English
Photo: AIDA Cruises
As this year’s busy cruise tourism season continues in Riga, 22 cruise ship calls have been scheduled for June. According to statistics compiled by the Freeport of Riga Authority, approximately 41,000 foreign tourists will visit Riga on cruise ships this month.
Two of the ships scheduled for June will be visiting Riga for the first time. Tomorrow, on June 2, the AIDAbella (length: 252 m, width: 32 m, 13 decks), a ship operated by the German cruise line AIDA Cruises, will arrive at the port. On June 21, Riga port will welcome the Norwegian Sun (length: 252 m, width: 32.2 m, 13 decks), a ship operated by the U.S. Norwegian Cruise Line, which will arrive at Riga for the first time.
AIDAbella is one of AIDA Cruises’ most famous ships, capable of accommodating up to 2,500 passengers and a crew of 646. AIDAbella offers travelers a wide range of entertainment and active leisure options - 25 different dining and lounge areas, 3 pools, as well as a spacious spa and fitness facilities. The ship’s most iconic feature is its “Theatrium” - a combination of a theater and an Atrium. with huge glass walls and a stage that serves as both a theater and a concert hall. AIDA Cruises primarily cater to young people and families with children, most passengers are German-speaking travelers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The AIDAbella will stay in Riga for two days - from June 2 until the afternoon of June 3.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Sun will visit Riga twice in the first summer month - on June 21 and 27. The ship was built in 2001 and underwent a major renovation in 2024. It mostly carries tourists from the U.S. and Canada. The ship can accommodate up to 1,976 passengers and a crew of 906.
Cruise passengers will visit Riga during the most popular Līgo (Midsummer) festivities. On June 23, Riga will be visited by the American cruise operator’s ship Sapphire Princess (length: 290 m, width: 38 m, 18 decks, maximum passenger capacity: 2,670), while on June 24, the ship MSC Magnifica (length: 293 m, width: 32 m, 13 decks, maximum passenger capacity: 3,223) will arrive at the Port of Riga.
On June 26, the season’s largest ship, the 333-meter-long Mein Schiff Relax, will once again arrive at the Port of Riga. As previously reported, the ship’s impressive size and the depth of the Daugava River currently prevent it from safely turning in the center of Riga, so it will be docked at the Krievu Island berths.
On five days in June, the port will welcome as many as two ships at a time, and four more ships will also stay overnight in Riga. For more details on the current cruise season schedule, please visit the Freeport of Riga Authority website: www.rop.lv/lv/pasazieri.
Driven by the growing interest of cruise lines in the Port of Riga, the Freeport of Riga Authority is currently developing additional infrastructure to accommodate passenger vessels at the port near the center of Riga, on Andrejsala. Final design work is currently underway, and the partial demolition of the ED breakwater—which currently prevents larger ships from docking at the Exportosta berths - will begin shortly. Work is scheduled to be completed by next year.
This year, the Port of Riga is expecting a record cruise ship season - a total of 101 cruise ship calls have been scheduled, which is 21% more than in 2025. It is estimated that approximately 135,000 tourists will arrive in Riga by cruise ships, which is 17% more than last year.
Information for media
- [email protected], +371 670 308 53
- Freeport of Riga Authority
- Mihaila Tāla iela 1, Rīga, Latvija, LV-1045
