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Condé Nast Traveler
In August, 18 cruise ships will call at the port, and Riga will welcome approximately 25,000 passengers. So far this season (as of the end of July), a total of 90,000 foreign cruise tourists have visited Riga, with the largest numbers coming from Germany, the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Finland. Furthermore, an unusually high number of luxury and expedition - or niche - cruise ships are scheduled to visit the Port of Riga in August, boosting Riga’s position as a premium-class sea cruise destination.
Several ships will make repeat visits to Riga throughout the month, with the port hosting two cruise ships simultaneously on five specific dates - August 10, 11, 16, 19, and 30. The largest cruise ship of the month will be the Sapphire Princess (115,875 GT), while the smallest in terms of size will be the expedition ship Clio (3,504 GT).
The U.S. cruise lines will be strongly represented in August, with vessels from Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Grand Circle Cruise Line being the most frequent visitors to the port.
This month, three next-generation luxury and expedition cruise ships - Scenic Eclipse II, Seven Seas Grandeur, and Explora III - will call at the Port of Riga for the first time.
On August 16, Scenic Eclipse II - one of the world’s most modern luxury expedition cruise ships - will make its maiden call to Riga. Known as a “Discovery Yacht” the vessel combines the comfort of a five-star hotel with the agility to navigate remote areas inaccessible to large cruise ships. Built in 2023, the 168 meters long ship can accommodate up to 228 passengers.
On August 27, the Seven Seas Grandeur - the newest vessel in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet and widely considered one of the world’s most luxurious ocean liners - will make its maiden call at the Port of Riga. Commissioned in late 2023, the ship is renowned for its exceptionally high level of service, accommodating a maximum of 744 passengers served by 548 crew members. Additionally, all 372 of its sophisticated suites feature private balconies.
Meanwhile, on August 30, the Explora III - the newest luxury cruise ship from Explora Journeys, which entered service just this past July - will make its first call at the Port of Riga. It is the first ship in this cruise line’s fleet to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), significantly reducing emissions compared to traditional marine fuels. The 268-meter-long ship can accommodate up to 900 passengers, and all suites feature a private terrace.
In the global cruise industry, demand for luxury and expedition cruises continues to grow. Travelers are increasingly opting for smaller ships, more personalized service, and itineraries that take them to unfamiliar destinations and/or ports inaccessible to large cruise ships. In response, cruise lines are actively expanding their fleets with new-generation premium and expedition vessels, making this segment one of the fastest-growing in the maritime tourism market. Attracting these high-end cruises remains one of the strategic priorities for the Port of Riga’s tourism development.
This season, the Port of Riga has already welcomed 55 cruise ships, which is 15% more than during the same period last year. The growth of cruise tourism is the result of the Riga Freeport Authority’s targeted, long-term work. Executed in collaboration with the Riga City Council, the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency, and its partners, these efforts focus on promoting Riga as a premier Baltic Sea cruise destination.
Information for media
- [email protected], +371 670 308 53
- Freeport of Riga Authority
- Mihaila Tāla iela 1, Rīga, Latvija, LV-1045
