The cruise shipping sector in the Baltic Sea region has grown enormously in the last decade. From 2001 to 2013 cruise ship calls (visits by a cruise ship at a port) grew by a total of 59 % (1,601 to 2,552), and passenger visits increased by over 260 % (1.2 million to 4.4 million). Cruise tourism is expected to continue growing in the Baltic Sea region. Meeting the fast growing demand and the associated environmental requirements in the cruise sector in a strategic, sustainable manner is necessary. Because the “cruise product” is transnational by its nature, only a joint planning process of ports in the region will have lasting results.