Port Anniversary News

Four magnificent tall ships  will come to Hamburg for the 830th Hamburg Port Anniversary from 10 to 12 May – Alexander von Humboldt II, Kruzenshtern, Sedov and Mir.The Queens of the oceans will participate in the grand arrival and departure parades in the heart of the city, on the Friday and Sunday respectively, and invite visitors to look around on board, said a press release from Germany's largest port.Alongside these amazing tall ships, the Hamburg Port Anniversary will be a meeting place for some 300 vessels of all kinds, including many classic sailing vessels that will also be open to visitors.The Alexander von Humboldt II is currently Germany’s largest operational sail training ship, with length overall 66 metres.

For the sixth time, the cruise line AIDA Cruises is main sponsor for the Hamburg Port Anniversary, demonstrating its continued dedication to the Hanseatic City. Hansjörg Kunze, Vice President Communication & Sustainability, says, “As one of the most important tourism partners of Hamburg, we want to significantly contribute to the event’s continued success. With AIDAluna, AIDAprima, AIDAsol and AIDAvita, the main sponsor will be contributing four ships to the festival. AIDA will not only delight guests to the 828th Hamburg Port Anniversary from the water but offer great attractions onshore as well. At HafenCity, right near the cruise terminal, visitors can learn all about the variety of AIDA cruises and explore show staterooms from Friday to Sunday in the 100-sqm-large AIDA World.

Carnival Corporation & plc officially welcomed its fleet’s newest ship with the christening of AIDAprima, now the flagship vessel for Carnival’s German-based brand AIDA Cruises. AIDAprima made its debut with a light show and naming ceremony witnessed in person by 1.6 million visitors at the 827th Hamburg Port Anniversary. AIDAprima launched as the corporation’s most environmentally friendly ship, equipped with a dual-fuel engine that can be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) while in port and at sea.

AIDA Cruises’ new flagship AIDAprima docked in Britain’s Southampton port for the first time on the morning of April 27, 2016, as part of a four-day short cruise. AIDAprima will become the first cruise ship to depart from a German port all year round, from May 3 onwards visiting Southampton on Mondays as part of seven-day cruises to Western European cities from Hamburg. From April 30, 2016 Hamburg will be the departure and arrival port for seven-day round trips to cities such as London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) completed delivery of the AIDAprima, the first of two large cruise ships being built for AIDA Cruises at MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works. A ceremony to mark the occasion was attended by Michael Thamm, CEO of the Costa Group, and Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises, representing the new owner, and Shunichi Miyanaga, President and CEO, and Yoichi Kujirai, Senior Executive Vice President and President/CEO of Commercial Aviation & Transportation Systems, representing MHI.

Young actress Emma Schweiger will christen AIDAprima, the new flagship of AIDA Cruises, as part of the 827th Hamburg Port Anniversary on May 7, 2016. The German cruise company made the announcement on March 11, 2016, during the ITB in Berlin. Emma Schweiger greeted all guests via video message. The 13-year-old has already captivated millions of people with roles in hit movies such as Rabbit Without Ears (Keinohrhasen), Rabbit Without Ears 2 (Zweiohrküken), Kokowääh and Head Full of Honey (Honig im Kopf). “Emma is perfect for the role of AIDAprima godmother.

AIDA Cruises will help the Port of Hamburg ring in its 827th anniversary with the christening if its new flagship, AIDAprima. AIDA Cruises will christen its 11th ship, AIDAprima, in Hamburg on May 7, 2016 as part of the celebrations for the 827th Hamburg Port Anniversary. From April 30, 2016, Hamburg will be the home port for AIDAprima’s seven-day round trips to Western Europe metropolises such as London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. “With AIDAprima, we are opening a new chapter in the history of the cruise industry,” said Felix Eichhorn, President AIDA Cruises.

Over the last weekend (May 9-11, 2014), 12 cruise ships visited the Port of Hamburg and were counted in total with 27 sail-by passages in front of the Landungsbrücken pontoons. Overall, 37,000 cruise passengers were handled during the three days of celebration. The cruise ships prominently showed themselves to the nearly one million visitors of the Port Anniversary, who were able to experience the ocean giants up close. The first day of the anniversary started with in total five cruise calls: “AIDAluna”…

AIDAluna left the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Hamburg yesterday after extensive maintenance work was carried out from April 26 to May 5, 2014. Work on the cruise ship included among others the installation of the first elements of a comprehensive filter system with which AIDA Cruises is gradually fitting out its fleet. The system for the treatment of exhaust gas emissions, which was developed within the Carnival Group, uses a new technology built in a compact form making it possible to technically integrate all of the main cleaning stages for the first time.

Luxury cruise ship 'Europa 2' is now in the service of Hapag-Lloyd cruises following delivery by STX France. At a formal ceremony, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has taken delivery of the modern and casual luxury ship Europa 2 from the STX France shipyard in Saint Nazaire. Dr Wolfgang Flägel, Managing Director of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Laurent Castaing, General Manager of STX France, signed the takeover protocol. After 20 months under construction, the management of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises says it has satisfied itself on the outstanding condition of the new cruise ship.

The German trade hub recently opened the 'Gateway to India' at Hamburg's Port Anniversary, the world's largest port festival. Highlights of the 823th port anniversary included the spectacular christening ceremony of the AIDAmar, turning Hamburg's port into the world's largest baptismal font.. Trade relations between Hamburg and India date back to the 16th century. Hamburg is Germany's gateway to India: each year, 300,000 containers to and from India are handled in Hamburg; the trade volume approximates €1.3 billion. Hamburg and India maintain excellent relations in politics, business, science and culture. At the festival, about two million German visitors to the port festival gain an insight into this year's partner country.

The ninth AIDA Schiff will be named AIDAmar. The new vessel will be presented to the public during the 823rd Hamburg Port Anniversary celebrations with a-christening ceremony on 12 May 2012. The three identically designed sister ships, AIDAluna, AIDAblu and AIDAsol, will accompany the latest addition to the fleet as godparents during a parade of ships in the Port of Hamburg. The sister ship, AIDAsol, will be christened beforehand in Kiel on 9 April 2011. The company is are looking for a godmother for this new vessel online.