Estonia, Good for Business, Port, Tourism, Transport

"Since the agreement is so fresh, I can't tell you now what company it is and what our price offer was," AS Parnu Sadam member of the supervisory board Kaspar Kokk told BNS. He said the company has confirmed that the first cruise ship will call in Parnu in 2017.

Although the arrangement is not final, it is expected that the boat about 100 meters long will set out from Riga, make a stopover in Parnu and proceed to Saaremaa.

"For us it's very important that we get on the map at last," Kokk said. "At least we're getting our first ship and there is never a second without a first," Kokk said.

Kokk told BNS at the end of September the cruise ship operator Silver Sea, which operates cruises to Tallinn, is considering the possibility of picking the southwestern Estonian sea resort Parnu as a destination and has sent to the port of Parnu price inquiries concerning three different vessels for 2016.

"We've been approached by the ship agent Inflot, which as far as I know has the biggest number of cruise ship operators as customers in the Baltic Sea," Kokk said, adding that the port company has sent its price offer to Inflot.

Kokk said that for the port company 2016 seemed too close, as in the cruise business plans are made for a longer period ahead. However, if Silver Sea wishes its ships to make a stopover in Parnu next summer they will have the possibility to do it.

Kokk said it was initially a goal for the port company to get the first cruise ships in Parnu in 2016, but this was later adjourned until 2017.