Cruise cancellations due to the environment

Geiranger Fjord Cruise ShipThe Cruise ship "Aurora" visits the Geiranger Fjord. Photo: Paul Kleiven / Scanpix

Cruise cancellations due to environmental demands

The environmental requirements for cruise ships wishing to visit Norwegian fjords have already led to cancellations.


”We have received 13 cancellations for 2020 so far, assistant Port Manager of the Port of Aurland, Jon Olav Stedje, tells NRK.

As of January 1st, 2020, there will be more stringent environmental requirements for cruise ships. All vessels that were built before the year 2000 that have not been upgraded may not enter the Geiranger Fjord or Nærøy Fjord.

Stedje believes that there are more cancellations in store for 2020.

“It is obvious that there will be an economic downturn. In the worst case, it could mean 70 fewer ships. That is 90,000 passengers. It equates to between NOK 3 and 4 million in port revenues,” he explains.

He is nevertheless concerned with not only looking at the negative aspects of fewer cruise ships.

“We must use this to develop as a cruise destination and see the positive this can bring to us. We now get the cruise ships we want to have in the fjord,” Stedje continues.

They have not experienced as many cancellations In the Geiranger Fjord as Flåm.

“We have fewer than five cancellations for 2020. But there may be more to come – as Flåm has so many more [visits] than we have. We interpret this as that the cruise lines are largely able to adapt to the requirements,” Port Manager of Stranda Port Authority, Rita Berstad Maraak, comments.


© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
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