European Cruise Service has been the main provider of cruise services for foreign cruise ships calling at Norwegian ports and fjords for more than 160 years. Currently we operate in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the UK, Ireland and Russia. You can benefit from our great experience, and be assured that we will meet and exceed your expectations.
Using our experience and knowledge accumulated over the last 160 years in Norway, we are in the process of building up the largest cruise service company in Northern Europe catering to both shore excursions and ships agency operations. Our intention is not to build a network of co-operating companies but instead to provide our own excellent local service from the ground up in combination with the most efficient administrative routines available.
We aim to offer you the best possible service, provided by a single, named contact who will look after your interests, from start to finish. This means you can be sure that an experienced staff member who understands your needs is available to talk whenever you need to.
This ensures that your passengers, ships and crew members are in best of hands. Whatever your requirements, you can be sure that we have the experience, ability and capacity to support you and to “Take You Further”.
SHIPAG – The best of two worlds
We combine the best of two worlds for our clients. We can offer a knowledgeable, modern and efficient operation from our headquarters in Bergen with regards to berth reservations, quality assurance and call costs − both in advance, during and after calls. In addition, we have an experienced core of local agents along the Norwegian and Swedish coasts to handle the day-to-day tasks during ships’ calls.
Network
We have our own representatives in the majority of the Norwegian ports − this ensures uniform service to your ships and quick follow-up on reporting from/to our main office in Bergen. No sub-agencies are involved, which ensures clear structure and flawless procedure. We also use local personnel with great knowledge of the port and destination.
In case of changes to itineraries due to weather/strikes/technical or any other factors, we can react quick and “turn things around”, both from a port agency and shorex point of view, and cooperate resourceful and fast between the two departments.
Our services include, but are not limited to:
- ships clearance
- pilot planning and cost estimates of different variations of inner lead / outer lead pilotage
- NOx Tax management
- crew movement arrangements
- medical follow-up and assistance for passengers and crew
- turnaround operations in all relevant ports
- specialist knowledge on Svalbard cruises
- 24/7 service from HQ in Bergen.
SHOREX – We keep your guests satisfied
We aim to offer tours that surpass your guests’ expectations. To reach this goal we have a team of highly qualified, dedicated and knowledgeable employees in our shore excursions department.
Our wide variety of shore excursions gives each guest the opportunity to enrich their cruise vacation, and make each port and excursion something to remember fondly.
The beauty and varied nature of Northern Europe is unparalleled in the world. Whether the course is set for the Fjords, the Stockholm Archipelago, the North Cape, wonderful Copenhagen, the Scottish Highlands, Spitsbergen or St Petersburg, your passengers will experience well organised excursions through areas with unspoiled nature, traditional culture and breathtaking vistas.
Northern Europe is more than nature: rich culture, tasty food, famous athletes and adventurers, combined with long interesting history and wonderful art.
Our services include, but are not limited to:
- tailor-made excursions, with personal contact timings and descriptions available for all excursions
- capacity tested in advance against other conflicting traffic
- unique availability of highly educated multilingual guide pool through our subsidiaries: Norwegian Guide Service; Oslo Guide Service; Guide Sør; Voss & Fjordane Guideservice; Møre & Trøndelag Guideservice; Arctic Guideservice
- safety management system − all ECS tours have been risk assessed
- FOC representatives can be made available onboard to assist with port lectures, dispatch, hospitality desk and more.
- detailed info on the various venues such as number of steps, thresholds, ground surface, seating capacity and more.
- 24 hours telephone service during the summer season and a well-staffed operation − both in the office and during dispatch on the piers.
Ground handling
ECS provides complete ground handling solutions for all kinds of cruise ships. From check-in, luggage transportation and passenger disembarkation and embarkation, to airport operations and meet and greet services.
ECS is a well experienced ground handling operator in Norway, Sweden and the UK. We are taking care that the ground handling logistics follow the design agreed with the cruise line in order to secure excellent results.
We are dedicated to delivering cost effective solutions to all shore-side ground handling challenges.
Our services include, but are not limited to:
- tailor-made shore excursions adjusted to flight arrival and departure times
- passenger transfer from/to port and airport
- highly experienced meet and greet staff on pier and at airport
- luggage transportation in sealed vehicles from ship to airport and vice versa
- multilingual check-in personnel
- close cooperation with port and airport authorities
- supervisors present at terminal, pier and airport
- pre and post cruise arrangements such as hotel bookings, shore excursions, private transfers etc
- 24-hour telephone service
- well-staffed operation – in ALL our offices and during turnaround operations both on pier and at airport.