A new passenger record is expected at the Warnemünde cruise port – with more than 350,000 on turn-arounds and transit calls. Thirty-three ships from 26 different lines will be making some 113 calls.

This year’s cruise season is scheduled to begin on May with the arrival of the AIDAblu, the newest addition to the Rostock-based AIDA Cruises’ fleet. The Boudicca of English cruise operator Fred. Olsen will mark the end of the season on Sept. 16.

In addition to the AIDAblu, seven other ships are calling on Warnemünde for the first time:  the Celebrity Eclipse – at 315 meters in length and with a gross tonnage of 122,000 – is the largest ship ever come to Rostock; the Norwegian Sun, MSC Opera, Costa Atlantica, Grand Mistral, Disney Magic, and Seabourn Sojourn.

The ships calling most frequently are the Costa Atlantica (15 times), AIDAblu (13 times), and Norwegian Sun (11 times).

The AIDAblu is using Warnemünde as its homeport to start and end its Baltic Sea cruises. The Costa Atlantica, Norwegian Sun, MSC Opera, and Sea Cloud II are all carrying out partial passenger turnarounds. All in all, 44 port calls will involve passengers either beginning or ending their cruise in Warnemünde. This year’s highlights will include two days with four ships in port
– June 7 and July 10, and four days with three ships — June 11, July 19 and Aug. 6 and 23.

For 2010, the Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft Rostock is planning infrastructure investments of 35 million euros. The northern expansion of Pier III will account for 20 million euros.  The construction for this new 12-acre area will begin in March with the setting of sheet pile walls and filling in of land. The construction is planned to continue until 2012. Additional projects in 2010 include the modernisation of berth 5 and pontoon at berths 3 and 4 in the Oil port for approx. 2 million euros; completion of the 200-meter-long heavy load berth 25 for approx. 5 million euros; construction and completion of the eastern roadway connection to the industrial zone in the adjacent area for around 2.5 million euros.

Also, construction will begin for grey water disposal from cruise ships in Warnemünde by fall. By the 2011 season, approx. 1.7 million euros for the land-side reception of ships’ waste water at the cruise ship berths will have been invested. Additionally, the planning of the construction of a new ferry pier at berths 65 and 67, as well as the connection of the eastern port grounds to the motorway will be undertaken.

And on Sunday, 24 April, the Hafen-Entwicklungsgesellschaft will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the seaport. From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. festivities including a live stage program and a party will be held at port basin B for Rostock residents and their guests. The Rostock Seaport was officially opened on 30 April 1960.