THE HAMBURG CRUISE DAYS 2023 ARE BACK IN ITS OLD STRENGTH

Hamburg Cruise Days press release:

Hamburg, July 5th, 2023 - An event full of emotions and unforgettable experiences - that's what visitors can expect at the ninth Hamburg Cruise Days from September 8th to 10th, 2023. Nine impressive cruise ships, the legendary Blue Port Hamburg and a high-quality program on land and on water ensure a unique maritime atmosphere in the Port of Hamburg. Once again on board as a premium partner: AIDA Cruises.

The Hamburg Cruise Days 2023 are in the starting blocks and promise to be an unforgettable experience for all cruise fans. Because from September 8th to 10th, the Port of Hamburg will once again be the stage for the cruise. With a colorful program of information, entertainment, culture and culinary delights on land and an impressive nine cruise ships on the Elbe, the "most beautiful cruise festival in the world" will take people on an atmospheric journey again - and is guaranteed to awaken a longing for the sea.

Michael Otremba, Managing Director Hamburg Tourismus: “The longing for a change from everyday life and special experiences is one of the most powerful travel and leisure motives, especially in the current times. Unique events such as the Hamburg Cruise Days offer Hamburg residents and guests exactly that: The program, the integration of the cruise ships and the Blue Port make the port more tangible and tangible than anywhere else. Visitors can look forward to a unique atmosphere.”

Nine ships in three days, premium partner AIDA Cruises

The Hamburg Cruise Days 2023 await with a total of nine very different ships that can be admired over the three days of the event - from ocean cruisers to expedition and river cruise ships: AIDAprima, AIDAperla and AIDAsol (all AIDA Cruises), Artania (Phoenix Reisen). ), Mein Schiff 6 (TUI Cruises), MS Frederic Chopin (Thurgau Travel), MS Sans Souci (PLANTOURS Cruises), VASCO DA GAMA and WORLD VOYAGER (both nicko cruises).

For the sixth time in a row, the organizers were able to win the shipping company AIDA Cruises as the premium partner of the event, which will be present on land this year with three ships and the popular "AIDA Holiday World". The AIDA holiday world will be an absolute highlight for visitors and will take all guests on land on a journey through the world of cruises.

Immediately at the Kehrwiederspitze, AIDA presents itself with the two-storey show cabin and a holiday world on 600 m² directly on the water. For example, you can find the AIDA kissing stop, which was created with great attention to detail. The sustainable highlight: the entire holiday world consists of 95 percent reusable materials that can be used again for future events.

Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, explains: “AIDA has a long and trusted partnership with Hamburg and the Port of Hamburg. With more than 120 departures per year, we offer guests the greatest variety of trips from the Hanseatic city and are therefore not only an important ambassador for the gateway to the world with our ships, guests and crew, but also an important economic factor for the location. The cruise connects countries, cultures and people and creates emotions and lasting unique experiences like no other form of vacation. The Hamburg Cruise Days transport this special spirit to land for several days and inspire guests from all over the world.”

The harbor edge becomes a world of adventure

The Hamburg Cruise Days invite you to "go ashore": On the event area between Landungsbrücken and the Elbphilharmonie, the land program attracts with a mixture of culture, gastronomy, entertainment and activities for all generations. The participating shipping companies AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises, MSC Cruises, nicko cruises and Cunard Line present themselves with exciting promotions and offers. There is good entertainment, fine cuisine, interesting facts about cruises, destinations and travel options, an adventure world for children, acrobatics and live music, a Ferris wheel for the perfect view of what is happening, a salsa dance floor and a König Pilsener beer garden.

The ROCK ANTENNE Hamburg stage provides a variety of entertainment, and the Hamburg Cruise Days Studio with live broadcast and LED video wall provides guests at the event with exciting information from the world of cruises.

Highlights on the water - for all the senses

The first highlight of the event awaits visitors on Friday evening with the production "Rhapsody in Blue". Then the port and the VASCO DA GAMA will be solemnly staged by nicko cruises in front of the magical blue backdrop of the Blue Port Hamburg - accompanied by music, moderation and a blue final fireworks display. The undisputed highlight on the Saturday evening of the event: the Great Hamburg Cruise Days Parade.

Most recently, before the pandemic, she was with the Hamburg Cruise Days 2019, this year it is back in all its glory: the Great Hamburg Cruise Days Parade. Five cruise ships - AIDAprima, Mein Schiff 6, VASCO DA GAMA, WORLD VOYAGER, MS Sans Souci (order still open) - will then move down the Elbe together and offer a breathtaking spectacle, which is accompanied by music and moderated by the Hamburg actor Marek Erhardt. The parade is led by AIDAprima, which is staged with its own light show, each of the following ships is accompanied by a fireworks sequence. With the MS Sans Souci, a river cruise ship is taking part in the parade for the first time. A final fireworks display is the crowning highlight of the evening.

"The Hamburg Cruise Days - that's a very close-up cruise experience and a very special, nostalgic atmosphere in the Port of Hamburg," explains co-organiser Katja Derow (redroses communications). "Following the 'special edition' of the event last year, we are pleased to be able to present the event again this year in its old strength and with the popular highlights. The people of Hamburg and guests from all over the world can look forward to eventful days and atmospheric evenings in the Port of Hamburg.”

Blue Port Hamburg

It has been closely associated with the Hamburg Cruise Days since 2008, but always stands out as a work of light art in its own right and attracts thousands of people to the port of Hamburg in the evening hours: the Blue Port Hamburg, staged by Michael Batz. As in previous years, the light artist is dividing his work of art into two phases: the Blue Port Hamburg Art from 1.-7. September and the Blue Port Hamburg Event, which lets the port shine in magical blue during the Hamburg Cruise Days. With the light-up on September 1st, the edge of the harbor will be bathed in the first blue light, after which the light artwork will continue to grow into the harbor every day and illuminate dozens of buildings, bridges, ships and objects on the edge of the harbor until it is in full force on the event date splendor shines .

“The blue light has an impression of great calm, stability and serenity. The color blue draws us into the distance, blue conveys wanderlust,” says Michael Batz, explaining the fascination of his work of art. “Overall, the Blue Port is the story that just keeps going. It's not just about making something blue. It's about telling the story of the port and showing change and development.”

Sustainability - a big topic

The Hamburg Cruise Days offer the cruise industry a stage - and thus always also the public discussion about the sustainability of the industry. For many years, the shipping companies have been working to protect marine ecosystems and use resources sparingly, and are investing in new ships and emission-neutral propulsion technologies in order to achieve the long-term goal of climate-neutral cruises. This year, too, the participating shipping companies will therefore actively address the topic in their country presentations and present their developments and achievements in this area - e.g. with technical content, multimedia information or playful hands-on activities.

“The cruise industry has set itself ambitious sustainability goals and has the high aspiration to reconcile sustainability and growth. As organizers of this event, we observe and welcome that,” explains co-organiser Uwe Bergmann (uba).

The sustainable planning and implementation of the event itself is also a central aspect of the Hamburg Cruise Days. A comprehensive sustainability concept was developed for this purpose, which includes a waste avoidance strategy and a waste separation system across the entire site. Further measures such as a one-way ban, climate-friendly communication, reusable systems and digital information options for catering offers will also be introduced. The "Green Fork" seal system indicates sustainable gastronomy. A barrier-free design and the use of an internal "green checklist" to record CO2 emissions for water, electricity and waste are also part of the concept.

Public event at the port – trade fairs at Messe Hamburg

From September 4th to 10th, 2023, the metropolis of Hamburg will not only welcome the general public, but also professionals from the industry: For the fourth time, the Hanseatic city is bundling its cruise-related events and will once again be the stage for major cruise events. The Ports and Destination Summit of the world's largest cruise association CLIA (September 4th/5th) marks the start of this unique cruise week, followed by the two trade fairs Seatrade Europe and Marine Interiors (both September 6th-8th). Seatrade Europe is the premier event for the entire European cruise and river cruise industry; Marine Interiors is Europe's first independent trade fair for interior design, equipment and technology for passenger ships. The highlight of the week is the Hamburg Cruise Days
(September 8-10). With this combination of specialist events and public event, Hamburg will once again become a hotspot for the entire cruise world in September 2023.

Kathrin Schweppe-May
CGH Cruise Gate Hamburg GmbH
+49 40 42847 5083