Hamburg, 5 July 2023 – An event packed with emotion and unforgettable moments awaits visitors to the ninth Hamburg Cruise Days from 8 – 10 September 2023. Nine impressive cruise ships, the legendary Blue Port Hamburg and an engaging programme along the waterfront and on the river will be bringing a magical maritime atmosphere to Hamburg’s harbour. AIDA Cruises is on board again as the event’s Premium Partner.  

The Hamburg Cruise Days 2023 are gearing up to start, again promising to be an unforgettable event for cruise fans. From 8-10 September 2023, the harbour in Hamburg again becomes a stage for the glittering world of cruises. With a brilliant programme of information, entertainment, culture and gastronomy along the waterfront, and nine majestic cruise ships on the Elbe River, the “world’s most beautiful cruise festival” again invites visitors to join the inspiring journey – and dive into dreams of the ocean.  

Michael Otremba, managing director of Hamburg Tourismus: “The longing for a break from everyday life and for special experiences is one of the most powerful travel and leisure motives, especially in current times. Unique events like the Hamburg Cruise Days offer Hamburg residents and guests exactly that: the festival programme, the involvement of the cruise ships and the Blue Port make the port more tangible and experiential than anywhere else. Visitors can look forward to a unique atmosphere.”

Nine ships on three days – AIDA Cruises is the event’s Premium Partner

The Hamburg Cruise Days 2023 will feature nine very different ships, which visitors will be able to admire during the three-day event, ranging from majestic ocean cruisers and grand luxury liners to elegant expedition ships and agile river cruise boats: AIDAprima, AIDAperla and AIDAsol (all AIDA Cruises), MS Artania (Phoenix Reisen), Mein Schiff 6 (TUI Cruises), MS Thurgau Chopin (Thurgau Travel), MS Sans Souci (PLANTOURS Kreuzfahrten), VASCO DA GAMA and WORLD VOYAGER (both nicko cruises).

The organisers have teamed up with the Rostock-based cruise line AIDA Cruises as the premium partner for the sixth time. The cruise company is sending three ships from the AIDA fleet to the event and will be hosting the popular AIDA Holiday World on the event site. 

The AIDA Holiday World will be an absolute highlight for visitors and take all guests ashore on a journey through the world of cruises. Directly at Kehrwiederspitze, AIDA presents itself with its two-storey show cabin and a holiday world on 600 m² next to the river. You will find, for example, the AIDA kissing stop created with great attention to detail. The sustainable highlight: the entire holiday world is made from 95 percent reusable materials that can be reused for future events.

Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, comments: “AIDA has a long and trusted partnership with Hamburg and the Port of Hamburg. With more than 120 departures per year, we offer guests the greatest variety of voyages from the Hanseatic city and are thus, with our ships, guests and crew, not only a significant ambassador for the Gateway to the World, but also an important economic factor for the location. Cruising connects countries, cultures and people and creates emotions as well as lasting unique experiences like hardly any other form of holiday. The Hamburg Cruise Days transport this special spirit ashore for several days and thus inspire guests from all over the world.”

A world of excitement and inspiration along the waterfront

The Hamburg Cruise Days warmly invite visitors to enjoy some “shore leave”: on the event site between Landungsbrücken and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall the shore programme provides a hugely engaging mixture of culture, gastronomy, entertainment and activities for all generations. There will be showcases by the cruise lines AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises, MSC Kreuzfahrten, nicko cruises and the Cunard Line, including exciting promotions and special offers. The programme includes great shows, fine dining, interesting facts about cruises, destinations and travel opportunities, an adventure world for kids, acrobatics and live music, a Ferris wheel for the perfect view of the action, a salsa dance floor and a König Pilsener beer garden.

The ROCK ANTENNE Hamburg Stage will be providing a varied choice of entertainment, and the Hamburg Cruise Days Studio will be sharing exciting news from the world of cruises with visitors at the event with live coverage and a giant LED video screen. 

Highlights on the water – a joy for all senses 

The first highlight of the Hamburg Cruise Days takes place on Friday evening. Landmarks in the port and the cruise boat VASCO DA GAMA by nicko cruises will be impressively illuminated in the Rhapsody in Blue presentation against the magical backdrop of Blue Port Hamburg. The show will be accompanied by music and a live commentary and will culminate in a dazzling blue firework display. The Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade – the uncontested highlight on Saturday evening 

The last time it took place was before the pandemic at the Hamburg Cruise Days 2019 – and this year it’s back in all its glory: the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade. Five cruise ships – AIDAprima, Mein Schiff 6, VASCO DA GAMA, WORLD VOYAGER, MS Sans Souci – will sail down the Elbe River in formation, providing an unforgettable spectacle accompanied by music and a commentary by the Hamburg-based actor Marek Erhard. The parade will be led by the AIDAprima, which will be showcased with a special light show; each of the following ships will be accompanied by an individual firework display. As the crowning highlight of the evening, the parade closes with a dazzling firework show. 

“The Hamburg Cruise Days bring together the inimitable thrill of cruises and the very special atmosphere of the harbour with its dreams of travel and distant places”, says co-organiser Katja Derow (redroses communications GmbH). “After the boutique edition of the event last year we are overjoyed to be returning in full force this year with all the event’s popular highlights. The people of Hamburg and guests from around the world can look forward to exciting days and memorable evenings in Hamburg’s harbour.” 

Blue Port Hamburg

Closely connected with the Hamburg Cruise Days since 2008, the lighting installation Blue Port Hamburg by Michael Batz is also very much an artwork in its own right, attracting thousands of people every evening. As in previous years, the lighting artist is dividing his artwork into two phases: Blue Port Hamburg Art from 1-7 September and Blue Port Hamburg Event, which lights up the port in a magical blue light during the Hamburg Cruise Days. At the Light-up on 1 September, the shoreline in the harbour will be illuminated with the first blue lights; on the following days the installation will grow bigger by the day, lighting up the port and illuminating dozens of buildings, bridges, ships and port infrastructure along the riverside. 

“The blue light radiates great calm, stability and serenity. The colour blue draws us into the distance, blue conveys a longing for distant places”, says Michael Batz, explaining the fascination of his artwork. “Taken as a whole, Blue Port is a story that goes on and on. It’s not about making something blue. Its essence is to tell the story of the port and reveal change and evolution.” 

Sustainability – an important topic 

The Hamburg Cruise Days give the cruise industry a stage and an opportunity to engage in a lively public debate on sustainability in the industry. For many years the cruise lines have been working to protect marine eco-systems and use resources mindfully and efficiently. They have made significant investments in new vessels and emission-neutral propulsion technologies, all with the aim of achieving the long-term target of making cruises climate-neutral. The participating cruise lines will again be featuring this issue prominently in their presentations on land, and will be highlighting their progress and achievements, for instance with technical facts and figures, multimedia information and fun activities for visitors to join in.

“The cruise industry has set itself ambitious sustainability targets and has a high aspiration to reconcile sustainability and growth. As organizers of this event, we recognise and welcome this“, says co-organizer Uwe Bergmann (uba).

Sustainable planning and production of the event itself is also a key aspect for the Hamburg Cruise Days. A comprehensive sustainability concept has been developed, including a waste avoidance strategy and waste separation scheme at the event site. Other measures include a ban on disposables, climate-friendly communications, reusable products and digital menus across all food and beverage offerings. The “Green Fork” seal indicates green gastronomy. A barrier-free design and the use of an internal “green checklist” to monitor carbon emissions for water, electricity and waste are also included in the concept.

Public event at the harbour – trade events at the Hamburg Exhibition Centre 

From 4 – 10 September 2023, the city of Hamburg will not only be welcoming the general public, but also industry insiders and experts. For the fourth time, Hamburg is bundling its cruise events and providing a stage for three major cruise events. This globally unrivalled cruise week kicks off with Ports and Destination Summit (4/5 Sept), a trade event organised by CLIA, the world’s largest cruise association; this is followed by the trade shows Seatrade Europe (6-8 Sept) and Marine Interiors (6-9 Sept. Seatrade Europe is Europe’s leading congress and trade show for the cruise and river cruise industry; Marine Interiors is the first stand-alone trade fair for interior design, equipment and technology for passenger ships. The crowning finale of the week is the Hamburg Cruise Days (8-10 Sept). With this unrivalled combination of trade events and the public event, in September 2023 Hamburg once again becomes a hotspot for the entire cruise world. 

Hamburg, 21 August 2022 – The Hamburg Cruise Days pur ended with sunshine on Sunday – and despite the different conditions, once again proved that the event truly is the world’s most spellbinding cruise festival: with 135,000 cruise fans, an inspiring shore programme, five impressive cruise ships, two breath-taking evening shows on the Elbe River – and captivating images and messages that went out around the world from Hamburg.

Greater flexibility, sharper focus and more consciousness: a few modifications were required to be able to celebrate the Hamburg Cruise Days again in the shadow of the pandemic. The site was smaller to allow a rigorous hygiene plan to be implemented in the event of a resurgence; there were fewer ships than usual and, instead of the fireworks and grand Saturday evening parade of previous events, the water extravaganzas were slightly different.

Despite these necessary modifications the event was just as joyous and elated as it has always been. The Hamburg Cruise Days pur 2022 was an incredible success, and delighted the many, many spectators along the waterfront. Katja Derow, co-organiser and managing director of redroses communications GmbH: “In many regards the slightly ‘decelerated’ Hamburg Cruise Days pur 2022 perfectly captured the spirit of the times. After the pandemic, people simply want to come together and enjoy carefree experiences and unforgettable moments – and this is exactly what we were able to provide. The thrilling world of cruises, the longing to travel, the Port of Hamburg as a stage – at the Hamburg Cruise Days pur we wanted to focus on all these aspects, and I am proud that we fully succeeded.”

Hamburg’s head of tourism, Michael Otremba, was also highly satisfied with the successful relaunch of the popular Hamburg cruise festival: “The number of visitors shows that the Port of Hamburg holds a great fascination for so many people. The stunning displays on the water in the evening and the relaxed mood on land made for a truly unforgettable atmosphere.”

Inspiring moments and a message  from Hamburg to the world
As well as the shore programme with cruise information provided by the cruise lines, culture, cabaret and gastronomic delights, the spectators were treated to stunning shows on the water. The first highlight of the event came on Friday evening when the Queen Mary 2 – the cruise ship that holds such a very special place in the hearts of the people of Hamburg – gave the starting signal for the light-up of the Blue Port Hamburg illuminations by artist Michael Batz. To the sound of swelling music, first the Queen herself was lit up in royal blue, followed by Hamburg’s landmarks in succession, including the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the tower of the Michel church, the Blohm + Voss shipyard and the Cap San Diego, all of which shone in luminous blue. The Blue Port Hamburg illuminations can be enjoyed in the port until 28 August every evening between 20:00 and 01:00.

On Saturday evening, the port again attracted thousands of visitors who came to marvel at the Pas de deux on blue – the encounter of two majestic cruise ships against the backdrop of Blue Port Hamburg. In a moving artistic show, directed by Michael Batz, the AIDAprima, which belongs to the fleet of the Hamburg Cruise Days premium partner AIDA Cruises, and the MSC Magnifica took part in a spectacular multimedia display between the Elbphilharmonie and Landungsbrücken. The orchestrated combination of music, images drawn in the sky by drones, Hamburg’s landmarks and beautiful projections onto the AIDAprima captivated the spectators and was greeted with repeated spontaneous applause. The show also sent out a clear message to the world: a peace sign made of drones against Hamburg’s night sky brought the spectacular evening to a close.

Great visitor satisfaction and more than 135,000 guests
Co-organiser Uwe Bergmann, managing director of uba gmbh, summed up: “The conditions were challenging, and we had to plan with great flexibility and pragmatism and be prepared to think on our feet. This is why we are particularly pleased that people so obviously loved the event. We welcomed around 135,000 visitors on the festival site between Friday and Sunday, and there were several thousand more along the Elbe. The results of our survey this year show that around 80% of visitors were satisfied or very satisfied with the event, which is a welcome endorsement of our work. We are very grateful to our licensor, Hamburg Tourismus, as well as our partners – first and foremost our premium partner AIDA Cruises – without whom this would not have been possible.” In addition to premium partner AIDA Cruises, the cruise lines MSC Cruises, nicko cruises and Cunard Line also sponsored the event and participated with their own presentations.

The Hamburg Cruise Days pur took place in a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere without incidents.

Full steam ahead into the 2023 cruise year – AIDA Cruises remains premium partner
As the Hamburg Cruise Days pur 2022 was held to make up for last year’s event, which was cancelled due to the pandemic, the next cruise festival is already on the horizon: the 9th Hamburg Cruise Days will take place next year from 8 to 10 September 2023. AIDA Cruises will again be a premium partner. Preparations for next year’s event are already underway – and according to the visitor survey, more than 50% of the visitors to this year’s Hamburg Cruise Days are considering returning next year.

Hamburg, 20 August 2022 – A longing for ocean travel and the fascination of cruises: no other event showcases this captivating combination quite like the Hamburg Cruise Days. On the second day of the event, thousands of visitors along the riverside in Hamburg’s port enjoyed an inspiring shore programme as well as a spectacular evening display of two cruise ships accompanied by lights, drones and music on the Elbe River.

A joyful atmosphere and majestic cruise ships, an immersive shore programme and a unique multimedia show in the evening. On the second day, the Hamburg Cruise Days impressively  demonstrated that even in the smaller, boutique version as the Hamburg Cruise Days pur, the event truly remains in a class of its own. In glorious weather, thousands of visitors enjoyed the maritime festival between Landungsbrücken and Kehrwiederspitze in the port of Hamburg on Saturday.

The highlight of the second day was the spectacular meeting of two giant cruise ships – a colourful, spellbinding encounter between the AIDAprima and the MSC Magnifica against the impressive backdrop of the Blue Port Hamburg illuminations. The Pas de deux on blue was one of those uniquely thrilling showcases that make the Hamburg Cruise Days so special.

Saturday evening: an artistic homage to Hamburg, cruises and travel
Even before the highlight of the evening started, guests in the port and along the Elbe were treated to unforgettable sights: the AIDAprima left Steinwerder at around 21:15 to take up her position between the Elbphilharmonie and the Überseebrücke with her bow pointing down the Elbe; simultaneously, the MSC Magnifica arrived “just in time” in the Port of Hamburg, manoeuvring in front of the Landungsbrücken with her bow pointing up the Elbe.

At 22:35, against the backdrop of Blue Port Hamburg, spectators were treated to a breath-taking display with the AIDAprima, which belongs to the fleet of the Hamburg Cruise Days premium partner, AIDA Cruises, and the MSC Magnifica. The two cruise giants were joined by a fire-fighting boat, which played a literally central role: the Branddirektor Westphal, Hamburg’s largest fire-fighting boat, positioned itself between the AIDAprima and the MSC Magnifica and added illuminated water fountains from its fire-fighting pumps to the extravaganza.

The presentation was a combination of a spectacular light show, music, projections onto the side of the AIDAprima – including waves, the signature AIDA kissing lips and a declaration of love to the city of Hamburg – and images drawn into the city’s night sky by 270 drones. In addition to Hamburg’s landmarks like the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the Michel church and the Gateway to the World, the “pas de deux” naturally featured two dancers. The show ended at 22:50 with a clear message from Hamburg to the world: a peace sign made of drones brought the spectacular evening to a close.

The MSC Magnifica departed for her berth at the Cruise Terminal Steinwerder, where she remains until 19:00 on Sunday. The AIDAprima sailed down the Elbe on her way to Bergen, Norway.

“We are delighted to be part of this impressive light show with AIDAprima. The display not only lit up the sky above the Elbe, but also the faces of the people of Hamburg and all the visitors who have longed to again be part of a thrilling event that celebrates the sheer joy of travel”, said Hansjörg Kunze, Vice President Communication & Sustainability of AIDA Cruises.

Light artist Michael Batz was responsible for designing the show, and technical implementation was handled by Jasper Poensgen of JP Mobile Spaces. “The Pas de deux on blue is the encounter of two divas on the blue element against the backdrop of Hamburg’s iconic landmarks”, explained Michael Batz. “It is an homage to the city of Hamburg and travel – and to togetherness. This show intends to send out a strong message of hope in these turbulent times.”

That aim was certainly achieved – and for all involved it was also cause for special celebration, as the pandemic had made planning this year’s event a particular challenge. “Creating such a bold and inspiring highlight under these difficult circumstances and seeing just how the spectators were captivated and inspired fills us with great joy”, said the organisers Katja Derow (redroses communications GmbH) and Uwe Bergmann (uba gmbh).

The Hamburg Cruise Days pur will run until 20:00 on Sunday, 21 August 2022, giving cruise fans and those who want to dip a toe in the water of cruise holidays the opportunity to find inspiration, to stroll along the riverside and discover the many different facets of cruising. Blue Port Hamburg will continue to light up the waterfront of the port until 28 August.

The second day of the Hamburg Cruise Days also went peacefully and smoothly.

The organisers strongly advise all visitors to use public transport to get to the event on Sunday. Information about road closures due to the Bemer Cyclassics cycle race which takes place on the same day can be found at https://www.cyclassics-hamburg.de/das-event/verkehrsinfo/.

Hamburg, 19 August 2022 – Finally, the long wait is over: after the pandemic put a halt to the event for several years, the 8th Hamburg Cruise Days was officially opened on Friday afternoon. The thrilling event, which this year is intentionally being held as a smaller boutique version – hence the “pur” suffix – attracted thousands of cruise fans to the harbour. In a suitably spectacular style, the event kicked off with a double bill of legends: the light-up of the Blue Port Hamburg illuminations and the visit of the Queen Mary 2.  

A wonderfully relaxed start to a whole weekend dedicated to celebrating cruises and a very first highlight: Day 1 of the Hamburg Cruise Days pur got off to a brilliant and joyous start. With magnificent weather and throngs of cheerful visitors from Hamburg and all over Germany, after the coronavirus pandemic the world’s most spellbinding cruise event finally took off again on 19 August with an extensive, high-quality programme of events on land – plus the first of the breath-taking highlights that make the Hamburg Cruise Days so unique: the light-up of Blue Port Hamburg, which this year was attended by a royal guest of honour, the Queen Mary 2.

The highlight on Friday evening: royal blue and the queen of the ocean
Early in the morning, the Queen Mary 2 majestically pulled into the port and was greeted by crowds of admirers who had flocked to the riverside and the port to welcome this iconic cruise liner. It was the 75th time the Queen Mary 2 had come to Hamburg with passengers on board, in addition to her six shipyard calls here. The grand monarch of the ocean has attracted well in excess of three million spectators since July 2004, the first time she called in on Hamburg, and more than 140,000 passengers have boarded or ended their voyage on this icon in Hamburg since.

Around 20:00, the Queen Mary 2 departed from her berth at the Steinwerder Terminal, heading  towards the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, where she was brought into position in a nautically highly complex manoeuvre. At 21:15 she sounded a typhoon blast from her horn, signalling the start of the legendary light-up of the Blue Port Hamburg illuminations. First, the cruise liner was illuminated in royal blue, followed by the Elbphilharmonie. Accompanied by music, dozens of other buildings, bridges, ships and landmarks along the riverside were gradually lit up to create the Blue Port Hamburg artwork, including the Cap San Diego, Rickmer Rickmers, the Stage Theater, the tower of St Michael’s Church, the Hadag ferries and the Chilehaus.  

The Hamburg-based actor Marek Erhardt and the lighting artist and creator of the artwork Michael Batz provided a highly illuminating and expert commentary. After the light-up, the monarch of the ocean left Hamburg on her way to New York, as thousands of spectators waved her a fond farewell from the port to the sounds of Frank Sinatra’s legendary “New York, New York”.

Michael Batz was highly satisfied with the start of his illuminated artwork: “The eighth Blue Port Hamburg was a very special one for me personally: at the premiere in July 2008, the Queen Mary 2 officially opened the very first Blue Port Hamburg; this evening we have come full circle again. Hamburg, the monarch of the ocean and Blue Port Hamburg are, quite simply, a very special love story.”

Energy: Blue Port Hamburg responds to the current situation
The Blue Port Hamburg will be illuminated until 28 August and will continue to provide a spectacular view of the port and its landmarks for the next nine days. This year, in response to the current drive to save energy, some changes have been made to the illuminated artwork: the installation area is around 30 per cent smaller and there are 4,000 fewer luminaires than in 2019. By adding coloured filters to existing lights (e.g. along the promenades, landing bridges, terminals), no additional electricity is required, and the number of additional lights needed has been significantly reduced. The operating time has also been shortened: Blue Port Hamburg will light up in the evening from 20:00, and at 01:00, 80 per cent of the blue lights are automatically switched off, meaning that they are not illuminated for 19 out of 24 hours.

The event is powered using green electricity, which the organisers source from Hamburg Energie. This means that the entire light show on Saturday evening will run entirely on green electricity from renewable sources.

Different conditions, a smaller scale
Due to the pandemic, which for a long time prevented the organisers from making concrete plans, some adjustments have been made to this year’s version of the event: the Hamburg Cruise Days are taking place under slightly different conditions and on a slightly smaller scale than usual – which is why this year’s event is called Hamburg Cruise Days pur, essentially a boutique version of the event. “Pure” expresses the essence of the event: the fascination of cruises, dreams of travelling to far-away places, peaceful shared enjoyment and carefree moments of pleasure.

This objective was more than achieved on the first day of the event. Katja Derow, co-organiser and managing director of redroses communications GmbH: “We are absolutely delighted and grateful to be able to celebrate our cruise festival again after several years in which the pandemic stopped everything. Today, we have seen that people’s joy and pleasure in cruises and the Hamburg Cruise Days remains as alive and exuberant as ever. I truly believe that we are satisfying a great, deep-seated longing that only seems to have grown over the past couple of years.”

Uwe Bergmann, co-organiser and managing director of uba gmbh, adds: “Due to the pandemic, planning required immense flexibility –­ and there was always a certain degree of uncertainty hanging over us. Against this background, we are incredibly proud to have pulled together this event in a highly professional manner in such a short period of time – and we are very pleased to see so many delighted visitors.”

Two more days of pure cruise fascination in the port
After the Queen Mary 2 on Friday evening, visitors will be able to admire four very different cruise ships in the port: AIDAprima and AIDAsol (both AIDA Cruises), MSC Magnifica (MSC Cruises) and MS Otto Sverdrup (Hurtigruten). The next highlight of the event takes place on Saturday, when the two stately cruise ships AIDAprima and MSC Magnifica come together in a “pas de deux” on the water. This stunning  multimedia spectacle between the Elbphilharmonie and Landungsbrücken with illuminations, drones and music promises to be an unforgettable sight. The creative mind behind this unique show is lighting artist Michael Batz.

As always, as well as the highlights on the water, there is also a varied and highly appealing programme along the waterfront, with a great choice of food and drink, music and entertainment at the heart of the port between Landungsbrücken and Kehrwiederspitze. The event’s partners will also be showcasing their services and cruises: AIDA Cruises as set up the AIDA Urlaubswelt at Kehrwiederspitze and MSC Cruises, nicko cruises and Cunard Line can be found along the Neue  Flutschutzmauer flood protection wall.

The first day of the Hamburg Cruise Days was a peaceful, joyous celebration. To avoid traffic chaos, the organisers strongly advise all visitors to come to the event on public transport on Saturday and Sunday.

Hamburg, 11 August 2022 – The Hamburg Cruise Days are the most spectacular cruise festival in the world. So, it is hardly surprising that tens of thousands of maritime enthusiasts make the pilgrimage to Hamburg’s port area every two years to experience in person this thrilling and moving event staged over land and water. After a forced break due to the pandemic, a “special edition” of the internationally acclaimed maritime event will now take place between 19 and 21 August 2022, making it the eighth time it has been held at the Port of Hamburg. On board once more – Michael Batz, with his Blue Port Hamburg light installation, and AIDA Cruises, the event’s premium partner. 

Celebrate the very best of cruising to faraway places at the Hamburg Cruise Days pur 
There are now only a few days left before the anchors are finally dropped for another Hamburg Cruise Days. From 19 to 21 August, visitors from all over the world will accept the invitation to lose themselves in the fascinating world of cruising. Five cruise ships, two exciting evening shows on the Elbe River, a varied programme of presentations by the individual cruise lines, a wide range of catering options, music and dancing – guarantee to make this an event to remember. Once again, Blue Port Hamburg will provide some unique sights as well as some spine-tingling moments as it bathes the Port of Hamburg in blue each evening from 19 to 28 August. 

“The Hamburg Cruise Days and Blue Port Hamburg are a unique interplay of light and water,” explains Michael Otremba, managing director of Hamburg Tourismus GmbH. “Hamburg residents and guests are getting ready to enjoy the special atmosphere that permeates the city, especially during the evening, when the ambiance of the port combines with the blue light of the art installation and the sight of the cruise ships to create a picture-perfect experience that is unique to Hamburg.” 

As it was impossible to make definite plans during the period of the pandemic, this year’s event will now take place under somewhat different conditions and on a smaller scale than in previous years. The addition of “pur” (“pure”) to the name of the event reflects this change. “Pur signifies that we are focusing this year on the core of what our event stands for: the fascination of cruising, the desire to travel, and a happy, relaxed social atmosphere,” says Katja Derow, co-organiser and managing director of redroses communications GmbH. 

The venue for this year’s event will therefore extend from the Landungsbrücken forecourt across the flood protection wall and new staircases to the Kehrwiederspitze. The more compact layout will also make it easier to plan for and respond to incidents and medical emergencies. 

The stars of the event: five cruise ships converge on the port 
During the three-day event, visitors to the port will be able to admire five very different cruise ships. AIDAprima, AIDAsol (both AIDA Cruises), Queen Mary 2 (Cunard Line), MSC Magnifica (MSC Cruises) and MS Otto Sverdrup (Hurtigruten) will all drop anchor in the Port of Hamburg on the weekend of the event. A description of the ships as well as their exact berthing times and locations is provided in the attached ship profiles as well as online at https://www.hamburgcruisedays.de/schiffe/. 

Blue like the sky and the oceans – Blue Port Hamburg by Michael Batz 
Blue Port Hamburg by light artist Michael Batz has been causing a sensation internationally since 2008. In 2022, the spectacular work of light art will again bathe the port in a magical blue, casting a spell over the city on the Elbe during and after the Hamburg Cruise Days pur. After the switch-on on Friday evening, 19 August, Blue Port Hamburg will dramatically illuminate buildings and landmarks from Steinwerder to the Elbphilharmonie each evening from 8pm to 1pm until 28 August, this year linking the port and the adjoining city centre. As in previous years, the light project will be implemented in two phases: during the Hamburg Cruise Days from 19 to 21 August as a “Blue Port Event” and then, from 22 to 28 August, as “Blue Port Art”. 

Royal launch on Friday – Queen Mary 2 performs the Blue Port Hamburg switch-on 
Expect a special, spine-tingling moment at the event kick-off on Friday evening when the Queen Mary 2, the Queen of the Seas, sets the mood for the Blue Port Hamburg art installation by light artist Michael Batz. The imposing cruise ship will set sail from the Steinwerder cruise terminal at 8pm and travel upriver to the Elbphilharmonie, where it will undertake a spectacular 360-degree turn to manoeuvre into position. At 9.15pm, the Queen Mary 2 will signal the start of Blue Port Hamburg with her “Typhon” whistle as she lights up in royal blue. The lighting will then gradually expand to cover dozens of buildings, bridges, ships and objects on the waterfront, all combining to form a unified work of art. The switch-on event will be accompanied by classical music introduced by Hamburg actor and presenter Marek Erhardt and light artist Michael Batz. When all the lights are on, the Queen of the Seas will sound a second Typhon whistle and leave the Port of Hamburg heading for New York. 

Rendezvous on the waves – “Pas de deux on blue” on Saturday evening 
Visitors can look forward to another weekend highlight at 10.35pm on Saturday 20 August when two imposing cruise ships rendezvous against the backdrop of Blue Port Hamburg. In an artistic staging, combining lights, drones and music, AIDAprima and MSC Magnifica will form the centrepieces of a multimedia spectacular staged between the Elbphilharmonie and the Landungsbrücken. Spectators of this pas de deux of two magnificent ships can expect to experience some impressive sights and an electric atmosphere. Light artist Michael Batz is also responsible for this production, with technical staging by the Hamburg agency JP Mobile Spaces. 

“The Pas de deux on blue, or the encounter of two divas beneath the blue canopy spread over Hamburg’s landmarks, is a homage to the city of Hamburg, to cruising and travelling – and to solidarity,” says Michael Batz. “We want this presentation to signal our confidence in the future, despite the current turbulent times.” 

The light show starts at 10.35pm and runs until 10.50pm, but there will be lots to see on the Elbe before the show starts. For example, AIDAprima will leave Steinwerder at around 9.15pm and move into its final position between the Elbphilharmonie and the Überseebrücke, while the MSC Magnifica will sail into the Elbe “just in time” and then position itself in front of the Landungsbrücken, bow to bow with AIDAprima. Visitors will have the best view of the action from the new flood protection wall or the Landungsbrücken. 

Professionally organised, despite the difficult circumstances 
Since they were first staged in 2008, the Hamburg Cruise Days have developed into one of the Hanseatic city’s most iconic events. It is an event unlike any other. Every two years, the Port of Hamburg becomes an action-packed platform for the world of cruising that attracts thousands of cruise enthusiasts from all over the world. The cruising community was therefore very disappointed when the event planned for September 2021 had to be cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. In March 2022, the organisers, the Hamburg-based agencies uba and redroses communications, together with the licensor Hamburg Tourismus, took the firm decision to stage the Hamburg Cruise Days again in August 2022. 

Uwe Bergmann, co-organiser and managing director of uba gmbh, explains, “We’re very proud that our team has succeeded not only in getting such a large event off the ground but also in professionally planning it at relatively short notice, despite the adverse circumstances. We wish to thank our licensor, Hamburg Tourismus, and our partners, especially our premium partner AIDA Cruises, for their confidence and their contributions to the success of this year’s Hamburg Cruise Days. 

Hard-working sponsors and a varied land-based programme 
A variety of partners and sponsors have chosen to take part in this year’s Hamburg Cruise Days. The organisers have also signed up AIDA Cruises as a premium partner for the fifth time in succession. “Reliable, trust-based partnerships have played a vital role, especially in these challenging times, both in rebuilding a sustainable cruise market for the future as well as in last year’s industry relaunch. This is why we didn’t hesitate to commit to being a premium partner of the Hamburg Cruise Days again this year. We are convinced that this cruise festival will send out a positive message of peaceful coexistence,” says Hansjörg Kunze, vice president communication & sustainability for AIDA Cruises. 

The individual themed areas:

AIDA Holiday World (Kehrwiederspitze)
AIDA Cruises will not only be making two of its fleet of 12 ships available for the event but will also be welcoming visitors on land to the “AIDA Holiday World” at Kehrwiederspitze, which features numerous attractions for young and old. These include competitions, activities for little buccaneers and some tasty treats from AIDA’s gourmet godmother Felicitas Then. Visitors can admire a faithful replica of an AIDAcosma show cabin, get travel advice, or simply relax in a deck chair with sand beneath their feet at the Beach Club, dreaming of the sea while waving to the ships in the port. 

New to the AIDA themed area – a digital, interactive treasure hunt on the topic of sustainability in cruising. Anyone wishing to have fun while learning about AIDA’s sustainability initiatives can take part in a quiz and win an AIDA travel voucher worth 3,000 euros. With the aid of QR location codes, competitors have to find five different locations and answer questions on a variety of sustainability topics, such as technology, optimising water consumption and reducing the use of plastic on board. 

MSC Cruises Promenade (new flood protection wall) 
The MSC Cruises Promenade offers an elegant chill-out atmosphere, excellent seafood, information and entertainment. Well-known DJs stationed along the new flood protection wall invite you to move to the rhythm of electro swing music. The food is served from authentic shipping containers. Visitors with the urge to travel will find all the advice and information they need in the MSC Lounge and can claim a 15 % Cruise Days discount if they book a cruise. And if you’re considering working for MSC Cruises, you’ll find all the help and information you need here. 

Time to discover – river and sea cruises with nicko cruises (new flood protection wall) 
nicko cruises specialise in trips on smaller ships to places off the beaten tourist track. They also encourage guests to spend more time in each destination so that they can experience them in more depth. Visit the cruise specialist’s stand to obtain professional travel advice. While you’re there, be sure to take part in the prize draws for a cabin on the WORLD VOYAGER’s anniversary cruise with star guest Annett Louisan or a trip for two on the VASCO DA GAMA from Lisbon to Cape Town. 

Cunard Show Truck (new flood protection wall) 
A real eye-catcher at the Hamburg Cruise Days is the Cunard show truck. With its theme “The subtle difference”, it invites visitors to make use of all their senses to learn about the unique Cunard experience, to take part in an exciting competition for a trip on the Queen Mary 2, and to take part in a game of shuffleboard with a view of the Elbe. 

König Pilsener Beer Garden (Landungsbrücken) 
Summer and sun means it’s beer garden time! König Pilsener is the event’s beverage partner and sponsor. The brewery invites visitors to its beer garden at the Landungsbrücken. Enjoying a cold König Pilsener and some tasty snacks is an ideal way to recharge your batteries before going on to the next attraction. 

Salsa Stage & Ahoy Hamburg (Landungsbrücken forecourt) 
The classic salsa sounds and good-natured humour of this themed area pull visitors in and invite them to move to the music. There will also be plenty of inspiration made in Hamburg: businesses and craftspeople from the Hanseatic city will show their wares and Hamburg restaurateurs will serve regional specialities. 

Bosch eBike Systems – Urban Roadshow (Hafentreppe) 
Bypass the traffic jams on your daily commute, relax in town without worrying where to park, carry your shopping home in comfort. Safe and sustainable, eBikes are flexible all-rounders when it comes to dealing with urban traffic. If you’re at least 18 years old and interested in test riding one of our innovative eBikes, head straight for the test track at the Bosch eBike Urban Roadshow at Hafentreppe. 

Live Shows Daily at the Hamburg Cruise Days Studio
To keep visitors informed of event highlights and other exciting cruise topics, media partners ROCK ANTENNE Hamburg and Studio Hamburg will be producing a live show every day in the Hamburg Cruise Days studio on the new flood protection wall. They are being sponsored by Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, Cruise Gate Hamburg and Hamburg Cruise Net. Once a day, Sven Flohr will host an entertaining programme live from the port and provide exciting insights into what’s happening behind the scenes at the event. You can follow the livestream at www.hamburgcruisedays.de. 

#weilwirhamburgsind (because we’re Hamburg) 
Organisers Katja Derow and Uwe Bergmann are confident that the special Hamburg Cruise Days 2022 event will be as successful as it always has been. “This year,” she says, “many external factors have come together to make the Hamburg Cruise Days different in some respects from previous years. However, the things that have made this event so distinctive since it began in 2008 have not changed: the special atmosphere of the Port of Hamburg, people’s continuing enthusiasm for cruising, the many small moments visitors enjoy when strolling, having fun or relaxing, and the unique images that go out across the world from Hamburg.” 

Event times
Friday, 19 August: 2pm – midnight 
Saturday, 20 August: 2pm – midnight 
Sunday, 21 August: 2pm – midnight 

Transportation links
U-Bahn: Landungsbrücken, Baumwall (U3), Meßberg (U1), Überseequartier (U4) 
S-Bahn: Landungsbrücken (S1, S2, S3) and Stadthausbrücke (S1 and S3) 
Bus: 111 (Altona – HafenCity), 6 (from U-Bahn St. Pauli)