A highly successful premiere! That was the unanimous verdict in summer 2008 after the floating stars of the first Hamburg Cruise Days had transformed the Elbe River into a giant, glittering open air stage, much to the delight of more than half a million from all over the world. One spectacular highlight was the light installation Blue Port by the artist Michael Batz, who lit up the city on the Elbe – from the HafenCity right the way down to Neumühlen – in luminous blue: the colour of the sky, the ocean and of longing.

Two years later, from 30 July - 1 August 2010, the maritime event took place for the second, equally successful time. This time round the ships included the liners AIDAaura, AIDAluna, MS/ASTOR, MS COLUMBUS, the DEUTSCHLAND and Mein Schiff. The 2010 event again featured the harbourside illuminations Blue Port as a link between the port, the cruise ships and the city’s visitors.

The success story of the Hamburg Cruise Days also reflects Hamburg’s rapidly growing significance as a port of call for large cruise ships: since 2008 the number of cruise ships stopping off in Hamburg has risen steadily. Only recently a second cruise terminal was opened in Altona, giving the Port of Hamburg even more berths for these ocean-going giants.