Next year is going to be a record year for Amsterdam with 172 calls already on the books, of which 91 are turnarounds. The previous record was 144 ships in 2012, and this year, the port expects 142 ships.

The biggest news is the 10 maiden calls the port is planning, advised Dick de Graaff, commercial director for Passenger Terminal Amsterdam. Those include the Viking Sky and Viking Star, and two visits by the Disney Magic.

Helping the cause is Amsterdam’s hotel inventory and superior airlift.

“We continuously strive to give better service to both cruise companies, crew and passengers,” de Graaff told Cruise Industry News.

Winter and shoulder season sees the port offering fee discounts.

“Traditionally, the high season was from the end of May to mid-September,” de Graaff said. “The last few years, we have seen an increase in calls starting in April and turnarounds going through October. The number of calls in December is growing. There certainly is room for growth in November and December.”

Big ships will get a new lock that will be operational by the end of 2019, and in 2016, the Amsterdam facility increased its quay by 30 meters.

De Graaff also said the port was looking at a potential new facility within the next seven to eight years.