Trademark case

Cruise

Why cruise tourism is good for Denmark and its ports 

  • Cruise guests contribute DKK 1.25 billion annually to Denmark's economy - primarily to the hotel and retail industry.
  • It created around 2,400 jobs in Denmark in 2019, and we need those jobs.
  • For the ports, cruise ships are an excellent business, but it varies from port to port how much of the revenue comes from cruise ships.
  • Tourists, including those from cruise ships, help create life and turnover in local businesses such as shops, cafés and attractions.

About industry developments

  • Over the last 10 years, the number of cruise ships calling at Danish ports has increased by 42%.
  • CMP is the largest cruise destination in Denmark with 351 calls in 2019, which is the highest number ever in CMP.
  • CMP is the 10th largest cruise destination in Europe and the port is a turn-around port, which means that passengers are exchanged in Copenhagen because the port is close to the airport and the port terminal is modern and designed for easy passenger exchange.
  • Ports outside Denmark are also seeing growth in cruise business. In 2019, the Port of Rønne became Denmark's second largest cruise port, with 46 cruise ship calls throughout the year. The Port of Skagen has also experienced explosive growth, with 38 more calls in 2019 than in 2014.

Economic Gains

Cruises are often criticized for not contributing to the economy of cruise destinations. This is a misconception that is fortunately easy to disprove. Cruise lines and their more than 1.1 million annual guests contribute more than DKK 1.25 billion to Denmark every year. In other words, each cruise guest in Denmark contributes over DKK 1,000, most of which goes to the retail and hotel industry. There are no figures on how many Danish citizens go on cruises from Danish ports, but in total, approximately 45,000 Danes travel on cruises annually.

Environment and Climate

The cruise industry, like everyone else in the transportation industry, emits both greenhouse gases and harmful particles. Cruises make up 0.1% of the commercial fleet and the cruise companies' trade association has announced that they want a 40% CO2 reduction by 2030.

Cruise ships in port emit harmful particles such as NOX and SO2. However, not to the extent that it is still "healthier" to be on Langelinje than on e.g. H.C. Andersens Boulevard in Copenhagen. Both the cruise ships and Danish Ports want to contribute to a good and healthy urban environment and strive to find the best solutions for this.

Shore power and cruise ships

25% of cruise ships can take shore power, but only about 14 of approximately 2000 ports worldwide are capable of providing shore power solutions.

Additionally, cruise ship facilities are only used during the summer months and the amount of ships can vary from year to year.

Despite great efforts, no port in Europe has yet made a business case for shore power for cruise ships that breaks even financially.

The two plants that have been established in Germany and Norway have been established with very large public support, especially from the EU. In addition, the plants under construction in Germany and Norway are also being established with public support from foundations and national, regional and local authorities.

Even if it's not a good business case right now, the development potential is huge and the progress is necessary. In that sense, it is not unlike the rapid development of the wind turbine market over the past 20 years.