You might find Norwegian Cruise Line's latest home port surprising

Would you consider a cruise that departs from Helsinki?

Norwegian Cruise Line is banking on it.

On Thursday, the world's third-largest cruise brand announced plans for summer voyages departing from the Finnish capital—an offering that nearly no other line provides.

Starting in 2026, these sailings will mark the first time Norwegian has launched cruises from Helsinki in the brand's 58-year history, placing it among the few lines that have ever done so.

In the upcoming year, only one small cruise line, France-based Ponant Cruises, will operate a limited number of cruises from Helsinki, while another small brand, Windstar Cruises, has scheduled a brief series of three sailings from Helsinki in 2026.

In its online announcement, Norwegian stated that the 1,936-passenger Norwegian Sun will embark on Baltic voyages from Helsinki starting in June 2026 and running through October 2026.

These cruises will last between seven to ten nights and primarily feature one-way routes to Copenhagen, including stops at ports in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany.

One of the final sailings of the season will be a one-way journey from Helsinki to Southampton, England.

Helsinki is commonly a stop on Baltic cruise itineraries, but it has not typically served as a departure point. Most Baltic cruises begin or conclude in major European ports like Copenhagen, Southampton, and Amsterdam.

Norwegian's introduction of Baltic cruises from Helsinki will notably enable travelers to enjoy extended Baltic experiences, blending several days of land exploration in Helsinki and its surroundings with a cruise around the region.

These journeys are likely to attract cruisers looking to spend more time in Helsinki and its surroundings, compared to the limited hours usually allotted during typical Baltic cruises.

The new summer sailings for 2026 will feature:

• Seven-night voyages from Helsinki to Copenhagen, stopping at Tallinn, Estonia; Stockholm; Klaipeda, Lithuania; Gdynia, Poland; Warnemünde, Germany (providing access to Berlin); and Kiel, Germany (for tours to Hamburg, Germany)
• Nine-night voyages from Helsinki to Copenhagen with stops at the same six ports
• A single 10-night journey from Helsinki to Southampton, including calls at Tallinn, Stockholm, Klaipeda, Gdynia, Warnemünde, Kiel, and Copenhagen

Alongside the new sailings from Helsinki to Copenhagen, the Norwegian Sun will also run one-way journeys back from Copenhagen to Helsinki from June 2026 to October 2026, visiting the same ports.

These one-way trips from Copenhagen will provide cruisers the opportunity to extend their stay in Finland at the conclusion of their voyages.

For the summer of 2026, Norwegian Sun will be one of eight Norwegian ships operating in Europe. These trips will start and end at 11 different embarkation ports, which include Helsinki, Copenhagen, and Southampton, as well as Le Havre, France; Barcelona; Ravenna and Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) in Italy; and Istanbul.

Other home ports in Europe for 2026 will feature Piraeus, Greece (serving Athens).

Among other unique new sailings for 2026 are 10- and 11-day voyages between Reykjavik and Southampton, allowing passengers to enhance their cruise experience with a land stay in Iceland. These voyages will be operated on the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star.

On select voyages between Reykjavik and Southampton, the Norwegian Star will make a stop at Leirvik, Norway — marking another first in Norwegian's 58-year history.

Norwegian Star's 11-day sailings to Iceland will also feature an overnight stay in Reykjavik.

Prices for the new Baltic sailings departing from Helsinki start at $1,387 per person, which includes taxes and fees for a seven-night journey.