Costa Pacifica to open cruise season in Tallinn
On May 4, the moorage of the Costa Pacifica cruise ship in the Old City Harbour will officially open the summer cruise season in Tallinn. According to the Port of Tallinn press center, the season will last until October 17. On board of the season’s first ship will be about 3 000 cruise passengers from different European countries. Costa Pacifica comes to Tallinn from St. Petersburg and sails on to Riga.
According to Sirle Arro, Port of Tallinn’s Head of Marketing and Communication Department, there are 281 cruise ship calls expected this season, bringing about 480 thousand people to Estonia. Twelve cruise ships will visit Tallinn for the first time. „This year, the longest cruise ships, both 330 meters, will be Regal Princess and Britannia. These will be moored at the new cruise ship quay that was built especially for long ships and was opened last year. Old City Harbour in Tallinn can welcome 6-7 cruise ships simultaneously,“ added Ms. Arro.
Similarly to previous years, Old City Harbour will become a turnaround port. Spanish cruise company Pullmantur, operating the cruise ship Empress, will organize three cruises with Tallinn being both the starting and ending point.
For the second year in a row, cruise passengers will have the opportunity to enjoy the view of Tallinn 120 meters above the ground with riding the Balloon Tallinn. The unique attraction is located just next to the cruise harbour area.
Saaremaa Harbour, the other cruise harbour located on Estonia’s biggest island Saaremaa and also owned by Port of Tallinn, is expecting six cruise ship calls and about 3 500 cruise passengers this season.
The second cruise ship of the season will arrive to Estonia on May 7.
