Hamburg is enchanted: the 9th Hamburg Cruise Days were a fabulous success

Magnificent late summer sun, captivating moments and an enthusiasm for cruises that remained as lively as ever marked the end of the Hamburg Cruise Days 2023 on Sunday evening. The organisers and the city are highly satisfied.

It was a cruise festival that ticked every single box: fabulous weather, nine impressive cruise ships ranging from majestic ocean cruisers to sleek expedition ships and charming river cruise boats, a great programme on land with entertainment and culinary delights, and the incomparable maritime spirit that only Hamburg can conjure up.

Hundreds of thousands of people came to the Hamburg Cruise Days 2023, which once again clearly demonstrated why it is known as the most beautiful cruise festival in the world. Far more than the projected 250,000 visitors flocked to the event; even outside the event site on both sides of the Elbe River, tens of thousands more came to share the enjoyment of the Hamburg Cruise Days and the event’s spectacular highlights – the Rhapsody in Blue and the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade.

The passion for cruises remains as strong as ever

The incredible popularity of the event shows that cruises are a true asset for Hamburg as a destination. Michael Otremba, Managing Director of Hamburg Tourismus GmbH: “Breath-taking images of the Hamburg Cruise Days have gone around the world: dazzling sunshine, the port in a magical blue light and wonderful shows on the water of a kind that are only possible in Hamburg.”

Sven Jacobsen, Vice President Communication & Sustainability at AIDA Cruises, the premium partner of the Hamburg Cruise Days: “AIDA would like to thank all those involved and those who helped out both out front and behind the scenes. Their incredible commitment and passion make the Hamburg Cruise Festival so very special, and this year they again pulled out all the stops. The unique atmosphere and the special mood over all three days on water and on land speak for themselves – hundreds of thousands of visitors have been inspired by the magic of cruises.”

The organisers Uwe Bergmann (uba) and Katja Derow (redroses communications) were also very satisfied with the event: “The interest in the Hamburg Cruise Days and the consistently positive feedback we get from visitors on site and on social media shows that the enthusiasm for this beautiful, atmospheric event remains as high as ever. It is wonderful to see so many people coming together peacefully and harmoniously to experience and celebrate cruising in Hamburg’s harbour.”

A final highlight on Sunday – and farewell until 2025

Early on Sunday evening at the final highlight of the event, visitors to the Hamburg Cruise Days were invited to wave goodbye to ships one last time: in the AIDA Sailaway, AIDAsol and AIDAperla left the port of Hamburg to a moving soundtrack. The land programme of the Hamburg Cruise Days ended at 8 pm, the Blue Port Hamburg continued to shine until midnight.

The next Hamburg Cruise Days are scheduled to take place in 2025. From 12 – 14 September 2025, the port city on the Elbe River will once again be devoted to the magic of cruises.