Kristiansund’s port authority has made available an alternative cruise berth at Averøy (Norway), located roughly 20 minutes by road from the town centre, with tender operations also considered when conditions permit. The arrangement forms part of the regional contingency infrastructure used when vessels scheduled for Kristiansund are unable to enter the inner harbour due to weather or operational constraints.
According to the cruise and marketing manager for the Port of Kristiansund and Nordmøre, Erika Indergaard, the site is primarily intended as a fallback option for pre-booked calls that cannot be accommodated in the town centre. She noted that the objective is to retain cruise traffic within the wider region rather than redirecting vessels to neighbouring ports.
The Averøy berth is able to accommodate ships up to 340 metres in length, exceeding the 300-metre limitation of the central Kristiansund quays. However, operational planning remains ongoing regarding shore-side logistics, particularly the availability of buses for passengers who have not pre-arranged excursions. The port has indicated that maintaining adequate transport capacity is a continuing consideration when the berth is activated for cruise use.
The site is situated in an industrial zone with limited independent visitor infrastructure, although it provides direct maritime access and open views of the surrounding coastline. Indergaard has stated that a shuttle link to Kristiansund is regarded as necessary to ensure a satisfactory passenger experience, while also describing the facility as a practical alternative in periods when berth availability across the Kristiansund–Molde–Trondheim corridor is constrained.
The development of the Averøy option is also connected to routing changes introduced after the 2019 Viking Sky incident and subsequent regulatory adjustments to navigation zones in the region, which have increased sailing distances between Kristiansund and nearby ports such as Molde.
The berth itself is predominantly used for offshore maritime activity and holds ISPS certification, with cruise eligibility expected to follow formal approval procedures. Previous cruise use has been recorded, including a call by Fred Olsen Cruise Lines’ Bolette, and the port currently handles approximately 20 to 25 cruise vessel calls annually.