Karl WP Beyer November 8, 2020 - The Senate of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg expects declining business figures in the cruise business for the current year. While 915000 passengers were counted at the three Hamburg cruise terminals in 2018, just 800000 guests are expected for 2019. It can be assumed that the level will remain roughly the same in the next two years.
A request from the CDU MP Ralf Niedmers got the ball rolling. The Hamburg Senate informed the citizenship about the calls of the cruise ships in the port of Hamburg. From January to September 2019 a total of 171 cruise ships called at Hamburg. The number of passengers is given as 684.000. In the same period of the previous year, however, more than 767.000 ship passengers were counted. The annual forecast for 2019 was reduced to around 800.000 passengers. In 2018 as a whole, 915.000 cruise guests visited the Port of Hamburg. The year 2019 closed with a minus of 12,6 percent.
Fish market hall Hamburg Altona
In the previous years, the Hanseatic city experienced a real boom. The number of passengers increased by 2013 percent between 2018 and 73. The general rule: Hamburg is a tried and tested starting and ending point for cruises as well as an attractive stopover.
HafenCity - Marco Polo Terraces
While the CDU MP sees the drop in passenger numbers as an alarm signal, the Hamburg Senate sees no cause for panic. The key message about the declining numbers is: The cruise industry is subject to fundamental fluctuations. Market participants are prepared for it. Cruise Gate Hamburg, responsible for the international marketing of the cruise and the allocation of berths, does not comment on the deplorable figures.
