Port of Gdansk Gears Up for Record Cruise Season

Polish Port of Gdansk expects a record-breaking number of passenger ships in the upcoming cruise season.

A total of 67 cruise ships are scheduled to visit the port in 2017, more than twice when compared to the 2016 cruise season.

What is more, the Port of Gdansk said that the number of passengers may exceed 30,000.

The previous record was broken in 2009 when the port welcomed 40 cruise vessels carrying nearly 17,000 passengers.

In 2017, the size of passenger vessels is expected to be equally record-breaking, according to the port. The average gross tonnage of ships visiting the Port of Gdansk is likely to exceed 24,800 tons and their average length is expected to increase to 170 meters.

Most of the scheduled cruise liners have already called at the port before. Vessels visiting the port for the first time during the 2017 cruise season include AidaCara, which will call on June 16 and 30, Thomson Celebration, expected to arrive on July 19 at the Westerplatte Quay, and National Geographic Orion, scheduled for arrival on April 12 and May 13.

Vessels owned by Viking Ocean Cruises will visit the Port of Gdansk 22 times this year. Three of the company’s cruise ships – Viking Star, Viking Sky and Viking Sea – will be the largest vessels to moor at Gdansk’s quays this year. Each of the three sister ships is over 227 meters long and can accommodate 930 passengers.

The first call of a Viking ship is planned for May 7.

The 2017 cruise season at the Port of Gdansk will begin on April 21 with the call of the National Geographic ship and end on December 29 with the visit of MS Saga Sapphire.