German ports
Hamburg
Germany · North Sea / Elbe · 3 terminals
approx. 266 calls (2024)
Hamburg is Germany’s leading cruise departure port on the Elbe: Cruise Gate Hamburg with terminals in Altona, Steinwerder and HafenCity – strong rail and motorway links, the city right on the water, and many AIDA and Mein Schiff departures.
Ideal for: City breaks, Mediterranean & Canaries departures, AIDA/Mein Schiff
- Departure port
- 3 terminals
- Elbe / North Sea
Cruise terminals & harbour traffic
Cruise Gate Hamburg operates the main passenger terminals on the Elbe. Depending on ship and line, cruise ships berth in Altona, Steinwerder or HafenCity – check-in, luggage and shuttles vary by terminal.
Alongside cruise traffic, the Port of Hamburg remains one of Europe’s key cargo hubs. Live AIS and harbour radar help keep arrivals and departures in view.
- Three terminal sites: Altona, Steinwerder, HafenCity
- High frequency of turnaround and call traffic
- Live overview at /hafenradar-hamburg
- Webcams and more cams at /haefen/webcams
Typical cruises from Hamburg
AIDA and Mein Schiff as well as other lines regularly depart from Hamburg. Popular destinations include the Canaries, western Mediterranean, Northern Europe and seasonal short North Sea or Baltic trips.
Many guests combine departure with one or two city days – Landungsbrücken, Speicherstadt and HafenCity are often a short ride from the terminal.
- Strong for AIDA and Mein Schiff departures
- Canaries and Mediterranean routes especially in the cooler months
- Northern Europe and Baltic programmes in summer
- Ideal turnaround port with good arrival options
Getting there, radar & tips
Hamburg is easy to reach by long-distance rail, airport and motorway. Parking and shuttle offers differ by terminal – check-in times and luggage drop-off are in the line’s travel documents.
Ship positions and traffic in the port area can be followed via Hamburg harbour radar and the AIS map on this page.
- Arrive early: city traffic and terminal access can be busy
- Check the terminal in advance (Altona vs Steinwerder vs HafenCity)
- Live AIS and radar: /hafenradar-hamburg
- More port webcams: /haefen/webcams
Live ship traffic
AIS-based view via VesselFinder – coverage and freshness can vary.
Map after cookie consent
The embedded map loads third-party content. Enable the “Functional” category in cookie settings to view it.
Webcams
Open live cams with the provider in a new tab.
Landungsbrücken / Elbe
Blick über die Landungsbrücken Richtung Hafen und Elbphilharmonie
Open webcam ↗Große Elbstraße / Altona
Elbe mit Blick Richtung Cruise Center Altona und Dockland
Open webcam ↗Webcam Neuhof
Panorama aus ca. 62 m Höhe mitten im Hafen
Open webcam ↗
Arrivals & departures
Scheduled times from the terminal operator (Cruise Gate Hamburg).
Schiffsankünfte Cruise Gate Hamburg
Open schedule ↗Frequently asked questions
Which cruise terminals are there in Hamburg?
Cruise Gate Hamburg operates terminals in Altona, Steinwerder and HafenCity. Which one is used depends on ship and line and is stated in your booking confirmation.
Do AIDA and Mein Schiff sail from Hamburg?
Yes. Hamburg is one of the most important departure ports for AIDA and Mein Schiff in Germany. The programme changes by season – typically Canaries, Mediterranean, Northern Europe and short cruises.
Where can I see ships live in the Port of Hamburg?
On this page via the AIS map and at /hafenradar-hamburg. Additional webcams are at /haefen/webcams.
More ports in this overview
Editorial overview. Terminal counts, call figures and external links can vary by season and operator.