Record-Breaking Cruise Season in Klaipėda: More Tourists than ever before

“The record number of cruise tourists proves that the Port of Klaipėda is taking a stronger place on the world’s cruise map. We are not just receiving ships – we are welcoming the world. And more and more travelers are choosing to discover Lithuania through Klaipėda,” said Algis Latakas, Director General of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.

The cruise season wrapped up with the arrival of Norwegian Prima – a 293-meter-long vessel bringing over 3,000 tourists to Lithuania. Its visit marked a new milestone for Klaipėda, with a total of more than 76,600 cruise passengers arriving this year. This exceeds the previous record from 2017 by almost 2,000 visitors.   It is estimated that cruise tourists spend around 50 euros each during their visit. This year, most travelers chose excursions to Juodkrantė and Nida, as well as trips to Palanga, Kretinga, Žemaitija National Park, and Klaipėda itself. Many guests also visited local cafés and restaurants to taste traditional Lithuanian dishes.

Known for its modern design, Norwegian Prima – launched only three years ago – was the 59th cruise ship to visit Klaipėda this season. The season started exceptionally early, in February, and reached peak activity in the summer, with several days seeing two cruise ships in port at the same time.

One of the season’s highlights was August 4, when the port welcomed more than 3,000 tourists arriving on Mein Schiff 1, which carried 3,062 guests. The same record number of passengers was reached once again on October 14, with the arrival of the final ship of the season. This year was remarkable for the number of large vessels visiting the port. Out of 59 cruise ships that called at Klaipėda, 21 were over 290 meters long – nearly 40% of the total. Last year, there were 14 ships of that size, and 12 in 2023. The largest visitors this season, Mein Schiff 7 and Mein Schiff 1, each measured 316 meters in length.

Alongside these giants, Klaipėda also welcomed smaller but notable vessels. One of them was the Nordstjernen, just 81 meters long, which visited the port several times. Built almost seven decades ago, this vessel is considered a true maritime legend – one of the oldest passenger and expedition ships still in operation worldwide.

This season, Klaipėda was also chosen as one of the destinations on a themed cruise. On September 22, the port welcomed Mein Schiff 3, carrying only heavy metal music fans. The voyage, called Full Metal Cruise, featured around 20 leading metal bands performing on three stages and in multiple venues throughout the ship over five intense days.

The growing popularity of Klaipėda among cruise travelers from all over the world is evident not only from this record-breaking season but also from next year’s forecasts. Next year, Klaipėda is set to welcome even more cruise ships, with 68 vessels already confirmed – exceeding this year’s number. Looking further ahead, 95 liners have expressed interest in visiting the port in 2027. To meet this growing demand, Klaipėda Port is creating new infrastructure and building a modern cruise terminal that will also serve as an public space for the city’s residents. By the 2028 season, cruise ships are expected to berth at the new terminal’s quays.