There were 143 calls performed by 29 different ships for a total of 513,500 passengers (485,200 passengers in 2016). The consolidated gross tonnage exceeded 10 million gross tons.

Dr Dirk Claus, the Managing Director of the PORT OF KIEL (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG), said: “Northern Europe cruises are increasingly in demand. We are benefitting from this development and have, this year, posted our highest passenger totals to date. In addition to that, we have registered highest-ever cruise ship tonnage ever recorded in Kiel.”

For the coming seasons and keeping up with the positive development, a second terminal will be built at the Ostseekai which should be operational by the 2019 season.

Next year’s cruise season will be opened by AIDAcara on 8 April with a total of 150 calls already being scheduled.

© Shippax / Victor Mandersson / Frank Behling