National Geographic Orion kick-started the cruise season in Tallinn

Cruise season in Tallinn started on April 26 when this year’s first cruise vessel National Geographic Orion called the Old City Harbour. The cruise season lasts until October 16 and brings with 314 cruise ship calls altogether more than 500,000 cruise tourists to the beautiful Estonian capital.

8 cruise ships will call Tallinn this year for the first time. Although the season has just started a record has already been broken.On 3^rd May, the cruise ship MSC Fantasia called Tallinn Old City Harbour, which is the longest cruise ship to have ever called in Tallinn. The vessel operated by MSC Cruises is 333.3 meters long and can fit up to 4,363 passengers. The first cruise to Tallinn had 3,406 passengers and 1,264 crew members on board. The vessel came to Tallinn from Stockholm and headed to St. Petersburg. So far, 330-meter-long sister cruise vessels Regal Princess and Royal Princess held the longest cruise ship record.

Another important dates for the season are May 21 and July 20, when 6 cruise vessels visit Tallinn simultaneously. Popular dates are also June 7, June 29, July 3 and August 1, when altogether 9,000 cruise passengers are welcomed in Tallinn.

Last year cruise vessels made altogether 271 calls to Tallinn and brought to Estonia about 474,000 passengers.

This season, Port of Tallinn’s Saaremaa Harbour will welcome 7 cruise ship calls and 1,600 passengers. First cruise ship visit to Saaremaa takes place on 18^th July with the call of Serenissima and last visit to Saaremaa will be made by the cruise ship Amadea. Saaremaa is Estonia’s biggest island and offers cruise tourists an exciting experience with pristine nature and historical sights.