“Together with the town of Mariehamn and the port of Mariehamn we are now focusing on making the cruise business grow,” said Sari Venho, cruise manager for Visit Aland. “We are doing this by working on several levels, for example by taking an active role in different national and international networks and creating and maintaining good contacts with the cruise lines. We also work closely together with local partners to be able to create new and interesting tours.”

For crew members, the port has added a crew lounge at the nearby maritime museum which is located 250 meters from the pier, Venho said.

This year the port is expecting 20 cruise calls including first time visits from Le Soleal, from Ponant, and Regent’s luxury Seven Seas Navigator. Next year follows with a first-time visits from the Braemar and the Star Breeze.

The port has invested in a new elevator and new stairs for passengers. At the terminal, guests are welcomed by hosts with information on the city. In addition is a musical welcoming with local performers. There is also a free shuttle bus that runs every 20 minutes from the port into town.

Located in the Aland Islands, Venho said the port was one of a kind, with a unique nature feel and easy-to-reach sites. The Aland archipelago is made up of 20,000 islands.