104 arrivals in all have put in at the Port of Hamburg in 2010 (as compared with 87 in 2009[ds_preview]). The ships spent a total of 114 days* in the port. This was the first time in Hamburg’s cruise history that the threshold of 100 arrivals in a single season had been exceeded. At the season’s end the Hamburg Cruise Center expects to have reached a total of 235,000 passengers as against 126,839 in 2009, corresponding to an anticipated growth of nearly 85 % in comparison with the previous year. »The number of passengers in Hamburg has practically doubled in the space of a year. This underlines Hamburg’s increasing importance as a point of departure and destination«, Drossel went on. Measured by the number of ships putting in, on the other hand, growth comes to just 18 %. The disproportionate increase in the number of passengers is the result of the increasing capacity of the individual ships.
Prospects for the upcoming season again give cause for satisfaction. In 2011 the Hamburg Cruise Center is anticipating percentage growth in double figures, both for passenger numbers and for the number of ships putting in. The 2011 calls will start in March and ends with the traditional Christmas market calls in December. The new cruise terminal in Altona is due to be officially opened this season. To mark the Port of Hamburg’s birthday in 2011 as many as seven cruisers are expected.
Another very special event will be the christening of »Mein Schiff 2«, belonging to TUI Cruises, on 14 May. This is the second demonstration on the part of the shipping company of its commitment to the Hanseatic City. »Our maiden voyage starts in Hamburg on 15 May, and so it was an obvious and consistent choice to hold the christening of ›Mein Schiff 2‹ in this city of cruise aficionados«, said Richard J. Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises.
»Celebrity Silhouette«, the newest addition to Celebrity Cruises Solstice class family, will also make history this summer when shet is officially named in Hamburg. Built at the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, the 2,886-guest »Celebrity Silhouette« will be introduced to the world on July 21, 2011, with formal naming ceremonies that will kick off a two-night preview cruise for invited travel agents, press and other dignitaries.
»We are so honored that Germany will be the first country outside of the United States or the United Kingdom to host the naming of a Solstice Class ship,« said Tom Fecke, General Manager, RCL Cruises Ltd., Germany. »This is a clear commitment not only to the German cruise market, but also to the growing interest in the Celebrity Cruises brand, which continues to evolve and attract affluent vacationers. Hamburg, with its strong cruising tradition and appeal, provides an ideal setting, and we are very much looking forward to the celebration of the launch of this stunningly beautiful new ship.«
