BETTER NUMBERS FOR TALLINK GROUP
Cruise industries have started to recover from Covid-19 problems in Northern Europe , too .
For instance , the cruise ferry company Tallink Group that operates largely in the Baltic Sea region announced in April an increase in the number of cruise passengers in the first quarter of 2022 , compared to the same period in the year 2021 .
From January to March , the company carried a total of 720,261 passengers . This means an increase of 169.5 percent from Q1 / 2021 .
” Of course , the numbers of passengers are still lower than in the pre-pandemic era , but things are gradually beginning to go in the right direction ,” notes Ms . Marika Nöjd , Communications Director for Tallink Silja Oy .
” Some of our routes – e . g . between Stockholm and Riga – have not yet been opened after the pandemic , while some others now have only reduced traffic . At the moment , only one ship is operational on the route between Stockholm and Tallinn .”
However , Tallink Silja ’ s routes from Finland to Sweden and Estonia are being operated normally .
” In April 2022 , our routes between Finland and Estonia carried 250,000 passengers , while three years earlier – in April 2019 – the number was 390,000 . We still have some catching up to do , but the passenger numbers are on a steady upward curve ,” explains Nöjd .
RAPID RECOVERIES
On cruise ferry routes between Finland and Sweden , the passenger numbers yield even more evidence of imminent recovery .
” For April 2022 , passengers on these routes totaled 175,000 , whereas in April 2019 Tallink Silja ’ s cruise ships carried 240,000 passengers . Here , things are looking up already ,” Nöjd rejoices .
” Towards the summer , the cruise line business will undoubtedly recover even more rapidly . As we speak , passenger reservations for the summer are being made at a good pace . Besides , many passengers typically will reserve the cruise at the last moment .”
Many of Tallink Group ’ s cruise line routes are relatively short in duration . Even if another Covid-19 surge should appear within the next months , it would not interrupt the cruises as seriously as would be the case for the operators of intercontinental cruises .
” If passengers stay on board for a two-night cruise , no long-term isolations or quarantines would be necessary ,” Nöjd expects .
Also , more and more passengers now have full vaccination coverage . This , too , has reduced the need for new quarantines .
NEW CRUISE SHIP FOR AUTUMN 2022
When the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the cruise business , Tallink Silja sold or leased out some of the company ’ s cruise ships , though not those utilised on the most popular routes .
” However , Rauma Marine Constructions RMC shipyard in Rauma , Finland , is already making the finishing touches on our new cruise ship , M / S MyStar . She will be delivered in early autumn of 2022 and will start operations on the Helsinki to Tallinn route ,” Nöjd recounts .
The new ship will operate along Tallink ’ s current ship M / S Megastar that started her cruises in early 2017 .
” At the moment , we have no other plans for ordering cruise ships , but this new vessel will prepare us for the postpandemic future . Come what may , we are facing it with careful optimism ,” asserts Nöjd . n
12 seatec 3 / 2022