Tuesday, March 6, 2012 - 15:35 by ce-press
Aurland Harbor Authority (AHA) is expanding the cruise terminal in Flam to improve crew facilities at the pier. From May 2012, the terminal building will house an indoor crew lounge with a free and improved Wi-Fi zone as well as toilet facilities.
The Norwegian port is expecting 151 calls and 205,000 passengers this year. Nine ships will be calling for the first time: MSC Magnifica, Pullmantur’s Empress, Costa Fortuna, Celebrity Eclipse, Caribbean Princess, P&O Cruises’ Adonia, Clipper Odyssey, Caledonian Sky and Compagnie du Ponant’s Le Boreal.
AHA includes Flam, Aurland and Gudvangen. While Flam has the most calls at 151, Gudvangen is expecting 60 this year and Aurland, just 8km from Flam, is just beginning to book calls. For 2013 there are six calls booked and this number is expected to increase when Flam becomes fully booked.
In Aurland ships have to tender but the shops are just five minutes walk from the tender pier. An Eco Museum and show factory have recently opened in Aurland, the only one in Norway. There is also a 12th century stone church that can be visited.