Author: Nicole de Jong

As the ’Halunder Jet‘ slowly lets loose of the jetties at 8.30 in the morning, the sun sparkles on the gentle waves and seagulls accompany the ship with their calls. Its destination is Helgoland, 186 km away and Germany’s only high seas island, which the catamaran will reach at an impressive speed.

The trip from Hamburg to the North Sea is an experience in itself. As the catamaran glides down the Elbe, it offers views of a fascinating backdrop of maritime and urban life. On the port side, the boat dances past the huge container terminals of the port. The striking theatre auditorium for The Lion King musical rises up in the background, while the modern HafenCity with the Elbphilharmonie concert hall are absolute eye-catchers, and even the historic brick buildings of the Speicherstadt are poking out from behind.

The first few nautical miles lead down the Elbe, past the Airbus factory, as the picturesque Elbe suburbs such as Blankenese with its magnificent villas and the famous staircase district stand out on the starboard side. Further downstream, imposing green dyke landscapes line both sides of the river, protecting the Elbe marshes.

After around two hours, the catamaran makes its first short stop in Brunsbüttel and docks 45 minutes later at the mouth of the Elbe in Cuxhaven.

The mood on board is relaxed thanks to a modern stabilisation system, so the journey remains pleasant even when the ’Halunder Jet‘ reaches the open North Sea and the swell increases. “The boat rests calmly in the water even in strong gusts – that’s real comfort”, says Captain Boris Dahlke, who has been steering the catamaran safely across the Elbe, through the challenging Elbe estuary and across the North Sea for 18 years.

After about three and a half hours, the catamaran approaches its destination and the impressive red rocky coast of Heligoland appears on the horizon. The ‘Halunder Jet’ finally moors in the inland harbour. The island is an enticing spot for visitors. When the afternoon arrives, the lines are let loose once again and the ’Halunder Jet‘ sets course back to Hamburg. The catamaran cuts easily through water and begins to approach the mouth of the Elbe. Then this latest jaunt through the region takes the boat safely back to the Port of Hamburg. When the ’Halunder Jet‘ docks at the jetties in the evening, it brings an outing to an end that will remain indelibly memorable – a charming experience that passengers are almost certain to repeat.