Ports in Norway provide update on new infrastructure, tours

Representatives of 17 Norwegian ports and destinations attended the gathering in Miami on Sunday, hosted jointly with Cruise Baltic, to share their latest news with the media. 

Monica Berstad, who assumed the role of director at Cruise Norway two months ago, told Seatrade Cruise News one of her main ambitions for the network is to attract calls to member ports year-round. 

Norway has 40 ports and 39 are members of Cruise Norway.

Seatrade Cruise Global 2024 opened at the Miami Beach Convention Center on April 8 and concludes on April 11. 

Ålesund

Passengers can embark on a culinary journey through the streets of Ålesund with the new Food Walk Ålesund experience led by knowledgeable local guides and including cuisine from top restaurants. There are five dishes to try in three hours, spanning traditional to modern fare. 

For views of the city, passengers can experience the recently introduced Via Ferrata. 

Alta

Starting from winter 2024/25, Alta is offering whale safari tours.

Bodø

The Port of Bodø and Bodø Airport are working on plans to facilitate turn-around calls for cruises to the Arctic region. It is working with a new destination management company, Boreal Adventure, which will handle its shore excursions. New excursions available to book through Boreal Adventure consist of: Rampen Via Ferrata, Saltfjell Sami Adventure, VIP visits at Craig Alibone Chocolaterie, and beer tastings at Baadin Brewery. 

DMC Nordic

DMC Nordic opened new offices in Oslo, Tromsø, Finland and Greenland. It will be partnering with Travelife, and recently became an associate member of the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators. 

Eidfjord

Former Cruise Norway CEO Inge Tangeraas, who is now the CEO of Visit Eidfjord and Cruise Destination Hardangerfjord, will spearhead initiatives to further enhance the two destinations as premier travel destinations, leveraging his expertise to elevate visitor experiences and drive sustainable growth in the region.

The Port of Eidfjord is set to implement shore power capabilities by 2026.

Ongoing construction work around the Vøringsfossen waterfall and Fossatromma area will conclude by September 2024. This will improve accessibility and the visitor experience.

Hammerfest

Construction of Hammerfest’s new cruise quays located in the city center will be completed this summer. 

A comprehensive environmental project has been carried out in Hammerfest harbor, where the seabed has been cleansed of environmental toxins after centuries of pollution from industry and ship traffic. Contaminated bottom sediments have been excavated and transported to a specially designed deposition site on land behind a sheet pile wall. This sheet pile wall also serves as bedding for the concrete quays. As a result of the Clean Harbor project, 400 mtr of new quay frontage has been established, which will serve as Hammerfest’s new harbor for cruise ships and local passenger marinas. 

The Clean Harbor project has also resulted in new land for buildings in the city center. This site is under development, with the aim of expanding the center of Hammerfest with functions related to business, culture, and tourism. 

The port can accommodate ships between 100-300 mtr in length with a draft of 7-10 mtr.

Kristiansand

A spokesperson for the Port of Kristiansand said, ‘Our ongoing project to enhance the cruise berth at our port includes installing three new bollards, each capable of handling 250t, ensuring safe mooring for cruise ships year-round… The project is scheduled for completion by the end of April. 

‘Additionally, we’re implementing enhancements in waste handling and segregation procedures in collaboration with our environmental services provider…’

A new shore excursion will allow passengers to go behind the scenes of Europe’s only underwater restaurant at Restaurant Under. 

Kristiansund

A new tourist information office, located just a few hundred meters from the cruise pier, is in the pipeline in Kristiansund. 

A new tour combines clipfish, opera and cider: highlights include Festiviteten – the town’s opera house for almost a century – as well as traditional folk tunes collected by the Kristiansund-born composer Edvard Bræin and cider tasting. 

The free passenger ferry Sundbåten has extended its route to include new parts of the town and also operates longer days. Group charters are available on request.

Narvik

Narvik is in the process of building shore power, and ships should be able to plug in from Q4 2025.

Nordfjordeid

Nordfjordeid is planning a fully-fixed concrete berth. 

Plus, cruise passengers can now row Viking ships while visiting the destination where two new Viking-style have been introduced, paying homage to centuries-old traditions rooted in Nordic clinker boatbuilding.

Nordkapp

At the Port of North Cape there is a new tender pier located directly in front of the parking area for buses and tourist information.

According to Destination North Cape, a new modern and interactive visitor center, ‘Bruket FishFactory,’ has opened. There, passengers can learn about the number one industry in North Cape, observe operations from a glass balcony and see live king crabs.

Oslo

Oslo is building shore power infrastructure for cruise ships, which will be up and running at Revier Quay from April 1 and in Q1 2026 at Filipstad Quay. It will be mandatory for cruise vessels to use shore power. 

Stavanger 

From 2026, the Port of Stavanger will be limited to welcoming a maximum of two ships simultaneously – with the possibility of an extra small vessel – and a maximum of 8,000 passengers per day.  It aims to become the country’s number one port for cruise crew and will, from this year on, work strategically to achieve this goal.

Shoreside, football enthusiasts have the chance to explore the roots of one of the world’s most renowned players, Erling Braut Haaland, as part of the brand-new Erling Braut Haaland Tour. They will be able to visit his hometown of Bryne and pay a visit to his home stadium, Bryne FK stadium.

Plus, for the first time, a chocolate experience is available that will allow passengers to create their own chocolate troll with the chocolate team at Chili Chocolate.

The new Whisky Tasting Centre will open in spring in Egersund around 70 km away, and the aviation museum (Flyhistorisk Museum Sola) is being expanded with the opening of a brand-new exhibition hall in June. It will house an impressive collection of airplanes related to the Cold War and tell the story of Norwegian fighter pilots during that period. 

A 48-seater sightseeing boat for sailing Lysefjord has been introduced and can be booked for between 10 am and 1.30 pm throughout the season. 

Tromsø

Tromsø expects 194 calls this year and had already racked up 47 calls by the end of March. Its last cruise call will take place on December 28.

The number of turnarounds last year was 19, while 29 are expected in 2024.

From January 2025, Tromsø will offer shore power to cruise ships calling in Tromsø city center.

Trondheim

Trondheim Port Authority has been allocated 20m NOK to establish shore power for cruise ships at the main cruise quay. The facility will supply 50/60Hz, 6.6/11kV and up to 12 MW with IEC/IEEE 80005-1 plugs. The project is estimated to cost 87m NOK in total.

Trondheim is set to attract thousands of visitors when it hosts the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship from February 26 to March 9, 2025.