A definite sign of an upcoming summer is the arrival of international cruise ships! The cruise season in Helsinki opens with shipping company Ponant’s Le Champlain, arriving at the South Harbour in the morning of 21 April 2025. The season is expected to be long, as the last ship will visit the city in mid-December.

A pleasant summer lies ahead: 97 ship visits have been scheduled and, on average, every sixth ship will stay overnight in the city. Around 140,000 international cruise visitors are expected during the season.

The busiest cruise days of the summer will be 9 July with five ships and 28 July with four ships.                   

There will also be six ships visiting the city for the first time:

• 15 June Carnival Miracle – LHD quay in Hernesaari
• 8 July Vista – LHC quay in Hernesaari
• 12 July Le Laperouse – EPL, i.e. Pakkahuone Quay in the South Harbour
• 16 July Sea Dream II – EPL
• 28 July World Traveller – EPL
• 28. July Ilma – LHC

“Cruise guests are introduced to the essence of Finnishness as soon as they set foot on the Hernesaari cruise quays, as they are greeted by none other than Santa Claus himself,” says Cruise Manager Jukka Haarni from the Port of Helsinki.

“Additionally, there is an easy opportunity to experience the local sauna culture and book a proper steam session in a wood-heated container sauna.”

And when curiosity extends beyond the cruise port, getting around is made easier by the new service starting this summer from the Hernesaari water bus quay to central Helsinki. “Operating from May to September, the water bus offers cruise guests a convenient and pleasant way to reach the city’s services and attractions,” Haarni says with delight.

*The news was updated on April 23 2025: six maiden calls will arrive instead of four. Carnival Miracle and Ilma have been added to the list.