Stockholm expects a record! 400 000 cruise passengers in 2009

In Stockholm the 1st of May means the start of a new cruise season! This year we will welcome 8 new ships to our ports and before the season ends in September more than 300 ships will have visited our beautiful capital.

New record season is waiting
In 2009 Stockholm expect some 400.000 cruise passengers on more than 300 ships of which 39 calls will be turnarounds, compared to the 365.000 passengers and 265 ships in 2008. Many of those ships will be visiting the new and exclusive cruise terminal that opened in 2008. Many of the cruises in Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea feature the beautiful city of Stockholm, and the numbers continue to grow each year.

- We have been working intensively for many years to place Stockholm on the map as a cruise destination. And despite the worldwide financial crisis, all reports now shows that we will have another record season - Cruise Lines have expressed optimism. Moreover, because the Euro and U.S. dollar are trading so favourably against the Swedish Crown, Stockholm and Sweden provide exceptional value when compared to other destinations in Northern Europe. We are very optimistic about the season, says Josefin Haraldsson, project manager for the Stockholm Cruise Network

Stockholm- the passengers' favourite
Stockholm was rated as the best overall visit by the cruise passengers from a survey in 2008. In this survey Stockholm was rated 6 on a scale from 1-7, the highest score among the Scandinavian cities participating in the survey. The survey was presented by the European Cruise Sector Survey Project in February 2009. Stockholm was also listed on top for the variety of things to see and do on the destination and for the friendly residents. On top of this the passengers thought Stockholm met their expectations best and they are most likely to recommend the city to others.

Dreamworld Cruise destination
Dreamworld Cruise Destination recognized Stockholm for the second year in a row. This time Stockholm took top honors in two categories for the season of 2008. One award was for the Best Destination Experience (independent tours), where the quality of experience derives from passengers making their own arrangements for their time ashore. The other award was in the category Most Responsive Port. The prizes were awarded at the convention Cruise Shipping Miami just recently by DreamWorld magazine.

2nd best turnaround port in the world
Increasingly, cruise companies are choosing Stockholm as a turnaround point, i.e. a starting or finishing port for the cruise, thanks to the city's huge appeal, good hotel standards and convenient direct flights to Europe and the United States. In 2008 Stockholm hosted 28 turnarounds from 9 Cruise Lines and the response from the passengers was enthusiastic. Stockholm was rated 2nd Best Turnaround Port in the World - according to a Princess Cruises Shorex Passenger Survey 2008.

What does the passenger spend their money on?
The passenger survey from 2008 showed that shopping for clothes and admission to the museums and attractions are the main spending activities during a cruise stop in Stockholm. (source: The European Cruise Sector Survey Project, passenger survey 2008)

For more information:
Josefin Haraldsson, project manager Stockholm Cruise Network
Josefin.haraldsson@svb.stockholm.se, phone+46-8 50828537

Tina Brännström, press coordinator Stockholm Visitors Board, tina.brannstrom@svb.stockholm.se, phone +46- 8 50828505