Copenhagen (Denmark)

Copenhagen Malmo Port (abbrev CMP) is a major turnaround cruise port in Northern Europe and among the most popular departure/homeports for Baltic Sea itineraries. Among those are the roundtrips to Norwegian Fjords (along Norway's western coastline) and Scandinavia (visiting ports in Norway, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Russia). Cruises leaving out of Copenhagen comprise ~45% of the ship calls. Copenhagen is also a significant port of call on Christmas holiday voyages leaving from UK ports.

In April 2017, the Swedish Maritime Administration permitted Copenhagen Malmo Port to receive large-sized cruise vessels. The previous constraint on ships visiting Malmo was for vessels with LOA length 240 m (787 ft). 

In 2016-Q3 were carried out extensive simulations in Gothenburg Sweden in order to ascertain whether it's possible Port Malmo to handle larger-sized vessels. Simulations were conducted over several days with different types of vessels in different weather conditions and wind forces. A total of 18 berthings (dockings) were performed. The conclusion was that it is possible ships to maneuver in the cruise port at max speed 3 kn (5,6 kph / 3,5 mph) and side winds up to 36 kph (22 mph) without any pilot boat assistance. However, there is a wind speed restriction during maiden ship visits - 29 kph (18 mph). The newly allowed max LOA length for cruise ships in Port Malmo is 300 m (985 ft).

In early-October 2019, CMP and the Danish company DFDS Seaways signed a deal to construct a shoreside power facility at Indiakaj/Sondre Frihavn (free port). By this project (inaugurated on October 26, 2021), two DFDS-owned cruiseferries (Crown Seaways and Pearl Seaways) were able to receive dockside electricity (from the city's power grid) when berthed. Both ships were deployed on the Norway-Denmark route Oslo-Copenhagen. For the project were contracted Actemium SAS (Sweden, parent company VINCI Energies SA//design and building) and COWI AS (Denmark/technical advisor). Shore power for cruise ships in Copenhagen is available since 2024. The other Danish cruise port with shore power capabilities is Aarhus (since 2023).

In May 2024 started the construction of Port Copenhagen's second shore power facility planned for completion in 2025. By design, it can provide electricity to two cruise ships docking simultaneously at Oceankaj and Langelinie (via 2 out of 5 connection points) with max power supply capacity 16 MVA. For the Port's second/newest shore power facility were contracted Entreprenorfirmaet Nordkysten AS (construction company) and PowerCon AS (engineering and manufacturing company).

Cruise itineraries to and from Copenhagen Denmark

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Copenhagen:

• Roundtrip Baltic cruise itineraries leaving from Copenhagen visit Norway (Norwegian Fjords), Scandinavia and Russia (overnight stay in St Petersburg), Iceland (with Faroe Islands). Most round-trips from Copenhagen are to Norway (7-days in length) operated during summer.
• Transatlantic crossings on repositioning cruises from Copenhagen to USA and Canada-New England are one-way itineraries offered at the end of the season (late August and September). These are westbound ship relocation routes and often include stops in Iceland and Greenland, also in UK (England, Scotland, Ireland) and end in NYC New York.

Ship relocation voyages (Baltic to Mediterranean) leaving from Copenhagen are offered mostly by Costa and MSC ships, repositioning to their turnaround ports in Italy (Savona, Genoa, Civitavecchia-Rome, Venice).

Copenhagen cruise port

The Port's cruise shipping business generates around 4000 local jobs and contributes USD 192+ million to city's economy.

• (statistics) The Port's cruise traffic grew from 173 ship calls (2002) to 368 (2011). The visiting passengers increased from 175000 (2002) to 820000 (2011).
• (statistics 2012) the port set a record with 376 cruise ship calls (vessels by 38 companies) that brought 840,000+ passengers and ~240,000 crew. Of all visiting passengers, 27% were from Germany, 17% from North America (USA and Canada), 13% from UK, 10% from Italy and Spain.
• (statistics 2013) During 2013 season, Malmo Port handled 357 ship calls (71 different cruise liners by 38 companies), over 835000 passengers, 230000 crew.
• (statistics) during peak season, the port receives daily up to 7 cruise liners with over 25000 passengers and 8000 crew.
• (statistics 2016) In late-February 2016, Copenhagen Malmo Port announced a 9% increase (over 2015) in visiting cruise tourists (740,000 projected, based on berth bookings). Of all ship calls, 47% were roundtrips. Season 2016 had booked 304 ship calls (67 vessels from 35 companies). The single-day record was in June - 7 ships with 24,000 passengers and 7,000 crew. After finishing season 2016, Malmo Port reported total 311 ship calls with ~732,000 cruisers.
• In 2017, the port handled 325 cruise ship calls and 850,000+ passengers. For the summer here was homeported one of NCL's largest vessels - Norwegian Getaway. The ship replaced here the smaller Norwegian Star and carries nearly 1000 more passengers (3957, max capacity 4819). The new deployment resulted in ~36,000 more cruise passenger movements for the port. Ship disembarkation is between 7-11 am, and the afternoon embarkation starts in 12-noon till 5 pm (departure). In that time period, the cruise port handles ~12,000 suitcases, 15 large trucks deliver provisions for the cruise vessel, 40 tour buses serve the passengers, together with around 800 taxis, plus public transportation (bus, train, metro). According to Copenhagen Malmo Port's CEO, the increased NCL cruise passenger number generated additional revenue of around EUR 7,3 million (USD 8,7 million).
• In 2017, the port reported a record year with handled 325 cruise ship calls (by 72 different vessels and 36 companies) and 849,000 passengers. Of all visits (16% increase over 2016), 153 were turnaround/roundtrips. Of all the 72 ships, 55 were large-sized.
• (statistics 2018) the port handled 346 ship calls and ~850,000 cruise passengers.

In 2019, the Port had scheduled 352 ship calls (including 165 turnarounds) with estimated 750,000+ cruisers and economic impact ~EUR 200 million. On May 20th were handled 6 liners with ~24,000 passengers (plus 8000 crew). Malmo Port's largest cruise vessel so far is MSC Meraviglia (capacity 4488 passengers plus 1536 crew). In 2019, the liner visited Copenhagen 22 times.

Following the COVID crisis, in 2022 the cruise port handled 326 ship calls (out of Denmark's 592 total).

In 2023, the Port had booked 290 cruise ship berthings (out of Denmark's 432 total) including 9 maiden/first-time visits. In 2023, CMP (Malmo+Copenhagen=Visby) handled 389 cruise ship calls and ~940,000 tourists.

Copenhagen cruise terminal

Copenhagen tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• The Little Mermaid: one of the most famous attractions, 100-year old sculpture of the Little Mermaid
• Nyhavn: here used to be Hans Christian Andersen home, a perfect place to visit, especially in the evening.
• Stroget: the biggest shopping area right in the Copenhagen’s heart.
• Christiania: Copenhagen Freetown
• Tivoli Gardens: great place for children or for adults who enjoy playing, situated close to the City Hall
• Bakken: or Dyrehavsbakken, the oldest (426 years old) amusement park in the world
• Zoo: meet polar bears, North Atlantic seals and birds at the Copenhagen Zoo.
• The National Museum: explore Modern Danish History, the Renaissance, the Middle Ages, the Viking Age and the Stone Age exhibitions.
• The Round Tower: the oldest observatory in function in Europe, dating since 17th century
• The National Gallery of Denmark: or Statens Museum for Kunst in the biggest art museum in Denmark. Explore gorgeous art collections for the past 700 years.
• Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek: Carl Jacobsen, a famous brewer, founded it in 1888.
• Rosenborg Castle: built by Christian IV one of the famous cultural treasures in Denmark.
• Visit Carlsberg: situated in Valby, Copenhagen. This is the first first Carlsberg Brewery. Explore the steps for making the famous Carlsberg Beer.
• Botanical Garden: 10 hectares, situated at the city center made in 1874.
• Museums: the National History Museum of Denmark, the National History Museum of Denmark, Amalienborg Museum, ARKEN Museum of Modern Art, The Viking Ship Museum
• Tycho Brahe Planetarium: a family educational place with exhibitions and movies.
• National Aquarium Denmark: the biggest aquarium in North Europe