The number of people travelling onboard Tallink Grupp’s fleet has shown a strong recovery in 2022 with an 84.4% increase in annual passengers (5,462,085) across all the company’s routes, compared to the full year 2021 (2,961,975).

The figures, published today, show an ‘improvement after the last two Covid years’, despite ‘global economic and security challenges’ and six of its vessels being chartered out by the fourth quarter of the year.

“We have not seen passenger figures exceeding four million in the last two years, so although the 5.5 million carried in 2022 is still not comparable to pre-Covid numbers, we are very pleased with this outcome for 2022,” said Paavo Nõgene, CEO, Tallink Grupp.

“With six ships less in regular operations during the last quarter of the year, due to charter agreements and important war relief support, it is close to the maximum that could have been achieved during the year when Covid subsided, but even worse geopolitical crises arose.”

The company, which has a 15-strong fleet and operates routes under the brands of Tallink and Silja Line in the northern Baltic Sea region, has experienced a rise in passenger numbers on all of its current regular routes – Finland-Sweden, Estonia-Finland and Estonia-Sweden – compared to 2021.

The greatest year-on-year increase of 96% has been noted on its Finland-Sweden routes, with a total of 1,859,209 passengers carried in 2022.

The Estonia-Sweden route follows closely behind, with a 93.4% yoy increase and a total of 482,345 people transported.

The Estonia-Finland route delivered a 76.9% rise with 3,120,531 annual passengers.

“It has taken a great deal of effort from everyone in Tallink, both on shore and on board, to return people to the ships after the pandemic and keep them sailing through geopolitical storms and an uncertain and challenging economic outlook,” said Nõgene.

“It has been a valiant team effort carried on from the Covid years, which makes me very proud to work with the people we have in Tallink Grupp.

“I am also grateful to our loyal customers for finding their way back to us after some years apart and for their continuing faith in us, which enables us to continue rebuilding our business one step at a time.”

MyStar unveils retail experience featuring leading brands

Tallink Grupp’s new flagship, fast ferry MyStar (docked at Port of Tallinn, Estonia) set off on its first commercial voyage on 13 December 2022, journeying from Tallinn to Helsinki.

The hi-tech, energy efficient fast ferry has the capacity to carry 2,800 passengers and offers an exciting onboard retail experience.

There is a pop-up Promotional Area, giving beauty, food and drink and technology brands an opportunity to showcase their products and invite passengers to experience them first-hand.

The featured brands are changed regularly, offering passengers a regular dose of newness.

READ MORE: Shoppers to experience retail on fast ferry MyStar as operations set to begin

There’s also a luxury Traveller Superstore onboard, offering a mixture of leading beauty, fashion and beverage brands.

The department store style retail area extends through decks seven and eight of the ship and features brands including Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Furla, Moët Hennessy, Toblerone and more, as well as local and sustainable products.

The shop’s eighth deck houses a fashion pop-up while the seventh deck is home to the Promotional Area (mentioned above), as well as the Nordic Corner and Moomin World.

Wines and spirits are a focus throughout, with a range of top brands from around the world including Bacardi, Absolut Vodka, Beefeater, The Macallan, Remy Martin and Louise XIII cognacs, as well as a selection of champagnes.

As Nõgene said: “I am sure that our newest star of the Baltic Sea MyStar will find its own friends and fans in 2023 who will find their way to us again and again, but our customers’ other big favourites currently in regular operation Baltic Queen, Silja Serenade, Silja Symphony, Baltic Princess, Megastar, Star and their professional crew are also all  keen to welcome both old and new friends on board for the nicest little getaway, so we hope to see everyone on board in 2023.”