Sikuki Nuuk Harbour has become the first port in Greenland to join Cruise Europe, strengthening its position as a growing cruise destination on the country’s west coast. Located in an ice-free area of the Arctic, the port is able to support year-round maritime operations and is developing its infrastructure to accommodate an expanding cruise and expedition market.
Cruise tourism already represents a significant component of Greenland’s wider foreign tourism economy. An independent study commissioned by Visit Greenland and conducted by Ramboll found that cruise activity generated approximately DKK765 million (EUR102 million), equivalent to 40% of the sector’s total DKK1.9 billion turnover. Expedition cruising accounted for DKK501 million of that amount, while conventional cruise operations contributed DKK264 million.
The market has gained additional momentum since the opening of Nuuk International Airport in November 2024 and the introduction of turnaround operations at Sikuki Nuuk Harbour in 2025. The airport provides year-round direct connections with Copenhagen through Air Greenland and Reykjavik through Icelandair, while United Airlines operates a seasonal service to Newark.
Sikuki Nuuk Harbour handled 78 cruise calls carrying 43,670 passengers in 2025, including 27 turnaround calls operated by companies such as Viking and Hurtigruten. This compared with 62 calls and 37,574 passengers in 2024. Although the number of calls is expected to fall to 48 this year, including 27 turnarounds, the port is forecasting a return to 70 calls and 45 turnaround operations next year.
Expedition vessels carrying up to ~600 passengers account for most of the port’s cruise traffic, although Nuuk also receives larger conventional cruise ships operated by brands including AIDA Cruises, NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Cruise activity represented around 38% of vessel-related revenue at Sikuki Nuuk Harbour in 2025, making it the port’s largest individual vessel-related income category. It accounted for ~6% of the harbour’s overall turnover, with the majority of total revenue generated through the long-term lease of the container terminal.
Sikuki Nuuk Harbour CEO John Rasmussen said the economic contribution from cruise had increased substantially over recent years and was becoming comparable with fishing in terms of port revenue. He also noted that cruise activity was generating additional employment and economic activity in Nuuk, giving the sector greater importance to the local economy.
The main cruise berth is Atlantkaj, which measures 100 metres in length and has a depth of 10 metres. Although the quay itself is 100 metres long, it can accommodate vessels of up to 300 metres in length overall. The nearby Feederkaj measures 40 metres and has a depth of 6.5 metres, making it more suitable for smaller expedition vessels. Both quays are approximately one kilometre from central Nuuk, with shuttle services available when required.
A newly constructed turnaround terminal at the harbour provides facilities for passport control, immigration and baggage handling, with operations coordinated directly with the airport. The facility also includes an information centre, small local souvenir shops and public toilets.
The port is undergoing a further expansion involving 350 metres of new quay. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the project will move commercial vessel operations away from the existing cruise berths, allowing Atlantkaj and Feederkaj to become dedicated cruise facilities.
Nuuk also offers an anchorage outside the harbour in Malene Bay. From the anchorage, tenders can reach a dedicated landing quay near Feederkaj in ~5 minutes.
Bunkering and potable water are available at the port. Waste handling remains more restricted, however, and the harbour would prefer visiting vessels to remove their waste from the Arctic because existing incineration capacity is insufficient to process large volumes.
Shore power is also being considered for future development. The electricity supply in Nuuk is generated from hydropower, and the port already provides shore power to some commercial vessels. However, Sikuki Nuuk Harbour does not currently regard cruise shore power as an immediate priority and expects the infrastructure to develop at a later stage.
Two port agents, Eimskip and Blue Water Shipping, currently represent vessels calling at Nuuk. On the destination management side, principal operators include DMC Nordic, Tupilak Travel and Greenland Excursions.
The most established shore excursions focus on Nuuk and its surrounding fjord system. Boat excursions explore the Nuuk Fjord, including routes toward the ice fjord and Sermitsiaq massif, while seasonal whale-watching trips operate in Nuup Kangerlua, where humpback, fin and minke whales can be encountered. City and cultural tours typically include the Greenland National Museum, which houses the Qilakitsoq mummies, the colonial harbour district, Nuuk Art Museum and Katuaq Culture House.
Hiking on Store Malene and Ukkusissat is also becoming increasingly popular among expedition passengers. Shore activities are coordinated locally, primarily through Visit Nuuk and local excursion operators.
Sikuki Nuuk Harbour compliance manager Mikkel Nonboe Sorensen said Nuuk itself was straightforward for cruise passengers to explore independently. The main cruise quays are within walking distance of the city centre, while local buses provide additional transport. Museums, cafés, restaurants and shops are concentrated in the central area. Travel beyond Nuuk and its immediate fjord environment is more complex because Greenlandic towns are not connected by roads, requiring boats or aircraft for longer-distance travel.
Membership of Cruise Europe forms part of Sikuki Nuuk Harbour’s strategy to expand Greenland’s cruise business and strengthen cooperation with other European ports. Rasmussen said participation in an international network would allow the port to exchange operational knowledge and experience while contributing its own expertise as the cruise sector develops in Greenland.
Sikuki Nuuk Harbour has previously participated in Seatrade Global in Miami and plans to return to the event next year. It also intends to attend the Cruise Europe Conference in Bergen in May and is a member of Cruise Islands of the North Atlantic, which organizes an annual breakfast meeting during Seatrade Global.