Helsinki cruise season 2010

[FinlandGuy]

According to local newspaper app. 340 000 cruise guests visited Helsinki during the 2010 season:

- 247 ship visits, sometimes even 6 ships per day

- guests from 143 countries (21% US, 18% UK and 15% German citizens)

 

Next year looks good as there's already more bookings than visits this year. Over half of the ships were using the western harbour and a waterbus linking the western harbour with downtown is planned for next year. Other development plans have been initiated by the city of Helsinki for the western harbour in order to better accommodate the cruising guests.

[Cornishpastyman1]

Thanks for those facts. There seems to be a perception that Helsinki is one of the lesser lights of a Baltic cruise. Not so. St Petersburg is clearly the highlight of any Baltic itinerary but after that, a day in Helsinki ranks with any of the other more lauded stops, and I could easily have used a couple more hours there.

 

 

Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress

 

A place like no other in the Baltics, easily reached by a 15 minute ferry ride from Market Square. Allow a couple of hours for this one.

 

 

Tony

[CintiPam]

Next year looks good as there's already more bookings than visits this year. Over half of the ships were using the western harbour and a waterbus linking the western harbour with downtown is planned for next year. Other development plans have been initiated by the city of Helsinki for the western harbour in order to better accommodate the cruising guests.

 

Thanks for the info, particularly about the waterbus link, much more fun than a bus!

 

My visit to Helsinki three years ago was for several days on a land trip, and I really enjoyed this city, spending most of a day at the fortress, an afternoon at the folk museum and some wonderful time exploring downtown. The Meninas were there then on the Esplanade, and it was so lovely!