MS Hamburg

The 1997-built MS Hamburg cruise ship is operated by Plantours. The vessel’s current owner is Ligabue Group (Plantours’ parent company), which acquired her in 2025 from Conti Group.

The previous owner, Conti Holding GmbH (a 1995-founded investment and shipping company with stakes in various maritime ventures), had chartered MS Hamburg to Plantours und Partner GmbH — a Bremen-based cruise company operating under the travel brand Plantours Kreuzfahrten. Plantours’ fleet also includes several chartered riverboats.

The vessel (IMO number 9138329) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309908000) and registered in Nassau.

Previously known as "MS Columbus" (1997–2012, operated via the Bahamas-registered "Columbus Conti 1 Kreuzfahrt Ltd"), the ship was chartered to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and was replaced in 2012 by Columbus 2 (now Oceania Insignia).

The ship’s relatively low draft (5 m / 16 ft) allows her to navigate inland waterways (rivers and lakes) and sail close to shore, making her suitable for scenic fjord and coastal cruising.

Decks and cabins

MS Hamburg has 197 staterooms accommodating up to 420 passengers.

All cabins are equipped with individually controlled air conditioning, HDTV, radio, direct-dial phone, electronic safe, and lifejackets (in the closet), as well as a mini-bar/fridge, writing desk with chair, and an en-suite bathroom (toilet, single-sink vanity, shower, hairdryer, bathrobes). Five cabins are designed for families, two feature balconies, and two are wheelchair-accessible (with ground-level entrance, accessible bathroom with fold-out shower seat, WC with holding rails, electronically adjustable bed, and a pull-out sofabed for an accompanying person).

The vessel has six passenger decks, of which five include cabins.

Shipboard facilities

The wellness complex features a Sauna, Hair Studio (Friseur), and Fitness Room (Gym). Dining venues include two restaurants — Alsterblick and Lido Buffet — and two bar lounges — Hamburg Lounge and Palmgarten.

Other onboard facilities include a Library (Bibliothek), Card Room/E-Mail Center (Kartenspielraum), Photo Gallery and Shop (Fotogalerie), Boutique (duty-free shop), Arcade Games (Arkaden), and a Tavern/Wine Bar (Weinstube).

The top deck features the forward-located Palmgarten Lounge & Bar with an adjacent outdoor terrace (Palmgartenbalkon) and the aft-positioned Sonnen-Deck (Sun Deck) with loungers, deckchairs, and a swimming pool.

Itineraries

Plantours’ MS Hamburg operates mainly European itineraries departing from her homeport in Hamburg, Germany. Mediterranean voyages often depart from Valletta (Malta) and Istanbul (Turkey). Other itineraries include the Red Sea, Asia, Iceland, Greenland, the Canary Islands and the Azores, Northern Europe (Baltic Sea, Scandinavia, Norwegian Fjords), Africa, South America, and the Caribbean.

The ship also operates World Voyages departing from Hamburg.

During her charter with Hapag-Lloyd, MS Hamburg (then MS Columbus) also offered itineraries in North America, including seasonal cruises on the Great Lakes between 1997 and 2011.

The vessel (Wismar yard/hull number 451) was built by MTW Schiffswerft GmbH (now MV Werften Wismar) in Wismar, Germany. Construction began on September 5, 1995, with the keel-laying ceremony, and concluded on June 17, 1997, with the delivery to the Munich-based shipowner Conti Holding GmbH. The ship was launched (floated out from drydock) on October 30, 1996.

Between 1997 and 2012, the vessel sailed as "C Columbus" under charter to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

The ship’s powerplant consists of four Wärtsilä marine diesel engines (model 6L32) with a combined output of 10.56 MW. Propulsion is provided by two controllable pitch propellers (CPPs).

MS Hamburg refurbishments review

During the drydock refurbishment in 2020 (at Lisnave Shipyard in Setúbal, Portugal), all staterooms and public areas received new carpeting. The Palm Garden Lounge (deck 6 forward), Lobby Reception (deck 3), and Wine Bar (deck 5) were redesigned and renovated, with the Wine Bar expanded into the former Boutique Shop area. On Lido Deck (deck 6), the sundeck area was upgraded with new flooring, and a new pool bar was installed.

The previous drydock (in 2018), also at Lisnave Shipyard, involved a USD 20 million modernization project by Plantours. In addition to regular maintenance and technical upgrades, 42 passenger staterooms were fitted with French Balconies (infinity windows). These electric-powered, slide-down windows open to glass railings when lowered.

During the next scheduled drydocking, the vessel will receive Plantours Kreuzfahrten’s new livery and logo (announced in March 2024) to mark the company’s 35th anniversary.

Plantours World Cruise 2023

The following itinerary lists all ports and destinations visited during MS Hamburg’s World Voyage 2023 — a 249-day journey from Hamburg to Istanbul. The voyage features sailing around the Svalbard Islands (including Spitsbergen Island), fjord cruising in Iceland and Greenland, lake cruising in Canada and the USA, the Caribbean, Panama Canal transit, South America (including the Chilean Fjords/Patagonia), Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Africa, Suez Canal transit, and the Mediterranean (including the Holy Land).

Prices started from EUR 47850 (USD 48540 / GBP 40285) per person with double occupancy.

Plantours World Cruise 2022

Next table lists MS Hamburg's World Voyage 2022 (268-day itinerary roundtrip from Hamburg) that visits 6x Cuban port cities.

Prices started from EUR 39400 (USD 39980 / GBP 33150) per person with double occupancy.