Norwegian Cruise Line's newest home port might surprise you
Would you sign up for a cruise that starts in Helsinki?
Norwegian Cruise Line is betting on it.
The world's third-largest cruise brand on Thursday unveiled plans for summer voyages from the Finnish capital — something that almost no other line offers.
The sailings, which will kick off in 2026, will be the first Norwegian has offered from Helsinki in the 58-year history of the brand. They will also put it among a small number of lines that have ever offered cruises from Helsinki.
For the coming year, only one small cruise brand, France-based Ponant Cruises, will be operating cruises from Helsinki, and only a handful. One other small cruise brand, Windstar Cruises, plans a short series of three sailings from Helsinki in 2026.
In its announcement, which was posted online, Norwegian said the 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun would sail Baltic voyages out of Helsinki starting in June 2026 through October 2026.
Related: The 5 best places you can visit on a Norwegian ship
Ranging from seven to 10 nights, the sailings will mostly be one-way trips to Copenhagen that will include port stops in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany.
One of the sailings, at the end of the season, will be a one-way trip from Helsinki to Southampton, England.
Related: Baltic vs. Mediterranean: Which European cruise should you choose?
Helsinki is often a port stop on Baltic cruises, but it's traditionally not been a home port. Baltic cruises typically start or end in European cruise hubs such as Copenhagen, Southampton and Amsterdam.
Norwegian's launch of Baltic cruises from Helsinki will, notably, allow cruisers to create extended Baltic trips that combine several days of exploring Helsinki and its surroundings by land with a sailing around the region.
The trips will likely appeal to cruisers who want to spend more time in Helsinki and its surroundings than the few hours in the city that are typically included in a Baltic cruise.
The new sailings for the summer of 2026 include:
- Seven-night voyages from Helsinki to Copenhagen with calls at Tallinn, Estonia; Stockholm; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Gdynia, Poland; Warnemunde, Germany (from which cruisers can reach Berlin); and Kiel, Germany (for tours to Hamburg, Germany)
- Nine-night voyages from Helsinki to Copenhagen with calls at the same six ports
- A single 10-night sailing from Helsinki to Southampton with calls at Tallinn, Stockholm, Klaipeda, Gdynia, Warnemunde, Kiel and Copenhagen
In tandem with the new sailings from Helsinki to Copenhagen, Norwegian Sun also will operate one-way sailings back from Copenhagen to Helsinki from June 2026 to October 2026. The sailings will visit the same ports.
The one-way voyages from Copenhagen will allow cruisers to add extra days in Finland to the end of their voyages.
Related: Why your next dream trip should be a Norwegian cruise in Europe
Norwegian Sun will be among eight Norwegian ships operating in Europe for the summer of 2026. The trips will begin and end at 11 different embarkation ports that — in addition to Helsinki, Copenhagen and Southampton — include Le Havre, France; Barcelona; Ravenna and Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) in Italy; and Istanbul.
Other home ports in Europe for 2026 will include Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens).
Among other unusual new sailings planned for 2026 are 10- and 11-day voyages between Reykjavik and Southampton that will allow passengers to extend their cruise vacations with a land stay in Iceland. The voyages will take place on the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star.
During some of the voyages between Reykjavik and Southampton, Norwegian Star will stop at Leirvik, Norway — another first in Norwegian's 58-year history.
Norwegian Star's 11-day Iceland sailings also will include an overnight stay in Reykjavik.
Fares for the new Baltic sailings out of Helsinki start at $1,387 per person, including taxes and fees for a seven-night trip.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.