Winter Cruising 2025: The Grand Season Finale in Rostock-Warnemünde

Bild: wikipedia.de
The 2025 Season: A Comeback with Hats and Scarves The cruise year in Rostock was a year of relief. With a total of 167 calls (that's 19 more than the previous year), things are slowly but surely looking up. Even if we haven't quite reached the record levels of the pre-pandemic era, the trend is clear: The Baltic Sea is "in" again. Particularly exciting is the strategy of artificially extending the season. Instead of hibernation, the motto is now: "Advent Cruising."

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Two very special ships will grace berth P7 in Warnemünde shortly before Christmas.

1. The British Guest: MS Borealis (December 11) Today, Thursday, the MS Borealis from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is docking.

  • The Vibe: British, classic, "Best-Ager" demographic.
  • The Route: A "Fairytale Baltic" tour from Portsmouth via Warnemünde to the Baltic states.
  • Logistics: Arrival at 08:00 AM. The ship uses Warnemünde as a starting point for excursions before heading towards Riga (likely late in the evening).

2. The "Traumschiff": MS Amadea (December 17 – 18) The grand finale belongs to a true TV star. The MS Amadea (famous from the German TV show "Das Traumschiff" / The Dream Ship) arrives on December 17.

  • The Highlight: An Overnight Stay. The ship stays overnight! Arrival is on Dec 17 at 09:00 AM, departure is not until the next morning at 06:00 AM.
  • Why this is brilliant: Passengers have no time pressure. They can visit the Rostock Christmas market in the evening hours when the lights are most beautiful, and then return to the ship in a relaxed manner.

Why Rostock in Winter? Rostock-Warnemünde scores points in December primarily with two things:

  1. Safety: While tender ports (where you have to go ashore in small boats) often cannot be approached during winter storms, Warnemünde is a "Safe Haven." Here, the ship lies securely at the quay, no matter how much the Baltic Sea rages.
  2. Infrastructure: The terminal at P7 is weatherproof and heated. No one has to freeze in the cold while waiting for the bus.

Christmas Market & Logistics: From Ship to Mulled Wine The main destination for most guests is, of course, the Rostock Christmas Market – the largest in Northern Germany. The connection is perfectly organized:

  • S-Bahn (Train): It is only a few steps from the terminal to the train, which runs directly to Rostock city center every 10 minutes.
  • Boat Shuttle: Those who prefer a maritime route use the "Mini Cruise" on the Warnow river directly to the market.
  • Experience: Whether for the British audience or German "Traumschiff" fans – the market with its Ferris wheel and "Gourmet Mile" is the tourist magnet that makes these late calls attractive in the first place.

Conclusion The December calls of 2025 are more than just a nice bonus. They show that Warnemünde has become a genuine year-round destination. When the Amadea casts off early in the morning on December 18, a successful season ends, leaving us longing for more "sea time" next year.