Hamburg Cruise Passenger Numbers Rise in 2025

Hamburg has recorded 1,416,715 cruise passengers during the 2025 season, up from 1,301,295 in 2024. This growth further strengthens the city’s position as one of Northern Europe’s key cruise hubs.

Germany’s busiest cruise port welcomed 295 ship calls, compared to 266 the previous year, involving 46 different cruise ships. These included three first-time visits, along with an additional 43 calls from river cruise vessels.

Dr. Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics, Labour and Innovation, said: “Hamburg is not only an exciting destination for city trips, but also an excellent starting point for holidays. The Port of Hamburg is continuing its growth trajectory and consolidating its role as one of the leading cruise destinations in Northern Europe. In addition to freight, passenger shipping is also part of our port, brings visitors to our city and contributes to the added value of Hamburg’s economy – directly and indirectly, for example through income from tourism and hospitality, specialised suppliers, purchasing and supply as well as jobs.”

Hamburg also continues to make progress in sustainability efforts. The use of shore power increased significantly in 2025, with 162 cruise ships connected to emission-free energy while in port. This represents a rise of more than 25 percent compared to the previous year and accounts for 71 percent of all calls equipped to use shore power.

Starting in 2026, all three cruise terminals in Hamburg; Altona, Steinwerder, and HafenCity, will offer shore-side power connections. This will be in place four years ahead of the EU’s requirement mandating shore power use.

Jens Meier, CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority, said: “The renewed increase in passenger and call numbers show how strongly Hamburg is positioned in the international cruise market. At the same time, the social acceptance of this growth plays a decisive role in the long-term development of the industry. HPA therefore continuously invests in an efficient and future-oriented port infrastructure, such as modern terminals and nationwide shore power supply. The fact that almost two-thirds of all shore-powered ships already use this service confirms our course: sustainability and growth are not mutually exclusive in Hamburg.”

Iris Scheel, Managing Director of Cruise Gate Hamburg GmbH, added: “With its three terminals, Hamburg offers shipping companies and guests a flexible, attractive and future-oriented infrastructure. The high usage rate for shore power supply shows that the shipping companies are resolutely following this path. By fully equipping all cruise terminals with shore power, we are creating clear framework conditions and strengthening Hamburg’s role as a sustainable port in international competition.”

The rise in passenger numbers and ship visits highlights Hamburg’s increasing appeal as a cruise destination. This growth benefits not only cruise lines and travelers but also a wide range of local industries across the city and surrounding region, including retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.

Cruising is becoming an increasingly important contributor to Hamburg’s economy and tourism development, generating measurable increases in economic value. Findings from a passenger survey conducted at Hamburg’s cruise terminals in 2025 support this trend, showing that the city is gaining more from its role as both a national and international home port.