Saaremaa Tour Operators Struggle to Accommodate Cruise Ships
At least two fewer cruise ships will call at Saaremaa ports this year after passengers from past cruises voiced dissatisfaction with the local guide service.
The Port of Tallinn's cruise ship division director Sirle Arro told the island's daily newspaper Saarte Hääl that Saaremaa will be omitted from the schedule as passengers gave the island the lowest rating.
Arro said the drawbacks cited were the distance between the port and the sights and shortage of good guides. She added that there were also many passengers who said they were quite satisfied.
Local tour operators are considered to face challenges in providing top of the line transport and guide service to close to a 1,000 disembarking cruise ship tourists, who are typically older people used to premium, all-amenities services.
Margus Mölder, head of Arensburgi Reisid, which provides programs for such tourists, said they are unable to handle 1,000 tourists and offer them 30 good, well-trained guides. Buses, he said, need to be upgraded as well.
Kristopher Rikken