Major Baltic Cruise Partnership Launched

Gdynia has joined a new Baltic partnership between selected cruise harbours to create new possibilities for an increased growth in the number of cruise ships coming to Gdynia and the Baltic Sea. The Baltic is a region of tradition and modernity, a region of Kings and Tsars, and the cradle of the Solidarity Movement that changed the whole political map in Eastern Europe.

Cruise Baltic is a close co-operation between 10 countries - including 16 destinations. Poland is represented by the City of Gdynia and the Gdynia Port Authority. The Baltic Cruise project focuses primarily on the Baltic and then on individual destinations.

During last year's season Gdynia was visited by 82 ships that brought over seventy thousand tourists. Gdynia is the only Polish port capable of accommodating the largest vessels. This year we expect over 100 calls. Among them there are the world's largest and most beautiful cruising vessels such as "Constellation", "Aurora", "Star Princess".

The overall aim of this cruise ship partnership will be to ensure a 20% increase in cruise ship guests coming to the region, together with a 4% increase in the Baltic Region's market share of cruise ships globally. The project will run for the next three years and will be co-financed by the EU programme 'Interreg IIIB'.

The Baltic cruise ship project focuses on two specific areas: developing destinations and marketing. The developing of destinations is specifically concerned with upgrading and standardising the service at each of the partner's harbours. Marketing will concentrate on developing a brand for the region and shared marketing activities with a focus on the cultivation of press contacts and sales initiatives within the cruise industry. Furthermore, these activities will be supplemented with a shared PR strategy.

Thanks to Cruise Baltic, all the participating countries are able to offer the same service, high standards and full integration between ports and cities for cruise lines that want to discover the unique possibilities of the Baltic Sea Region.