Record Cruisers Invade Tallinn

The Port of Tallinn reported 416,000 cruise passengers in summer 2009--ten times higher than the previous summer's numbers and a record for the port. Visitors arrived in 310 cruise ships operated by 44 different cruise travel companies with passengers from 150 different countries. The roughly half-million visitors bought nearly the same number of bottles of Vana Tallinn liqueur, though most refused to drink it after removing the cap. Many reported giving it to grandchildren for use as glue in the assembly of model boats and airplanes.