Hamburg Cruise Days 2025: All Info, Ships & Highlights for the Anniversary

Von Wolfgang Weber - Imported from 500px (archived version) by the Archive Team. (detail page), CC BY 3.0, Link
This year, the Hamburg Cruise Days are celebrating their tenth anniversary, transforming the Hanseatic city into a magnet for cruise fans from all over the world from September 12 to 14, 2025. The festival is not only a spectacular event for visitors but also an important platform for the entire cruise industry. For the first time, the event is working even more closely with the parallel trade fair Seatrade Europe, creating a "Cruise Week" full of synergies.

All news also on X formerly Twitter

A special feature is the new strategy for main partners: Instead of a single sponsor, three major shipping companies—AIDA Cruises, MSC Cruises, and TUI Cruises—are acting as equal partners. This collaboration highlights the industry's shared goal of mutual growth.

Even before the festival officially starts, from September 10, the well-known light art project Blue Port Hamburg will bathe the entire port in a magical blue light. The festival program on land features a promenade from the Landungsbrücken to the Elbphilharmonie, where shipping companies invite visitors to discover their offerings at interactive booths. For example, guests can explore a show cabin from the AIDAcosma or try their luck at the MSC Cruises spinning wheel.

The highlight on the water is a fleet of eight cruise ships docked in the port over the event days. On Friday evening, the VASCO DA GAMA will be featured in a special show accompanied by fireworks. On Saturday evening, the grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade will see five festively lit ships—including the AIDAperla, Mein Schiff 4, and MSC Preziosa—sail down the Elbe. The event concludes on Sunday with the double departure of the MSC Preziosa and the Norwegian Dawn.

The following cruise ships are expected at the Hamburg Cruise Days 2025:

  • AIDAperla (AIDA Cruises)
  • AIDAsol (AIDA Cruises)
  • EUROPA (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises)
  • Mein Schiff 4 (TUI Cruises)
  • MSC Preziosa (MSC Cruises)
  • MS Sans Souci (PLANTOURS)
  • Norwegian Dawn (Norwegian Cruise Line)
  • VASCO DA GAMA (nicko cruises)

If you plan to attend, public transport is highly recommended, as more than 250,000 visitors are expected. The best spots to admire the ships are at the Landungsbrücken, the Elbphilharmonie Plaza, and the opposite bank of the Elbe.