoverer. "For Keflavik, the turnarounds represent much more than individual cruise calls. They show the potential for the port to develop into a new gateway for Icelandic cruise itineraries, particularly for smaller and medium-sized vessels. They also create opportunities for cruise guests to spend time in Reykjanes rather than simply travelling directly between the ship and the airport,” says Linus Mattson, managing partner and co-director Nordic Port Group. The port’s location, only around 5km from Keflavik International Airport, creates particularly favourable conditions for passenger transfers, luggage handling and crew changes. The turnarounds also allowed the port and its partners to test the complete passenger journey in a live operational environment. This included coordination with the airport, baggage handling, border control and other local services. Among the solutions introduced were onboard check-in and the possibility of delivering boarding passes directly to the ship, helping to make the transfer between the vessel and the airport as smooth as possible. “The first operations provided valuable experience and identified several areas for continued improvement. The next steps include enhanced facilities for passport and border control, better weather protection for passengers, expanded baggage-handling areas and further development of the passenger flow between ship, port and airport,” explains Mattson. Reykjanes offers a destination experience in its own right, including volcanic landscapes and geothermal areas. The port itself is located within the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark. The ambition is therefore to combine efficient turnaround operations with pre- and post-cruise stays and local excursions. The port is continuing its phased development. The first phase is intended to accommodate vessels of up to approximately 200m, while a later phase includes dredging and infrastructure development for vessels of up to approximately 240m, together with improved terminal facilities.

01/10/2026

CE ports learn from each other, on site and in practice

The Cruise Europe (CE) Port Exchange 2026 has just wrapped up in IJmuiden and Amsterdam, bringing members together for two days of knowledge sharing, port visits and first-hand insights into cruise operations. The programme included a visit to Passenger Terminal, Cruise Port Amsterdam (CPA), and its shore power facilities introduced by Frank Schoenmaker, sea cruise & facility manager CPA, as well as a ship visit onboard P&O Cruises’ Ventura. That evening the group visited Haarlem, Jopenkerk, a local brewery, and ended the evening on the terraces behind Bavo Cathedral. The next morning started with a tour through Felison Ferry Terminals, using IJmuiden as an example of an EU external border where visible physical modifications to the terminal demonstrate the impact on space, passenger flow, etc. A key part of the programme was the exchange between participating ports themselves, sharing experiences, challenges and solutions around everything from cruise operations and terminal infrastructure to EES, border requirements and the realities of managing cruise alongside other maritime activities. The exchange concluded with a lunch at the cruise terminal, where Felison is celebrating the parent company's 150th anniversary, 25 years of cruise operations in IJmuiden, and a record year for cruiseships, highlighted by Alexander Coesel, manager operations, Felison Terminal. “I would like to thank Amsterdam and IJmuiden for being very professional hosts. The objective of the port exchange programme is to learn from each other with a focus on operational topics. All delegates contributed brilliantly to this. The Cruise Europe Port Exchange & Educational Programme is here to stay,” commented Jens Skrede, managing director CE.