OREANDA-NEWS. May 20, 2011. The cruise vessel Princess Daphne open the cruise shipping season in Klaipeda. This vessel that had already called the seaport several times is 162,37 metres in length, 21,3 metres in width, with draught reaching up to 7,79 metres and accommodates 500 cruise passengers. Last year this vessel entered Klaipeda Port 6 times and this year 3 visits of this cruise ship are scheduled. The agent of the vessel flying the flag of Malta is SC „ Klaipeda Ship Repair“, reported the press-centre of Klaipeda Port.
 
The period of cruise season of 2011 will be longer nearly by a weak comparing with the previous year – it was start on the 14th of May (3 days earlier than in 2010) and will last up to the 25th of September (several days longer than the previous year). This year 36 cruise ships will call Klaipeda (last year this number was 45 ships).

There is a possibility that the number of cruise passengers during cruise shipping season will correspond to the indices of the last year. According to the statistic data of the previous year, 35 201 passengers visited Klaipeda in 2010. During the cruise season of this year 3 super liners over 200 metres in length will call Klaipeda Port: 290 metres in length Costa Pacifica flying the flag of Italy, 205 metres in length Albatros and 261 metres in length Adonia. 

Two new cruise ships will call Klaipeda Port for the first time: the pending visits of Costa Pacifica are scheduled for 3 times and 133 metres in length Seabourn Pride that has not been still sailing through the waterways of Southeast region of Asia will call Klaipeda Port 6 times. The Port Authority honours a pilot cruise by awarding the symbol of Klaipeda town.  The length of the aforementioned Costa Pacifica nearly equals to the largest cruise liner Constellation that wasreceived in Klaipeda Port in 2005. Characteristics of the largest cruise liner are as follows – the length is 294 metres, its beam is 32,2 metres and draft is up to 8,3 metres

The Cruise season of 2011 is to be a traditional one – travel agencies will invite folk music ensembles for the welcome of all cruise ships, in line agencies will suggest a traditional and popular excursion packet to cruise passengers and on the days the large cruise liners call the Port the folk – crafts fair will be organized in Teatro Square.
 
Lowered dues applied to cruise ships is the promotion of cruise shipping
Seeking to promote cruise shipping in one and only port of Lithuania amendments to Regulations on Application of Klaipeda State Seaport Dues creating more favourable conditions to cruise ships calling the Port were adopted: port dues applied to cruise ships were reduced by 20% to cruise ships calling the Port for the second and the third time throughout the calendar year; dues lower by 50% are to be applied to cruise ships from the fourth call to Klaipeda Port.

Furthermore, taking into account market changes and trying to attract new cruise ships to Klaipeda, this year the possibility to exempt from Port dues a cruise ship entering Klaipeda Port for the first time and to apply Port dues only for subsequent calls starting from 2013 should be considered.