The Port of Kiel’s cruise shipping season reached a unique 2010 season high point Friday, July 2nd with four cruise ships on show at the same time. For the first and only time this year four liners were on show as well as the big ferries of Color Line and Stena Line. Alongside “AIDAcara” and “Princess Daphne” were the two elegant new mega yachts “Seabourn Sojourn” – berthed at the Schwedenkai from 7 a.m. to about 1 pm – and “Le Boréal” – tied up at the Norwegenkai between 1 and 9 pm. Both were making their first visits to Kiel. Dr. Dirk Claus, the Managing Director of the Port of Kiel (SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH & Co. KG) said “it’s an honor to welcome both of these luxury newbuildings to Kiel. Visitors enjoyed a splendid sight in the port on Friday”. To mark their first visits, the captains of “Seabourn Sojourn” and “Le Boréal” were presented with traditional gifts from the port at ceremonies on board the two ships.
"Seabourn Sojourn”, of 32,000 GT, 198 m long and carrying 450 passengers, arrived early morning at the Schwedenkai and left for Dover around mid day. “Le Boréal”, of 10,700 GT, 142 m long and carrying 264 passengers arrived from Hamburg via the Kiel Canal and left late evening for Lübeck and then Copenhagen. During the half-day visits, passengers were able to undertake land excursions. Dirk Claus said “the international shipping companies are increasingly acknowledging Schleswig-Holstein’s many tourist destinations. It’s our intention to further increase our market share in this sector. To do this, we will also intensify our marketing activities again, particularly in the USA”, he added. Last year well over 40,000 cruise ship passengers took part in land excursions into Schleswig-Holstein from the Port of Kiel. This is expected to rise in the coming years. Passengers can choose regional excursions to Laboe, Molfsee and Schleswig or trips to the Hansa League cities of Lübeck and Hamburg. In addition, passengers are also fond of individual tours within the city of Kiel itself.