Stockholm on a tourist course. In 2025, 30% more passengers than last year.
By Tour operators were eager to direct passenger ships to Stockholm during the Cruise with GospodarkaMorska.pl. The Stockholm Port Authority announced that it has launched two shore-based power connections for passenger ships. In 2025, passenger numbers will increase by 30% compared to last year and over 100% compared to 2021. From 2025, the Stockholm passenger terminal will offer year-round visits to sea tourists.
The traditional summer cruise season ended on October 28th of this year, with the departure of the AIDAmar, a ship well-known in Gdynia. The AIDAmar cruise ship was the first ship carrying sea tourists to open the season in Gdynia Port in 2025. This over 250-meter-long vessel docked in Gdynia 11 times and entered Stockholm 14 times. At the passenger terminal, from 2025, passenger ships and ferries docking in Stockholm can use shore-based electricity. It is emphasized that this electricity is generated from renewable sources. The number of passengers who arrived in Stockholm last year increased by 60,000 compared to 2024.
“It’s great to see that the trend in cruise traffic at Stockholm Ports has finally reversed, with a significant increase this year,” noted Stefan Scheja, Ferry and Cruise Marketing Manager at Stockholm Ports. He emphasized that “This positive trend is likely to continue in the coming years. We are proud that Stockholm has become the most popular destination in the Baltic Sea, which is also increasing the number of calls throughout the region.”
After the official end of the summer season, the Stockholm passenger port tallied the results. In 2025, passenger ships docked at the passenger terminal 137 times, carrying approximately 256,000 passengers. This is a significant increase compared to 2024, when cruise operators directed 119 cruises to Stockholm. 196,000 passengers visited the Swedish capital on ships in 2024.
Stockholm on the Sea Routes
This year, 42 operators chose Stockholm for passenger exchange, while last year only 38 cruise ship operators sent groups of sea tourists there. In 2025, well-known Baltic operators, including MSC, Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises, and Viking, were sailing their ships to Stockholm.
Regent Seven Seas, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and many others, all well-known in Gdańsk and Gdynia, also provide tourist connections to the Swedish capital. This year, the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection announced its debut in Stockholm. The operator offered a 7-day cruise from Copenhagen, calling at Karlskrona, Helsinki, and docking in Tallinn.
A new operator will join the existing companies, and the season will be extended to a year-round cruise. Stockholm ports saw a 30% increase in passenger numbers in 2025, driven by new and returning operators. Among the operators scheduled to visit Stockholm in 2025 are MSC Cruises, Holland America Line, and Viking Cruises.
Of all calls, 41 port stops saw passenger exchanges. This represents an additional source of revenue for airlines and logistics operators operating passenger ships. It’s important to note that these operations are also important for the tourism industry in Stockholm. Passengers typically spend an extra night or two in the city after disembarking.
OPS x 2 and wastewater free of charge at the quays
During the 2025 season, two onshore power supply (OPS) systems for cruise ships were operational in Stockholm. The OPS (onshore power supply) systems for cruise ships were installed on the central Stadsgården quay. “This is an important step in strengthening Stockholm’s position as a sustainable, luxury cruise destination, something cruise ship owners are eagerly awaiting,” said Jens Holm, Chairman of the Stockholm Ports Authority, at the time of the OPS’s commissioning.
Thanks to the new onshore power connections, Stockholm Ports can handle approximately half of all cruise ships calling at Stockholm. The Stockholm Ports Authority emphasizes that this power system “enables cruise ships to connect to power directly at the quay, reducing exhaust emissions and noise levels in the city.” This is crucial, considering the passenger terminal is located almost in the center of Stockholm. OPS connections are also considered a significant element in enhancing the port’s marketing value and increasing Stockholm’s competitiveness on the Baltic cruise map. This applies primarily to shipowners who value cooperation with the “green ports” network.
The largest ship served in Stockholm this season was the Sky Princess (330 meters long, 145,000 GT). The smallest ship to dock in Stockholm was the Clio, with a capacity of 3,504 GT and a length of 100 meters. The shortest passenger ship to visit Stockholm was the Hebridean Sky (4,200 GT). This luxury ship, with a capacity of 118 passengers and a length of just 90 meters, also includes a visit to Gdańsk.
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection debuted in Stockholm with its new ship, the exclusive hotel Ilma (448 passengers). Another new ship was the Vista cruise ship (1,200 passengers), which called at Stockholm twice. Both are premium cruise ships. Other ships visiting the Swedish capital for the first time included Carnival Miracle, Le Laperouse, Sea Dream II, Silver Shadow, Viking Saturn, Viking Vela, and World Traveler.
Cruise ships calling at Stockholm can discharge their wastewater free of charge at the quays. Four out of five cruise ships choose this option. Not all ships take advantage of this option. One-fifth do not discharge their wastewater in port during berths. This is sometimes due to the short stay. All ships are equipped with facilities for wastewater treatment or storage in on-board tanks. This allows them to empty their tanks during longer stays and during passenger and crew changes. For the first time this year, Ports of Stockholm is offering year-round service. Another 10 cruise ship calls have been announced between November 2025 and March 2026.