Last year was an impressive one for cruise ship calls at Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP), and 2025 looks to be even better, the port authority claimed.
The year 2024 exceeded expectations for cruise passenger numbers, with a total just short of 1 mill guests across Malmö, Visby and Copenhagen. In 2025, CMP expects to welcome more than 1 mill.
Nearly 170,000 pax were recorded in Visby, more than 818,000 in Copenhagen and 1,700 in Malmö. The total number of calls was 280 in Copenhagen, 192 in Visby, and 3 in Malmö.
Notably, 106 of the calls in Copenhagen were turnaround calls, and 26 ships spent at least one night in the Danish capital.
The year also confirmed Copenhagen’s status as an all-year cruise destination, with calls in every month for the first time. Visby also saw arrivals during a long season from April through October and again around Christmas in December.
A significant number of maiden calls were reported, with nine in Copenhagen and 11 in Visby, highlighting the deployment of newer and more efficient ships to the region.
In addition, Copenhagen was honoured with the World Travel Award as Europe’s Leading Cruise Port 2024.
Germans were the single largest group of cruise guests in both Copenhagen and Visby.
Looking ahead to this year, CMP expects to surpass 1 mill pax on over 403 calls. A total of 14 maiden calls are expected throughout the year.
Copenhagen and Visby are expected to continue their strong performance, with 850,000 pax and 295 calls anticipated in Copenhagen, and 172,000 pax and 105 calls expected in Visby.
The Danish capital is also set to host 107 turnaround calls, as well as reaffirming its status as an all-year cruise destination with the first calls of the year already recorded on 3rd January 2025.
Guests utilising turnaround calls are in general spending more money in Copenhagen, as well as supporting the city as a regional transport hub.
“While extremely satisfied with the year 2024 that exceeded expectations, we look forward to yet another exciting year ahead in 2025, with a solid and increasing number of calls and passengers expected in Copenhagen and Visby, as well as the inauguration of Copenhagen’s major cruise shore-power facility.
“A strong cruise sector and an extensive cruise season means positive economic impact for the local business and communities,” said Luis De Carvalho, CMP’s Commercial Cruise Director.
One of Europe’s largest shore-power facilities will become operational this year in Copenhagen, with five connection points at Oceankaj and Langelinie, enabling ships to turn off auxiliary engines while berthed.
The facility is expected to reach full capacity by 2028. CMP has provided shore power for the ferries operating between Oslo and Copenhagen since 2021.
Langelinie terminals will be fully operational again in 2025, ready for shore-power and direct sewage connection, after a thorough renovation and expansion that respected the historic details of this iconic pier. This year, CMP aims to reach net-zero CO2-emissions in its own operations.
The strong collaboration across the value chain in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the region will continue through Cruise Denmark – Copenhagen and Beyond, as well as Cruise Baltic and Cruise Europe, strengthening the Baltic as a region for responsible cruise tourism.
In May, 2025, Copenhagen will host Cruise Europe’s annual conference, marking the 33rd year since the city hosted the inaugural Cruise Europe conference in 1992.
