Hamburg, Germany

Cruise Center Steinwerder is the largest and most modern of Hamburg's cruise terminals, officially opened in 2015. Located on the southern side of the Elbe River at Buchheisterstraße 16, this facility was designed to accommodate the world’s largest cruise ships and serves as a primary terminal for turnaround operations.

The terminal features a spacious layout with separate embarkation and disembarkation halls, ensuring smooth passenger flow and efficient logistics. It offers a full suite of services including check-in counters, customs and immigration processing, baggage handling, air-conditioned waiting areas, and a limited selection of vending and refreshment options. Due to its location in the harbor’s industrial area, it is not accessible by foot and requires transportation via port shuttle, taxi, or private transfer. Shuttle services are typically provided by cruise lines to link passengers to central Hamburg or public transit hubs. Parking facilities are available nearby for both short- and long-term stays. Cruise Center Steinwerder primarily hosts major international cruise lines such as AIDA Cruises, MSC Cruises, Costa, and TUI Cruises.

Located at Van-der-Smissen-Straße 5, Cruise Center Altona is a stylish, mid-sized terminal situated along Hamburg’s western waterfront, approximately 4 kilometers from the city center. Opened in 2011, the terminal features a contemporary architectural design with a panoramic rooftop terrace that offers passengers and visitors sweeping views of the harbor. The terminal includes check-in counters, customs and security processing, air-conditioned waiting areas, and convenient ground-level baggage handling. A small café is available inside the terminal. Unlike Steinwerder, Altona is well integrated into the city’s public transport system—bus lines 111 and 112 stop directly at the terminal, making it easily accessible for both arriving and departing passengers. Taxis and private vehicles can also drop off or pick up passengers at the entrance. Altona typically serves mid-sized and premium cruise ships, including those from TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd, and luxury lines such as Ponant and Seabourn.

Cruise Center HafenCity is Hamburg’s most centrally located cruise terminal, positioned at Chicagokai 1 in the heart of the HafenCity redevelopment zone—just 1 to 2 kilometers from key attractions such as the Elbphilharmonie, Speicherstadt, and city center shopping districts. Although currently a temporary facility pending the completion of a new cruise terminal expected by 2025/26, HafenCity still provides essential services for smaller and boutique vessels. 

The terminal includes basic check-in and customs processing, baggage services, and limited passenger amenities. Due to its compact size, the terminal lacks extensive boarding infrastructure and instead uses gangways for embarkation. The location is highly walkable and well connected by Hamburg’s public transit system, with nearby U-Bahn (subway) stations, taxis, and city buses offering easy access for passengers. Cruise Center HafenCity is favored by luxury and expedition cruise lines such as Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Ponant, and river cruise operators during special port calls or events.