The Baltic Cruise market grew in 2025 and will be larger in 2026
By Cruise operator activity in the Baltic Sea remained dynamic in 2025. A growing number of ports, both large and small, are benefiting from this. The search for new attractions and increasingly diverse offerings mean that many coastal cities are seeing an increase in the number of calls, passengers, and stopovers. Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Szczecin are still struggling to break the one-day stopover pattern.
The market has become more balanced. The regional cruise market between Baltic cities and ports in Norway is steadily growing. Sea tourists are choosing passenger ships as a way to spend their free time and visit even small towns located in the Baltic States and Norway.
In 2025, cruise activity in the Baltic Sea region alone increased by 12.3% compared to 2024 in terms of passenger numbers, 12.8% in port calls, and 5.6% in the number of passenger ship stopovers.
“The 2025 results indicate stronger and more stable development of the tourism market across the Baltic Sea region. The growth we are seeing in many destinations is very positive and strengthens the region’s continued attractiveness to cruise lines and their passengers,” emphasized Klaus Bondam, Director of Cruise Baltic, in a press release from March of this year.
The percentage of calls at the five largest ports remains stable at around 50% in 2025, according to Cruise Baltic’s analysis of passenger ship statistics. This confirms previous findings that this growth is not solely driven by the main hub ports.
The number of passengers on ships visiting Baltic ports. Source: Cruise Baltic
The appetite for maritime tourism is growing
Demand for maritime tourism services is driven by tourists, who also readily visit smaller ports. The market has expanded to include many ports and cities that entice tourists with new attractions or simply a local atmosphere. This has been achieved through the work of tour operators and local tourism organizations. As a result, “compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic, the composition of the largest cruise ports in the region has changed,” the report emphasizes.
Before the pandemic, Stockholm, Helsinki, and Tallinn were among the top five ports with the highest number of passenger ship and maritime tourist visits. “Currently, the top five are Copenhagen, Cologne, Oslo, Rostock, and Kristiansand,” the Cruise Baltic report emphasizes.
The overall growth in cruises and cruise ship passengers is driven by the increase in the number of months active for tourism. The result of this was witnessed when the passenger ship AIDAprima arrived on February 10th to celebrate Gdynia’s 100th birthday.
The ship’s arrival marked the opening of the 2026 cruise season and was a special occasion: the ship arrived in Gdynia on the very day of the city’s 100th anniversary, symbolically emphasizing Gdynia’s maritime roots and its role as an open window to the world, according to the Gdynia Port Authority.
AIDAprima Birthday Cruise to Gdynia
AIDAprima’s captain, Felix Rothe, extended birthday wishes to Gdynia on behalf of AIDA Cruises – on the very day Gdynia residents and its fans celebrated its 100th anniversary. The visit also included a celebratory lunch on board the ship with representatives of the Port of Gdynia and the AIDAprima crew.
During the meeting, plaques and gifts were exchanged – the Port of Gdynia received a commemorative plaque and a miniature of the ship, while the crew received, among other things, commemorative sets featuring the 100th anniversary of Gdynia. As a reminder, the Port of Gdynia is several years older than Gdynia.
The mooring of a cruise ship in Gdynia and other ports in February of this year is evidence of changing seasonal patterns. However, summer remains the peak season. The “Cruise Baltic Market Review” report states that the number of guests visiting the Baltic Sea region is growing rapidly in the third and fourth quarters.
Top 5 Baltic Sea ports by number of ship visits in 2025. Source: Cruise Baltic
Winter cruises
For calls in the fourth quarter of 2025, the region recorded a 33.2% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. Cruise guests particularly valued the opportunity to cruise during Christmas and autumn. This translates into significant revenue from services provided in ports and benefits for a large portion of the service sector in port cities.
“It’s encouraging that more ships called [at Baltic ports – Ministry of Economy] in the third and especially the fourth quarter. Guests are increasingly looking for new and unforgettable experiences, and our region offers something truly unique in the autumn and winter months,” Klaus Bondam assesses the situation.
Cruise Baltic forecasts that selected destinations will also see growth in 2026. “The number of guests is expected to increase by 9.2%, while the number of calls and stopovers will increase by 10.7% and 7%, respectively.”
In 2025, Copenhagen was the cruise port with the highest number of tourist vessels. Passenger terminals recorded 316 calls, the highest among Baltic ports last year. In 2026, the region is expected to see more calls than last year. The market is expected to exceed pre-COVID-19 levels.
The number of guests per call will decline slightly in 2026, Cruise Baltic predicts. This is due to the entry of a larger number of small and medium-sized cruise operators into the Baltic Sea market. This means that the region’s attractiveness translates into new cruise lines, leading to market diversification.
Number of ships visiting Baltic ports in 2025 Source: Cruise Baltic
Tricity with cruise ships
During the 2025 cruise season, cruise ships docked at Tricity ports 108 times. Tourist ships called at Gdańsk 57 times, and passenger ships welcomed 51 times in Gdynia. This season, the Port of Gdańsk was visited by over 27,000 tourists, including from the USA, Great Britain, and Germany. The season began on April 21st with the arrival of the Le Champlain, and ended with the Hamburg, which docked for one day on October 20th.
In 2026, tourists are expected to arrive in Gdańsk on 68 cruise ships. The first luxury cruise ship, the Hamburg, is expected to dock on May 1st of this year. According to Cruise Baltic’s forecast, the season in Gdańsk will end in December. The arrival of the Hanseatic Spirit passenger ship in Gdańsk has been announced for December 17th.
The Port of Gdynia was visited by 90,000 cruise passengers. Tourists. The Gdynia Port Authority reports that “The ships were 90% full, and the average number of passengers per ship was approximately 2,500.” The Gdynia Port Authority posted on its social media page that “The current cruise ship arrival schedule is still being finalized.
The 2026 season will feature ships making their first appearance. Traditionally, the Mein Schiff 7, Aida Bella, and Aida Mar will dock here. Passenger ships will also be returning to Gdynia after a break of several years. The Aurora will conclude the cruise season in Gdynia with its arrival on December 21, 2026.