By
Rebecca Lambert |
This article first appeared in the Spring/Summer 2015 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. To read other articles, you can subscribe to the magazine in printed or digital formats
Nearly one year into his role as director of Cruise Baltic and Claus Bødker is pleased with the progress his association is making to keep the Baltic region at the forefront of the cruise industry.
Having started out by focusing his attention on the partner destinations in the association – something he says was an extremely beneficial experience as it allowed him to experience the variety on offer – Bødker says that he was astonished by just how many attractions are available to cruise passengers travelling to the region.
“The Baltic has such a diverse offering for cruise lines today,” he explains. “It’s not that easy to sell destinations to the cruise lines any more as there is no shortage of associations around today, but we have a great product in the Baltic and the cruise lines recognise that. It has given me a great deal of confidence in our ability to continue to grow passenger numbers in the coming years.”
Bødker recognises that cruise lines always look for two key things in a destination – good infrastructure and passenger appeal – both of which he believes Cruise Baltic members have in abundance.
In the last year, four new dedicated cruise terminals opened in the region – three in the Danish capital Copenhagen and one in the Swedish city of Malmö. Skagen’s new cruise facilities will soon be operational too – a development that will allow the Danish port to accommodate cruise vessels measuring up to 330m in length. Bødker adds that permission has also been granted for a new pier to be built in Visby, Sweden. “Construction is due to begin in spring 2016 and the pier is expected to be ready by 2018,” he says.
Aside from continuing to improve their port infrastructures, Cruise Baltic partners remain committed to working together to create an integrated cruise experience for passengers. “The Baltic region is safe, easy to get around and many destinations are English speaking,” says Bødker. “We work closely with the cruise lines to develop itineraries that appeal to their target market, helping them attract customers and stay profitable.”
The association also does what it can to stay abreast of the latest developments in the industry. As a diamond member of the Cruise Lines International Association and an associate of the European Sea Ports Organisation network, Cruise Baltic seeks constant guidance and assistance on current issues and trends in the interest of its members, providing them with the insight they need to overcome challenges such as the introduction of the Emission Control Areas that took place in January 2015.
Looking ahead, Bødker says that Cruise Baltic will continue to do what it does best – innovate. “We’ve always been known for being innovative and the first to try out new things,” he adds. “For me, it’s important that we build on this success and continue in this vein. We’ve got a number of projects in the pipeline that we’re looking forward to launching soon. By innovating, we can always ensure that we’re ahead of the game.”