“Cool water cruising” is attracting a record number ofEuropean holidaymakers this year, with double-digit growth forecast for thenumber of passengers booking cruises to the Arctic regions, the Norwegianfjords, and the British Isles in 2012, according to new data compiled for CLIAand the European Cruise Council (ECC).

The number of passengers cruising the Arctic region,including Iceland, is expected to rise 37% compared with last year, the datashow. Cruises to the Norwegian fjords are likely to see a 29% rise in numbersof passengers. The British Isles are also forecast to see strong growth in thenumber of cruise passengers, up 16%, while the Baltic Sea, which accounts forthe largest number of cruises in the region, is expecting a 6% increase.

 Overall, according to the data prepared by G.P. Wild(International) for CLIA and the ECC, a total 1.49 million cruise passengersare expected this year in the Northern European region, up 16%  from 1.28 million last year.

Bo Larsen, director of Cruise Baltic, an association of 25Baltic Sea destinations and a partner to the European Cruise Council, said: “The Northern European cruise market isgrowing rapidly, benefitting both from the region’s newly extended range ofdestinations and also from the cruise lines’ desire to extend their season herewell into the colder months of the year.

“Northern Europe has become amust-visit region for international cruise passengers, attracted by its diverseand impressive attractions, including world-class cities, small towns andhidden gems, and of course its breathtaking natural beauty,”he added.

In all, cruise ships from a total 44 cruise lines serve atotal 253 ports in the Northern European region, of which 52 are in the Baltic,78 in Norway and the Arctic region, and 123 in North Western Europe (includingthe British Isles, North Sea and Atlantic ports).