The “cruise boom” in Stockholm is continuing: while over 250,000 passengers are already visiting the Swedish capital in 2025, even more are expected next year – especially from Germany.
The Swedish capital Stockholm is increasingly becoming a cruise hotspot in the Baltic Sea. More than 150 ships and 300,000 passengers are expected in the coming year, a significant increase compared to the two previous years. Most of the guests come from Germany.
Cruise ships will be calling at the ports of Stockholm all year round in 2026, according to a recently published list. A total of 157 ships are expected, seven of them for the first time. The port of Nynäshamn to the south of Stockholm accounts for 21 of these calls – the highest number for many years.
Compared to the two previous years, there is a positive trend: in 2025, there were 137 ships and 256,000 passengers, while in 2024, 119 ships with 196,000 passengers arrived in Stockholm. By way of comparison, although over 200 ships docked in Stockholm in 2022, the number of passengers (247,000) was below the figures for 2025 and the expectations for the following year.
“It’s great to see that demand in the Baltic Sea is picking up again and the number of cruise ships is steadily increasing. The occupancy rate on board is also high, which indicates a significant increase in passenger numbers,” says Stefan Scheja, Marketing Manager Ferries and Cruises at Ports of Stockholm.
Aida Cruises recorded the most calls, with its ships docking in Stockholm 32 times this season. A third of all passengers this year traveled with lines that are aimed at the German market.
One of the “newcomers” in the port next year is the new Explora Journeys line, which is part of the luxury segment of MSC Cruises. With the “Explora III”, the line will dock in Stockholm for the first time in August. Other first calls include the “Seven Seas Grandeur” and the “Mein Schiff Relax” from Tui Cruises – the largest ship of the year with a length of 332 m and space for almost 4,000 passengers.
“Thanks to the year-round calls, the port of Stockholm now has year-round cruise traffic – a clear sign of the steadily growing interest in the Baltic Sea and the region,” said the port authority. It also referred to the two new shore power connections in the Port of Stockholm, an important part of the sustainability strategy. The connections enable cruise ships to be connected to the power grid directly at the quay, which reduces both emissions and noise.
