Cruise Tourism in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: An Added Value Analysis

nearly half a billion euros in revenue is generated in directly involved businesses, securing at least 2,800 full-time equivalent jobs in the region. The results were presented on June 18, 2025, at the AIDA headquarters in Rostock.

The MV Cruise Net, a consortium of 18 partners dedicated to fostering sustainable networking within Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's cruise sector, commissioned dwif-Consulting GmbH to conduct this study. The online survey, which involved 45 companies, categorized value creation into four segments: from shipping companies and ports (Categories 1 & 2) to shipping brokers and logistics (Category 3), and indirectly benefiting sectors such as gastronomy and retail (Category 4).

Alexander Winter, Chairman of the Board of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Tourism Association, emphasized the importance of the survey: "This study allows us for the first time to precisely quantify how much value creation from the cruise industry remains within the state and how extensive the network of beneficiaries, from ports to travel agencies, truly is."

Dr. Wolfgang Blank, Minister for Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labor Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, highlighted the role of cruise tourism as a crucial pillar of the regional economy: "Cruise tourism is not only an economic factor but also a showcase for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Rostock alone expects around 500,000 cruise passengers this year, supplemented by numerous guests on smaller cruise ships in Wismar and Stralsund. For many of them, the journey aboard a cruise ship is their first contact with our holiday region, often leading to subsequent visits to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Thus, every cruise ship call generates valuable revenue for our hotels, restaurants, and service sector, while also laying the groundwork for future income."

Key Study Results

Economic Effects for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

The analysis of the supply side indicates that the 45 surveyed companies and industries, based on their input linkages, generate significant revenues. Shipping companies in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern alone generated approximately 149 million euros from cruise shipping in 2023. Nearly 40 percent of this revenue is allocated to preliminary services, including costs for fuel, shore power, logistics, advertising, or repairs. The total revenue in businesses directly involved in cruise tourism (Category 1) amounts to 400 million euros. Ports in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern also benefit from millions in revenue.

Winter further explained: "Cruise tourism in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern not only brings economic advantages to cruise ports, shipyards, and shipping companies but also offers diverse opportunities to numerous other businesses. The handling of a cruise ship involves a wide range of service providers: these include shipping brokers, port logistics providers, fuel supply and storage providers, excursion agencies, hostesses in terminals, and parking providers for cruise guests. Companies for freight transport and the supply of ships with food and consumer goods are also directly involved. Furthermore, many businesses indirectly connected to the cruise industry benefit. Transport companies handle arrivals and departures as well as local passenger transport for guests. During shore excursions, gastronomy, retail, and leisure facilities profit, as do local travel agencies, hotels – especially for pre- and post-cruise stays and business trips for industry employees – and service providers such as advertising and event agencies."

Employment Effects: Thousands of Jobs

The study also provides detailed insights into employment effects. Accordingly, in the participating businesses directly and closely involved in cruise shipping in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, there are at least 2,800 full-time equivalent positions. The actual number across all directly involved companies is correspondingly higher. Overall, a positive trend in employee numbers was observed: 43 percent of the surveyed businesses directly involved in cruise shipping reported a (significant) increase in staff over recent years, while 57 percent reported stable employment figures.

Dirk Inger, Senior Vice President Public Affairs, Sustainability & Communication at AIDA Cruises, emphasized his company's role: "AIDA is not only the largest provider of ocean cruises with over 50 percent market share but also the third-largest tour operator in Germany. The successful development of our company has been and remains closely linked to the economic development of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. As the largest private employer in MV, we are a crucial growth engine for the region."

Ocean Cruises Versus River Cruises

When comparing the importance of ocean and river cruise shipping, about one-third of respondents stated that ocean cruise shipping is of great importance to their company in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; for another 27 percent, it holds medium importance. 41 percent consider it of minor or no importance. River cruise shipping, on the other hand, is a significant business area for only twelve percent; 15 percent attribute medium importance to it. For over half of the participants, river cruise shipping plays no role.

Results varied depending on direct involvement in cruise tourism. For shipping companies, ports, and shipyards, both ocean and river cruise shipping are significantly more relevant. While ocean cruise shipping is of high importance for the majority of these businesses (70 percent), the picture for river cruise shipping is more differentiated: approximately half (45 percent each) of these businesses consider it of great or minor importance.

Businesses with close involvement, such as shipping brokers or transport and logistics companies, consider ocean cruise shipping to be at least of medium importance. River cruise shipping is less important for this category; for about one-third, other business areas are more significant, and for 44 percent, cruise shipping is irrelevant. The lower economic effect of river cruises and their correspondingly lower relevance for the surveyed companies can be attributed to smaller ship sizes and the higher proportion of ocean cruise passengers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Individual Shore Excursions Dominate

Shipping companies also provided insights into passenger activities. The majority undertake shore excursions, with 87 percent preferring individual explorations and 13 percent utilizing organized tours. During layovers, exploring the visited location and its surroundings, inter-regional excursions, and strolling and shopping are the main activities.

Industry Challenges

The cruise industry faces significant challenges: environmental regulations and pollutant reduction (97 percent of respondents), the implementation of sustainable technologies (96 percent), and high energy costs (100 percent) are cited as (very) major hurdles. Labor and skilled worker shortages (85 percent) are also pressing issues. Three-quarters of businesses also perceive (very) significant challenges in political framework conditions, including geopolitical conflicts and terrorist attacks.

Future of Cruise Shipping: Optimistic Forecasts

Despite the challenges, 70 percent of participating businesses are (very) optimistic about the short-term future, and 65 percent are optimistic about the medium term. The surveyed companies view cruise tourism as a growth market, both in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and throughout the Baltic Sea region. Nearly half of the companies expect cruise demand in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to increase, while 27 percent anticipate constant demand.

This positive assessment by companies is underpinned by the planned global fleet expansion. According to the "State of the Cruise Industry Report (2024)" by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), its members plan to commission 37 new cruise ships between 2024 and 2028. Although some older ships are expected to be decommissioned, the trend – alongside new luxury segment providers like Ritz Carlton – is towards increasingly larger ships with rising passenger capacities.

Background: MV Cruise Net

The MV Cruise Net was launched at the end of 2021 to sustainably network the cruise shipping industry in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Its 18 partners maintain regular exchanges with representatives from business, politics, and tourism. Previous successes include a Parliamentary Evening in Schwerin in September 2023, where infrastructure, sustainability, and future perspectives were discussed, as well as participation in the "Seatrade Europe" congress trade fair in Hamburg. Furthermore, last year, the entire scope of cruise shipping was presented at the MV Cruise Conference aboard Mein Schiff 7 in Warnemünde, including new technologies and concepts from shipping companies.