The €64 million Cruise Center Steinwerder was built by Flughafen Hamburg and Hamburg Port Authority
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) officially inaugurated its third cruise terminal, the Cruise Center Steinwerder, on 9 June.
Built by the HPA and Flughafen Hamburg airport for €64 million, Cruise Center Steinwerder was opened just 198 days after the construction project began in July 2014. It was opened by Frank Horch, Hamburg’s Minister for Economic and Labour Affairs; Jens Meier, chairman of the management board of HPA; Michael Eggenschwiler, chairman of Flughafen Hamburg’s management board; and Sacha Rougier, managing director of Cruise Gate Hamburg.
“Over the past years the cruise industry in Hamburg has seen a remarkable development and despite its lack of palm trees and Caribbean flair, the city has become one of the cruise destinations of choice in Europe,” said Horch. “This is an impressive development that benefits Hamburg’s economy and the third terminal will ensure that the economic potential can be maximised.”
Designed to accommodate large modern cruise ships with a draft of up to 13m, Hamburg’s third dedicated cruise terminal spans 9,000sqm and is comprised of two separate arrivals and departure buildings, shopping facilities and a bistro. Visiting ships will dock at the Kronprinzkai (Crown Prince Quay), while passengers will embark and disembark the ships via two boarding bridges.
The terminal can be reached by car or by bus via Buchheisterstraße, which was recently expanded to three lanes, or by ferry. There are also more than 1,500 parking spaces.
“Thanks to the commitment of many players, Hamburg as a cruise destination has developed well over the past few years,” said Sacha Rougier, managing director of Cruise Gate Hamburg. “The new terminal will ensure that Hamburg continues to be a popular cruise port.”
Cruise Center Steinwerder welcomed its first cruise call from AIDA Cruises’ AIDAbella on 23 May.