HAMBURG HARBOR CRUISES
Explore the Maritime Waterways of Hamburg
Hamburg is defined by its harbor, the second largest port in Northern Europe where the Elbe River grows wide as it flows to the North Sea. In Hamburg, the waters from the river meander through fingers and channels for many kilometers and even travels through canals into the city, where locks raise and lower the levels between the upper and lower Alsters, two small lakes which are the central feature of the city’s heart surrounded by grand hotels, shopping streets and offices of Hamburg centered international corporations. And no visit to the city is really complete without a cruise of the waterways of this massive complex of maritime life which define it.
Hamburg offers a variety of boat cruise options. A narrated cruise through the channels of the harbor, among the cranes hoisting containerized freight, with some of the most modern computerized freight handling advances, and past Hamburg’s centuries-old brick freight warehouses, the Speicherstadt (see Hamburg Miniature Model Railway) still in use along the canals where workman raise cargo from the barges below on ropes to the storage floors three stories above the waterline. Theme dinner cruises range from a Mississippui style River Paddle Boat to harbor floating broadway dinner shows.
Harbor Ferries - Sightseeing Round Trip
Harbor passenger ferry service has been offered in the Hamburg Harbor since the late 1800s. The Public Harbor Ferries can be taken to various landing points with a standard HVV transit ticket or Hamburg CARD. The HADAG company also runs Sightseeing Boat Trips of the Harbor and Lower Elbe (Hafenrundfahrt) on a regular schedule, four to five departures daily depending on the season. A great family sight-seeing activity, kids especially will love the close up views of the bulbous noses of giant freighters in dry dock and arching crane arms as the tour boat travels through the locks which control the channel heights, ducking under the low tunnel bridges. The tours last one hour and depart from the St Pauli Landungsbricke. Prices are 18 euro for adults and 9 euro for children, with Family discount tickets available. Hadag
Maritime Circle Line On-Off
The Maritime Circle Line is a newer shuttle service connecting Hamburg's maritime cultural attractions, exhibitions, museums, examples of architecture and historical vessels. A “Hop-on/Hop-Off” variety of tour, the circle line also departs from the Landingsbricke and other stops. The price for the full Circle Line route is 16 euro for adults and 8 euro of children 7-15 and goes to the Ballinstadt Museum (see Hamburg Emigration Museum) and the International Maritime Museum (see Hamburg Model Ships). Maritime Circle Line
Alster and Canal Cruises
You can also take a cruise of the Alster Lakes and the canal waterways with the White Alster Fleet. A number of cruise varieties are offered. The Alster Cruise is a circuit of 9 docks around the Alsters with on/off ability. The Alster Round Trip is a narrated shoreline cruise of one hour. The Waterways Trip tour is a one hour journey through the canals and locks of the city, offering a close up look at the true heart of Hamburg. Twilight theme cruises are offered and drinks and snacks are offer on board. Prices vary, see Alster Cruise © Bargain
Travel Europe
Find best hotel and vacation deals in Hamburg on Tripadvisor
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.
Web Info
Hamburg Tourism
See Also:
HAMBURG'S
LANDMARK ST. MICHAELIS CHURCH
HAMBURG'S
REEPERBAHN
COLOGNE TO HAMBURG BY NIGHT TRAIN
