The construction of the Hamburg Cruise Center in HafenCity created a temporary cruise terminal close to the city centre.
The atmosphere of departure characterises the container terminal at Grasbrook Harbour. Work on the new terminal has already begun, and from 2021 onwards cruise passengers can expect a sophisticated shopping complex here. The special feature of the terminal is its location, because here, in the middle of HafenCity, the ships "park" practically in the first row: at the end of the Elbe cruise they pass the Landungsbrücken and anchor opposite the Elbphilharmonie - between modern HafenCity and the UNESCO World Heritage Speicherstadt.
Around the terminal: staying overnight
Three hotels have recently made a name for themselves in Hafencity: The newly opened The Westin in the Elbphilharmonie is certainly one of the most spectacular hotels - floor-to-ceiling glazed rooms with sensational views over the harbour, you can't get to sleep because you want to see it, the five-star service does the rest. The two 25 hours-hotels are particularly popular with younger guests. There are two in the HafenCity, the newer 25 hours Hotel Altes Hafenamt is housed in a former captain's house and at the same time the oldest building in HafenCity. The 25 hours Hotel Hafencity impresses with its rooms, which are called berths and offer a maritime maritime atmosphere.
Around the terminal: Experience
What began with a passion for miniature ships became the foundation of a vast collection of maritime artifacts - from cutlery on board a twin-screw fast steamer to the ship's bell of AUGUSTA VICTORIA and entire boats and components. The manager Peter Tamm, who died at the end of 2016, left behind a collection that today fills the seven floors of the International Maritime Museum Hamburg.
Following the example of the London Ducktours in an amphibian bus, which also enters the Thames, the HafenCity RiverBus offers a "city cruise", first through the gorges of the new Hamburg district, then down to the river.
Around the terminal: Enjoy
He was the youngest cook to be awarded three Michelin stars in Germany: Kevin Fehling, who worked on a cruise ship (EUROPA) for several years , took all his courage together and decided against the world of high class cuisine and for a modern enjoyment concept - the guests sit at a table which runs through the restaurant in a curved line. The Table is one of the most spectacular restaurants in town!
One of the city's most beautiful cafés is a 20-minute cycle tour (there is a city bike rental station in front of Unilever House) from Hafencity, four kilometres to Entenwerder Eins, a café built on a pontoon that swings like a ship.
Typically Hamburg
The Oberhafen canteen, opposite Ericusspitze, on which the Spiegel building stands, is one of the so-called coffee flaps, of which there used to be many for the countless dock workers. Here they ate meatballs and potato salad, served by a landlady who stood behind the bar for 72 years. Anita Haendel died 20 years ago at the age of 84. Today the small restaurant, which was crooked after the last storm tide, belongs to the Hamburg gastronomer Sebastian Libbert. The evening meal is a pleasure.
