5 Reasons Germany's Port is Ideal for Cruise Lovers

September 14, 2017

Hamburg might be a bit of a mystery for U.S. passengers, but Europeans have been loving Germany's biggest port city for years.

The city, which is the second-biggest in Germany with 1.8 million residents, has a metropolitan feel but is steeped in history. And you can't tell the story of Hamburg without discussing its rich maritime industry. You feel it when you walk the streets, as the Elbe River is never far from view. Gift shops sell nautical-inspired everything, from clothing to handbags and dinnerware.

Cruise Critic just returned from a visit to Hamburg to check out its biennial Cruise Days celebration. Here are five reasons Hamburg is ideal for cruise lovers.

1. Cruise Was Invented Here

Hamburg claims credit for inventing the concept of cruising. Hamburg America Line –Hapag, the precursor to the current luxury cruise line Hapag-Lloyd -made a business out of transporting people and goods to New York aboard its ships beginning in the mid-1860s. The company only did this journey three seasons of the year, so to avoid keeping ships idle during the winter, Albert Ballin, a member of the Hapag board of directors, proposed a pleasure cruise to the Mediterranean in 1891. Although his colleagues called him nuts, Ballin hosted the 57-day cruise from Hamburg with great success. And cruising for pleasure was born.

Later, Hapag designed ships solely for cruising; the cruise vessel Prinzessin Viktoria Luise was launched in 1900. Hapag became the current Hapag-Lloyd after a merger with Norddeutscher Lloyd in 1970.

2. Hamburg Loves Cruising

If you're on one of the 200-plus cruise ships that sail into Hamburg each year, expect to get a hero's welcome. Hamburgers line the shores of the Elbe River as ships complete the more than six-hour journey from the North Sea. Spectators onshore will be waving, taking photos and cheering. In fact, when Cunard's Queen Mary 2 made its first journey into Hamburg, the ports reported more than 600,000 people turned out to welcome it.

Think that's something? Well, consider Hamburg Cruise Days, an event that takes place every two years. More than a half-million people show up to celebrate cruising, visit cruise booths where they can book a trip or just ask questions and see the ships, and enjoy miles of activities like live music, food and drinks. The weekend-long event culminates with a nighttime parade of ships, where up to six cruise ships sail the Elbe, one after another, among fireworks and blue lights.

The Elbphilharmonie is a new and popular attraction in Hamburg. 3. Hamburg is Tourism Friendly

If you cruise to Hamburg, you'll find the city to be uber-friendly (though Uber free, as the car service isn't available here). But the taxis are plentiful, and virtually every driver speaks English. Actually, almost everyone speaks English. (If a Hamburger says they speak "a little" English, they're being modest. It's likely they're fluent.) But you can skip cabs if you prefer, as Hamburg is a really walkable city, with large street signs and free maps available all over the place. If you'd rather have a guide, the city also has greeters who can show you the sights -- available for free with 14-days notice. Public transportation also is a great choice; it's clean, fast, efficient and almost always on time. Take the bus or the underground.

4. You'll Find Shopping, Museums and Culture

The newest building on the Hamburg skyline is the gorgeous Elbphilharmonie, an architecturally impressive landmark that hosts performances by the likes of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. If you're in town for a cruise but can't take in a show, it's worth a visit just to see the impressive design and amazing city views. (Tours are free but require a ticket.) And if you love shopping, Hamburg has plenty to offer, from large malls to boutique shops. Our guide told us more than 40,000 millionaires live in Hamburg, so you can expect to find a lot of high-end shops, if that appeals to you. Still, Hamburg is quite affordable. If you're more interested in culture, head to the Internationales Maritimes Museum to learn all about the city-state's rich maritime history. Just give yourself plenty of time to explore; the museum covers nine floors.

MSC Preziosa prepares for the Parade of Ships during Hamburg Cruise Days. 5. You'll Find Three Cruise Terminals

Hamburg is home to three facilities: Cruise Center Altona, Cruise Center Hafen City and Cruise Center Steinwerder. All together, the three can accommodate a total of four cruise ships at once, making Hamburg one of the 20 biggest homeports in the world. Interestingly, Hamburg is one of the biggest shipping centers in the world, and the 800,000 cruise ship passengers who visit the city each year have the option to tour the cruise and shipping terminals. This is a ship geek's dream!

--By Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive Editor