Swedish cruise tourism sees significant summer increase

Cruise traffic to Swedish ports has seen a significant upward trend during the 2026 summer season, marking a reversal of the decline experienced in recent years. According to Sjöfartsverket, the number of cruise calls between May and August increased by 9 percent compared to the same period last year, totaling 257 calls.

Passenger volumes also rose by approximately 12 percent, reaching nearly 650,000 people. This recovery follows a period of stagnation caused by the security situation in the Baltic Sea following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Nynäshamn recorded the most dramatic growth, with cruise calls increasing by over 600 percent compared to the previous year. Other notable ports included Stockholm, Visby, and Karlskrona, which all saw increases in traffic. This maritime growth aligns with record-breaking figures for Swedish tourism, including hotel stays and foreign visitor numbers reported by Visit Sweden and Tillväxtverket.