Cruise industry in Germany - statistics & facts
A cruise voyage is a vacation trip on a cruise ship, during which various ports are reached in the time of travel where passengers can disembark. The main share of the vacation is spent aboard, which is the primary goal of travelers. Trips differ depending on their shipping routes or which type of waterway is used: sea or river. The ship trips are offered as an all-inclusive tour with a collective package of travel services. Passengers board a vessel large enough to include accommodation, namely cabin rooms, and restaurant facilities, as well as carry supplies and cargo. The larger the cruise ship, the more leisure it can house for passengers. Essentially such a ship is a swimming hotel complex. Cruise ships are not to be confused with ocean liners, the purpose of which is transporting passengers.
The German cruise industry, same as its counterparts around the world, suffered massively during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Travel bans, border closures, restrictive measures in daily life, rising case numbers and financial hardships for passengers all led to a long-term standstill the market is still recovering from. Passenger numbers plummeted in ports across the country. Taking the Port of Hamburg as an example, one of the busiest in Germany and in Europe, after the peaks of 2018-2019, the contrast was evident. Encouragingly so, passenger numbers have started to rise since 2022, becoming comparable to pre-pandemic years. Around 2.53 million sea cruise passengers sailed from Germany that year. Besides several well-known rivers flowing through the country, such as the Danube, Rhine and Elbe, cruise enthusiasts can also access the North and Baltic Seas. In addition to Hamburg, other leading cruise ports include Rostock/ Warnemünde and Kiel, all located in the north of Germany.
The German cruise industry, same as its counterparts around the world, suffered massively during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Travel bans, border closures, restrictive measures in daily life, rising case numbers and financial hardships for passengers all led to a long-term standstill the market is still recovering from. Passenger numbers plummeted in ports across the country. Taking the Port of Hamburg as an example, one of the busiest in Germany and in Europe, after the peaks of 2018-2019, the contrast was evident. Encouragingly so, passenger numbers have started to rise since 2022, becoming comparable to pre-pandemic years. Around 2.53 million sea cruise passengers sailed from Germany that year. Besides several well-known rivers flowing through the country, such as the Danube, Rhine and Elbe, cruise enthusiasts can also access the North and Baltic Seas. In addition to Hamburg, other leading cruise ports include Rostock/ Warnemünde and Kiel, all located in the north of Germany.
