Hamburg Cruise Days 2017: spectacular parade of cruise liner

Following a slightly rainy start to the event on Friday, the weather picked up on the second day of the Hamburg Cruise Days 2017 – attracting the usual number of visitors to the Port of Hamburg and making the Cruise Days again to the cruise industry’s largest public event worldwide. The highlight of the day was the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade – the biggest in the history of the event, even without one of the originally planned six cruise ships.

The Hamburg Cruise Days switched into top gear on Saturday: around 250,000 visitors flocked to the event site to celebrate the highlight of the day: the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade.

Bathed in very welcome sunshine and the wonderful waterside ambiance of the harbour, visitors watched as the gigantic ships manoeuvred on the Elbe to get into position for the Grand Parade. Finally, at 21:15, the formation was complete and the parade started. Escorted by barges, sailing vessels and passenger ships, the AIDAprima, Norwegian Jade, EUROPA 2, EUROPA and MSC Preziosa majestically sailed down the Elbe against the backdrop of the illuminated Blue Port Hamburg. Each ship was waved off on its journey with its own firework display and rousing music.

There was a minor disappointment in an otherwise magnificent display: instead of six ships, only five were able to take part. Due to a technical problem, Mein Schiff 3 was unable to sail in the parade as a rope had become entangled in the propeller as it was departing.

Taking place for the sixth time, the event highlights Hamburg’s reputation as the world's number one in the area of maritime entertainment and cruise events. Till Sunday evening the city expects up to 500.000 visitors at the Cruise Days. To learn more about Hamburg as a cruise location and about the Hamburg Cruise Days, please visit www.hamburg-tourismus.de/cruises and www.hamburgcruisedays.de.