Cruise Gate Hamburg (CGH), the operator of the city’s cruise terminals, has officially opened its new Cruise Center HafenCity, a facility situated in the heart of the HafenCity district.
After a soft-opening period, the terminal has become fully operational. It provides two berths—one 345 metres in length and another 230 metres—designed to handle both large liners and smaller cruise vessels. The building encompasses about 10,300 square metres over four levels: two underground levels serve taxi, car, and bus traffic, and two above-ground levels handle passenger embarkation and disembarkation. The terminal includes its own subway station and parking for 1,500 vehicles.
Vessels docking at the new terminal sail past the historic Landungsbrücken and the Elbphilharmonie before arriving at HafenCity, with proximity to attractions such as the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier, Port des Lumières, the LEGO Discovery Centre, Speicherstadt, and Miniatur Wunderland.
Hamburg’s First Mayor, Dr. Peter Tschentscher, has observed that passengers will need only a few minutes to reach downtown and historical sites via subway, bus, or on foot. The infrastructure of the new terminal aligns with the city’s goal of integrating cruise tourism into the urban fabric, enhancing access to retail, culture, and entertainment while supporting environmental aims.
By 2026, the HafenCity terminal will be fitted with two high-voltage shore power connection points capable of supplying up to 14 megavolt-ampere, allowing one large and one smaller vessel to draw electricity from shore during port stays. This is part of Hamburg’s broader policy: as of 2027, all cruise ships capable of using shore power will be required to do so when calling at any of Hamburg’s terminals.
In 2025, 48 cruise calls are scheduled at the new Cruise Center HafenCity—18 during the test phase prior to official opening, and 30 more before year’s end. For 2026, 94 calls have already been confirmed. Across its three permanent cruise terminals (HafenCity, Steinwerder, and Altona), Hamburg expects approximately 300 cruise ship arrivals in 2025.
This terminal represents Hamburg’s third permanent cruise facility and underscores the city’s strategy of combining urban integration, environmental infrastructure, and improved passenger experience in its maritime operations.