Several cruise line operators voice readiness to include Riga in their exclusive world cruise routes

RIGA - The Riga Freeport Administration during Seatrade Cruise Global forum has launched negotiations with a number of exclusive cruise line operators who are ready to include Riga in their world cruise routs for 2025 and 2026, Riga Freeport Administrator Ansis Zeltins reported.

Riga Freeport representatives informed LETA that the world cruise tourism industry continues to recover after almost two-year long downtime due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this year the number of cruise passengers is expected to exceed 30 million. By 2028, 66 new cruise ships should be launched.

The number of cruise passengers is growing also in Europe, this year it is planned to reach 80 percent of the 2019 number. The industry experts at present focus on Northern Europe and the Baltic Sea region, which is in a difficult position after St.Petersburg has been excluded from the cruise map. St.Petersburg so far has been one of the most popular destinations in the Baltic Sea cruises, while this year many cruise line operators have suspended their cruises in the Baltic Sea.

Zeltins said that Riga has been working to attract cruise ships. This season Riga will receive 22 cruise ships, including two new cruise lines Ambassador Cruise Line from the UK and Vantage Travel from the US.

During the Seatrade Cruise Global, the Riga Freeport Administration together with cooperation partners Riga RoPax Termina, Riga Cruiseship Agency and Riga Passenger Port met with such world level cruise companies as Princess Cruises, TUI Cruises, Azamara, MSC Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Virgin Voyages, Costa, AIDA, Royal Carribean Cruises, Holland America, Ponant, Windstar Cruises, Fred Olsen, The World Residences at Sea, Disney Cruise Line and others.