SAiL 2025 Festival Opens in Bremerhaven: A Maritime Spectacle with Tall Ships and Cruise Liners

Bild von Evelyn Kuttig auf Pixabay
On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the grand maritime event SAiL 2025 officially opened in Bremerhaven. The ceremony at the Seebäderkaje was attended by prominent guests, including the festival's patron, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, as well as the mayors of the two Hanseatic cities, Melf Grantz from Bremerhaven and Andreas Bovenschulte from Bremen. The festival, which will run until Sunday, August 17, 2025, is expected to attract thousands of ship enthusiasts from around the world.

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SAiL Bremerhaven is a highlight that takes place every five years. Visitors can look forward to more than 250 ships and a diverse program. In addition to musical performances by artists such as Johannes Oerding, Ronan Keating, and the No Angels, the majestic sailing ships, including large three- and four-masted vessels like the famous Alexander von Humboldt II, are the main stars of the event. Detailed information about the entire program is available on the official website bremerhaven.de.

Cruise fans will also get their money's worth, as the event features special port calls. AIDA Cruises, one of the main sponsors, will stage a spectacular presentation of the AIDAsol on Saturday evening. A fascinating light show with drones on the Weser is planned. Another highlight is the so-called quadruple call by Phoenix Reisen. For the first time since 2019, the Bonn-based tour operator is bringing its entire high-seas fleet together at the Columbus Quay. The ships will stay overnight in port during SAiL 2025, allowing guests to fully explore the festival.

On Friday, August 15, the MS Amadea, MS Amera, MS Artania, and MS Deutschland will be docked together at the cruise terminal from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This rare quadruple call allows the Phoenix travel family to explore the SAiL 2025. Phoenix Reisen has a long-standing partnership with the Bremerhaven cruise port and regularly uses the summer calls for passenger exchanges.

AIDA Cruises will be a guest in Bremerhaven with the AIDAsol on Saturday, August 16. This is the only call of an AIDA ship this year. As part of the event, the AIDAsol is embarking on a six-day Scotland cruise from Hamburg to Bremerhaven and a six-day Norway cruise from Bremerhaven to Hamburg. On Saturday evening around 10:50 PM, the ship will be showcased in front of the impressive backdrop of the Hotel Atlantic on the Weser with a drone and light show featuring 300 drones.

On the final day of SAiL 2025, Sunday, the MS Artania from Phoenix Reisen and the Mein Schiff 2 from TUI Cruises are expected in Bremerhaven. The TUI ship will dock at the Columbus Quay for a scheduled passenger exchange between two cruises.

Overview of cruise ship calls during SAiL 2025:

  • MS Amera (Phoenix Reisen): August 14 (8:00 AM) to August 15 (7:00 PM)
  • MS Amadea (Phoenix Reisen): August 14 (2:00 PM) to August 16 (11:00 PM)
  • MS Deutschland (Phoenix Reisen): August 14 (5:00 PM) to August 16 (11:00 PM)
  • MS Artania (Phoenix Reisen): August 15 (2:00 PM) to August 17 (4:00 PM)
  • AIDAsol (AIDA Cruises): August 16 (8:00 AM) to August 16 (11:00 PM)
  • Mein Schiff 2 (TUI Cruises): August 17 (5:30 AM) to August 17 (5:00 PM)