Kiel takes positive stock of the 2024 cruise season: A look at passenger numbers, shore power and future prospects

Bild: Port of Kiel
The Baltic Sea port of Kiel draws a positive balance for the 2024 cruise season On Monday, November 4, the call of the AIDAluna marked the end of the main season in Kiel. Since the beginning of the year, 167 ocean-going cruise ships have already called at the port, and a further three calls are planned in the run-up to Christmas. In addition, 14 river cruise ships called at the port this year.

A total of around 1.05 million passengers visited the Schleswig-Holstein state capital. The modern terminals at Ostseekai and Ostuferhafen offer first-class conditions for passenger transfers. Kiel is becoming an increasingly attractive destination in the Baltic region for international shipping companies. A particular highlight of the season were the first calls of various ships, including the “Mein Schiff 7” from TUI Cruises, which began its service in Kiel in June and was also christened there.

“With around one million passengers, the 2024 cruise season in Kiel was very successful. My personal highlights include the 100 shore power calls and the christening of Mein Schiff 7,” reports Dr. Dirk Claus, Managing Director of SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG.

This season, a total of six ships called at Kiel for the first time. The new arrivals include the “Serenade of the Seas” from Royal Caribbean International on its worldwide voyage, the “Queen Anne” from Cunard, the “Borealis” from Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, the “Seven Seas Navigator” from Regent Seven Seas and the “MS Zuiderdam” from Holland America Line.

In 2024, the port of Kiel also recorded a significant increase in the use of shore power by cruise ships. In September, the port was the first German port to report that 100 cruise ships used the shore power facilities at the Ostseekai and Ostuferhafen terminals. At the end of the season, a total of 115 ocean-going vessels benefited from this environmentally friendly energy supply, which represents a supply rate of around 70 percent. Since the introduction of this technology in 2021, over 200 calls have now been supplied with shore power in Kiel.

“The routine of using shore power is increasing and we are satisfied with this year's season. Next year, the expansion of the plant at the Ostseekai will be implemented to cover the remaining demand of the 30 percent still unsupplied,” continued Claus.

With the planned expansion, the Port of Kiel is investing around 55 million euros in its shore power infrastructure by 2025. This should then make it possible to supply up to seven cruise ships and ferries with shore power at the same time, making Kiel one of the leading ports in the world for supplying ferries and cruise ships.

The Baltic Sea port of Kiel is now looking optimistically to the future and expects an exciting 2025 cruise season. The detailed port call list for the coming year is traditionally presented at the annual press conference at the beginning of the year.