Nine foreign cruise vessels will make port call in Murmansk in 2012. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The port of Murmansk is not a widely famous cruise destination, but so far nine foreign flagged passenger vessels have announced that they will make port call in the world’s largest city north of the Arctic Circle in 2012.
The cruise vessels will come to Murmansk from mid-June till mid-August, the period when the sun never sets in Murmansk.
An overview of the different cruise vessel arrivals to Murmansk is published by Cruise Port Barents. The largest vessel is “MS Discovery” with 780 passengers, but also smaller exclusive vessels like the “MS Island Sky” and “MS Silver Explorer” will make port call in Murmansk.
A challenge for Murmansk as a cruise vessel destination is the current legislation that forbids foreign flagged vessels to arrive in the central passenger harbor close to the city centre. Here, only Russian passenger vessels are allowed, while the foreign cruise vessels have to sail to the less attractive fishery harbor south of the centre.
All of the vessels sails the coast of northern Norway or Svalbard before arrival in Murmansk. A few of the vessels will continue to the White Sea area and visits the Solovetsky Islands and the Pomor capital Arkhangelsk.
Cruise vessel at port in Arkhangelsk. Photo: Thomas Nilsen
The most famous cruise from Murmansk takes place with the nuclear powered icebreaker “50 Years of Victory.” The icebreaker sails from Murmansk on July 20th next summer for a two week expedition to the North Pole, according to the agency that promotes the voyage.
