At a ceremony in Berlin on 6 March 2024, the port in Copenhagen was announced as Europe’s Leading Cruise Port 2024 by the World Travel Awards.
World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Copenhagen won the award as Europe’s Leading Cruise Port in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and now in 2024.
The award was accepted in Berlin by Luis de Carvalho, Commercial Cruise Director of Copenhagen Malmö Port (CMP):
”I would like to express my huge gratitude to all the voters including passengers, cruise lines, tourism and travel industry professionals, and a special thank you to our partners at CruiseCopenhagen, CMP colleagues and to all the local companies and stakeholders that work day in and out to provide our cruise guests with wonderful and memorable experiences. This award is for Copenhagen!”
The Danish capital, with its manageable size, accommodates a variety of lifestyles. Rich in culture, Copenhagen seamlessly merges history with modernism, showcasing striking architecture and boasting a world-class gastronomy scene, all underscored by a strong commitment to sustainability.
“This is just what we need when we travel around the world to promote Denmark as a cruise destination. Especially at a time when we are working hard to get more – especially the American cruise lines – to come back to Copenhagen and the Baltic Sea region. This award helps to convey that there is so much else and more to experience, especially in our capital Copenhagen,” says Klaus Bondam, Director of Cruise, CruiseCopenhagen.
Strategically positioned as a gateway to the Baltic Sea as well as the Nordics/North Atlantic, Copenhagen features excellent infrastructure and experiences to support cruise operations. The destination offers a well-connected international airport, flexible turnaround facilities at the three acclaimed Ocean Quay cruise terminals, and centrally located facilities at Langelinie Pier and Nordre Toldbod.
In 2023 Copenhagen welcomed over 750,000 guests and nearly 300 cruise ships. Similar numbers are anticipated for 2024, with cruise bookings all 12 months of the year and more than 50 cruise calls between October 2024 and April 2025, which is rare for the Northern Europe region.
In 2024 Copenhagen will have ten inaugural cruise ship calls including Queen Anne, Mein Schiff 7, Ocean Albatross, Azamara Onward, Villa Vey Odyssey among others.
Committed to responsible cruise tourism, Copenhagen Malmö Port aims to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2025, coinciding with the anticipated availability of shore power for cruise ships in Copenhagen.