Exhilarating holidays on cruise ships from Hamburg

The Port of Hamburg is one of Germany's most popular attractions. It is the abode of luxury liners and many cruises to popular destinations, especially to northern European and Scandinavian countries such as Norway and Scotland, depart from the city

Ricardo Carvalho

Cruise ship terminals in Hamburg

With more than eight million containers being shipped yearly, the Port of Hamburg is among the nine largest container harbours in the world. There are also two cruise terminals near the Landungsbrücken promenade. The HafenCity Cruise Centre attracts visitors with its unusual architecture and provides space to berth two colossal cruise liners side by side. You can climb to the top of the Altona Cruise Centre to enjoy spectacular views of the cruise ships docked in the Hamburg port.

High tech cruise ships in Hamburg

From early April to late October holidaymakers in Hamburg can enjoy fast and interesting daily trips on the Halunder Jet, a large modern catamaran. The catamaran has two decks with huge windows that afford passengers panoramic views of the river Elbe and the North Sea. You can step out on to the open deck to enjoy the sea breeze or you can enjoy the comfort of soft armchairs in the air conditioned lounges. Equipped with a motion dampening system that keeps the ship stable even in rough seas, passengers are ensured of a pleasant and comfortable sailing experience. The safety standards of this cruise ship from Hamburg are high tech with the most up-to-date night vision and evacuation systems.

Cruise ships viewing points in Hamburg

Watching the cruise ships in Hamburg is an enthralling experience for the locals as well as holidaymakers alike. In fact many visitors plan the itinerary based on the stopovers of famed cruise ships like the Queen Mary 2 or the Europa. You can get a good view of the harbour from the tower of the Nikolaikirche. Visit the fish market in Altona to buy some of the fresh catch and enjoy views of incoming ships to the Port of Hamburg. The St. Pauli Landungsbrücken, Park Fiction in St. Pauli and the tower of St. Michaelis church are the other popular cruise ship viewing points in Hamburg.

Luxury and innovation at its finest: A royal reception

If you come across dramatic firework displays and multitudes of jubilant admirers greeting a cruise ship arrival in Hamburg, you can be sure the Queen Mary 2 has arrived in town. The Queen Mary 2 is one of the largest ocean liners ever built. This ocean liner is built differently from the other cruise ships as it was designed to make regular transatlantic voyages. With gas turbines to enhance the power from the ship's diesels, the ship also uses integrated electric propulsion to achieve its top speed of 26 to 30 knots. The Queen Mary 2 is the first cruise ship to feature a planetarium on board. Its amenities include five swimming pools, 15 restaurants and bars, ballrooms and theatres.
One of the most luxurious ships in the world, the EUROPA 2 is famed for its innovative and ecologically conscious technology. This cruise ship sports a new concept of ‘no cabins’ inside the ship. Despite the colossal size of this cruise ship it limits its passengers to a mere 516 to offer them the maximum space. The passengers are provided with elite suites with verandas. The EUROPA 2 has unique facilities including a large spa and a fitness area.
Whether you are just planning on enjoying a day trip or embarking on a transatlantic crossing, the port city of Hamburg is a point of departure for destinations far and wide.

Author: Ricardo Carvalho

Guest Relation Manager of NH Collection Hamburg City

In Hamburg we say “Moin”! My name is Ricardo Carvalho and I'm a “Hamburg Jung” (Hamburg boy) with Portuguese roots. I was born here, and I live in and love Hamburg.
In order to share my enthusiasm for the city, I started training as a hotel specialist at the NH Hamburg Altona in 2007, and moved to the NH Collection Hamburg City in 2015.
With the philosophy of the NH Collection brand as well as the special service Guest Relations offers I have found my perfect job! I am always happy to show my guests the most beautiful city in the world and enjoy making their visit to Hamburg as memorable as possible.

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