In 2024, Trondheim hosted 170,700 passengers on 93 calls, a decrease from a record high of 108 in 2023. This year the numbers are 98 and 174,000 respectively.
In 2023, cruiselines spent NKr27 million (€2.3 million) and passengers 100m, according to a study undertaken by Menon Economics for Trondheim Cruise Forum.
Last year calls were made in each month, including four overnights and one unexpected turnaround from Hurtigruten’s Trollfjord due to bad weather elsewhere. This year World Voyager will make a planned turnaround call, the first time since Pullmantur had regular turnarounds here between 2012 and 2019, says Maria Kuhnl Undheim, business developer Trondheim Port Authority.
Six new tours will be on offer this year, including a kennel visit, themed walking tours and a dogsledding tour for the winter season. In addition, 14 excursions on Froya and Hitra are possible.
When it comes to infrastructure, a new 12m gangway with a 1.4m width and wheelchair-friendly surface will be available. This will add to the 6m, two 8m, two 10m and two x12m gangways already available and which can be combined with a container gangway solution. The bus parking area is due to be upgraded to give the area a better structure.
In terms of onshore power, World Explorer connected to the low voltage facility three times in 2024 at Quay 1, Pier 1. The port is now looking into investing in a frequency transformer to enable 60Hz vessels to connect at this pier.
The installation for the main cruise quay (Pier 68) has been on hold due to not having a connection promise from the grid provider. The port awaits a grid commitment of 4.9mW with a potential upgrade to 12mw in 2030. The facility is expected to be completed by December 31 2026. Local politicians and decision makers were invited on board TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 7 last year, where Marcus Puttich, director destinations and incident commander, explained measures taken to reduce the overall footprint.
A geotechnical survey done last summer has confirmed the location feasibility for a new berth. Kuhnl Undheim explains: “We will get all papers/documentation in place to start with a regulation process. To do that we will have to get a commitment from our board to go ahead with the investment.”
Meanwhile cruise quay 68 will be extended from 96m to 120m. Although it can already take vessels up to 360m, at its present length all the necessary shell doors for shore power connection cannot be reached, explains Kuhnl Undheim. “It will also improve the strength of the quay for taller vessels.” To avoid disruption to calls, she adds: “A future construction period will take the planned cruise seasons into consideration in order to avoid cancellation.”
The cost of expanding the quay will be NKr40 million (€3.4 million), which will be financed by the port authority.
(Trondheim looks to quay extension, onshore power and year-round calls – Cruise Europe)
Tags: Cruise Europe
Appeared first on: Latecruisenews.com