The Hamburg Cruise Days and Blue Port Hamburg return to the Port of Hamburg in August

Hamburg, 13 May 2022 – There hasn’t been a large urban event at the Port of Hamburg since 2019. Now the wait is over: the port will once again become a stage this summer, when the Hamburg Cruise Days and Blue Port Hamburg invite visitors to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of cruises. An atmospheric programme on land and at sea awaits guests from 19 to 21 August 2022.

Five cruise ships, two evening spectacles, Blue Port Hamburg, a high-quality shore programme and a concept that’s tailored to the current situation – all that and more are part of the Hamburg Cruise Days 2022. The event, which usually takes place in the port every other year, had to be cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021. The Hamburg Cruise Days will finally take place this summer – an important signal of Hamburg’s leading role as a tourist destination, in the cruise ship sector, and in the event industry.

“For two years, the event industry was forced to deal almost exclusively with cancellations,” declares Michael Otremba, managing director of Hamburg Marketing GmbH and Hamburg Tourismus GmbH, the licence provider of the Hamburg Cruise Days. “I am therefore all the more pleased that we finally have a positive announcement, about the upcoming Hamburg Cruise Days. People’s longing for travel, for a change in routine and for such experiences is huge, as demonstrated by the numerous requests from cruise enthusiasts for another edition of the Hamburg Cruise Days. At no other port in the world are people as enthusiastic about the port experience as in Hamburg, and these are optimal conditions for a successful event in August.”

Organiser Uwe Bergmann, managing director of events agency uba gmbh, adds: “We were always determined to make the Hamburg Cruise Days happen in 2022. Because of the pandemic, which did not allow us to make concrete plans for a long time, we made some adjustments to this year’s edition of the event. This year’s event area has been reduced to increase the quality of the presentation, and we look forward to new kinds of evening shows,” says Uwe Bergmann.

Pure Hamburg Cruise Days
To make clear that this year’s event will take place under different conditions and on a smaller scale than usual, the organisers are calling the event “Hamburg Cruise Days pur” (“Pure Hamburg Cruise Days”). Organiser Katja Derow, managing director of redroses communications GmbH, explains: “‘Pure’ expresses the essence of our event, and everything that the Hamburg Cruise Days have symbolised since 2008: an atmospheric experience at the Port of Hamburg, peaceful coexistence, the allure of stately cruise ships, carefree moments of pleasure, longing and wanderlust.”

Three and a half months before the event begins, planning is in full swing, though the organisers remain flexible in light of the current situation. In order to safely host the Hamburg Cruise Days this summer in the event of another coronavirus wave, the event area this year will be concentrated in the space between Landungsbrücken, the flood protection wall and the new stairways, up to the end of the Kehrwieder canal. A safety and hygiene concept could be implemented in this area if needed.

Five cruise ship companies are expected in the port on the three days of the event: AIDAprima, AIDAsol (both AIDA Cruises), Queen Mary 2 (Cunard Line), MSC Magnifica (MSC Cruises) and MS Otto Sverdrup (Hurtigruten). “We decided to schedule as many port calls as possible,” explains Uwe Bergmann. “We won’t come anywhere close to the previous records we set at the Hamburg Cruise Days, though that is not our goal. With the support of the shipping lines, especially our premium partner AIDA Cruises, we will once again create emotional and unforgettable experiences. And we will provide every visitor with the high-quality entertainment that has always been synonymous with our event.”

Kick-off on Friday with Blue Port Hamburg illumination
The organisers are exploring new horizons this year with the evening presentations: in a moving kick-off to the event on Friday evening, the Queen Mary 2 will accompany the illumination of Blue Port Hamburg by light artist Michael Batz. The Port of Hamburg will once again shine in breathtaking magic blue light over the entire weekend.

“Pas de Deux”: the highlight on Saturday evening
The highlight of the weekend will be a spectacle on Saturday evening that symbolises encounters. This year, rather than the traditional parade, two stately cruise ships, AIDAprima and MSC Magnifica, will take centre stage in a multimedia spectacle near Landungsbrücken. Organiser Uwe Bergmann: “With this production, we want to tell a story that can be seen as a message to Hamburg residents, tourists and the industry – a story that arouses anticipation for the next event, planned for 2023, and gives us hope that better, carefree times lie ahead.”

AIDA Cruises once again event’s premium partner
The organisers once again won over AIDA Cruises as a premium partner. “We owe AIDA Cruises our special thanks,” emphasises Michael Otremba. “The shipping line has not only been a reliable partner of the Hamburg Cruise Days for many years, but is indispensable for Hamburg as a cruise location. The number of calls made by the AIDA fleet and the associated value they create, in addition to the company’s role as an innovator in the sustainable development of the industry, underscore the importance of AIDA Cruises for our city.”

“Reliable, trustworthy partnerships are particularly important in challenging times – as we move towards a future-oriented and sustainable cruise market, and as we reset the industry last year. For this reason, we did not hesitate to commit once again to serving as the premium partner of the Hamburg Cruise Days in 2022. We are convinced that this cruise festival will represent a positive symbol of peaceful coexistence,” says Hansjörg Kunze, Vice President Communication & Sustainability of AIDA Cruises.

After two difficult years for Hamburg as a tourist destination and for the entire cruise sector, hosting the Hamburg Cruise Days 2022 sends a very important signal. Tourism boss Michael Otremba sums it up as follows: “Major events that provide important reasons to travel to Hamburg are back. Powerful visual events such as the Hamburg Cruise Days and Blue Port Hamburg provide us with the tailwind to portray Hamburg as a unique travel destination and a metropolis with a high quality of life.”