By
Alex Smith |
Columbus Cruise Centre Bremerhaven (CCCB) in Bremerhaven, Germany broke its record for cruise passengers in 2019, receiving 250,000 visitors onboard almost 120 vessels and surpassing the previous high of 240,000 in 2018.
Highlights of the record-breaking season included the christenings of Cruise & Maritime Voyages' Vasco da Gama and Phoenix Reisen's Amera. Vasco de Gama was officially named on 9 June, with German godmother and singer Annett Louisan breaking the champagne bottle onto the ship’s hull. Celebrations included a firework display and live music, which was broadcast live to spectators via on screens in Willy-Brandt Square in the city of Bremerhaven.
Amera was christened at the quayside on 16 August by godmother Petra Kaiser, a Phoenix Reisen employee with over 40 years of service. The small ceremony welcomed the vessel into the operator’s fleet before it set out on its maiden voyage.
The biggest event of the season took place on 4 August, as ships in Phoenix Reisen’s fleet converged in Bremerhaven for their annual meeting. Around 6,000 passengers and 1,600 crew members onboard cruise ships Amadea, Deutschland, Artania and Albatros arrived at CCCB to take part in the event.
The season also saw TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 2 and AIDA Cruises’ AIDAcara making maiden calls at the terminal.
Passenger numbers are expected to reach a similar level in 2020.