The cruise season is set to begin in the Port of Gdańsk, with the ‘Hamburg’ getting off to a good start
The cruise season at the Port of Gdańsk has begun at full speed – and promises to be a historically long and busy one. This year, cruise ships are set to call at Gdańsk as many as 66 times, with the last one due shortly before Christmas.
The season at the Port of Gdańsk began on 1 May with the arrival of the ‘Hamburg’. This vessel sails under the Bahamian flag, is 145 metres long, 21.5 metres wide and can carry up to 420 passengers. It was built in 1997 at the MTW Schiffswerft GmbH shipyard in Wismar as the ‘Columbus’. Since there was already a vessel with this name in the Bahamian register, it was renamed “C. Columbus”, and then in 2012 was rechristened with its current name, the ‘Hamburg’.
Viking or Gwiazda Polarna?
The longest cruise ship to call at Gdańsk this season is the ‘Viking Vela’ – at almost 240 metres long. The shortest ship, by contrast, is the Norwegian veteran of the seas and oceans, the ‘Nordstjernen’, which turned 70 this year. Built in 1956 in Hamburg for the Norwegian shipping company, Hurtigruten, it is almost 81 metres long and 12 metres wide, and can take up to 150 passengers on board. Known in Poland as the “Gwiazda Polarna”, the ship has been adapted for exclusive Arctic cruises – reaching places inaccessible to larger ships. The ship’s private feel, its charm of a bygone era and classic wooden interiors, all adorned with brass fittings and original works of art, ensure it continues to delight lovers of travellers at sea. It is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Gdańsk on 6 October.
Some vessels are scheduled to visit Gdańsk several times: the ‘Clio’ will call eight times, the ‘Le Champlain’ six times, and the ‘Vasco da Gama’ four times. In total 30 different vessels are due to arrive in Gdańsk, with 15 of them making only a single visit during the season.
Two ships will be moored at the Port of Gdańsk on several occasions. This is possible because, apart from the Westerplatte Quay, it is possible to moor at the Oliwskie Quay and WOC II. The heaviest traffic is expected on 8 August, when as many as three passenger ships are due to call at the port.
Overnight in Gdańsk
Cruise ships usually enter the port in the morning and then leave for their onward journey in the afternoon or evening of the same day. This year, however, two longer overnight stays have been scheduled: the ‘Azamara Journey’ is scheduled to arrive on 10 July and depart the following day, while, similarly, the ‘Amadea’ is due to arrive on 12 September and depart on 13 September.
‘Cruise ships usually stay in the Port of Gdańsk for 8 to 12 hours, allowing passengers to explore the city and its surroundings intensively. However, there are also longer overnight stays – on average 2–3 times a year – when the cruise itinerary includes an overnight stay in the port city. Such stays are particularly welcomed by local businesses and the tourism industry, as passengers generate income mainly for the city’, says Michał Stupak, client manager in the Shipping Market Department at the Port of Gdańsk.
This year promises to bring an exceptionally long season, set to last until 17 December. This means that cruise passengers will have the opportunity to visit the Christmas Market, an extremely popular tourist attraction.
Gdańsk attracts tourists from all over the world
Stable cruise traffic is the result of events like promotional activities, such as the participation of representatives from the Port of Gdańsk in prestigious trade fairs, including the Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami and Seatrade Cruise Europe in Hamburg. This has made Gdańsk a well-known stop on the Baltic Sea cruise routes.
‘We have just returned from the trade fair in Miami. Since our offer attracted a great deal of interest, we are hoping for further bookings. Gdańsk has enormous potential in terms of tourism and logistics, with the port being located close to the historic centre, allowing passengers to see one of the most beautiful places in Poland in just a few hours’, says Michał Stupak.
And what do foreign tourists want to see most in Gdańsk? The Royal Route, Artus Court, St Mary’s Basilica, Oliwa Cathedral (with its famous organ concerts), the Teutonic Castle in Malbork, the European Solidarity Centre, the Amber Museum and the Museum of the Second World War. The majority of passengers come from the United States, the UK and Germany.
Anyone interested in sailing can enjoy watching ships arriving and departing from places like Ziółkowski Quay by the lighthouse in Nowy Port.
