Hamburg Cruise Days 2017: spectacular parade of cruise ships
14th September 2017
Following a slightly rainy start to the Hamburg Cruise Days 2017 event on 8 September 2017, the weather picked up on the second day attracting the usual number of visitors to the Port of Hamburg and making the Cruise Days again to the cruise industry’s largest public event worldwide.
The highlight of the day was the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade, which was the biggest in the history of the event, despite one of the six cruise ships originally meant to take part being absent.
The Hamburg Cruise Days switched into top gear on Saturday: around 250,000 visitors flocked to the event site to celebrate the highlight of the day: the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade.
Bathed in welcome sunshine and the waterside ambience of the harbour, visitors watched as the ships manoeuvred on the Elbe to get into position for the Grand Parade. At 2115 the formation was complete and the parade started.
Escorted by barges, sailing vessels and passenger ships, AIDAprima, Norwegian Jade, Europa 2, Europa and MSC Preziosa majestically sailed down the Elbe against the backdrop of the illuminated Blue Port Hamburg. Each ship was waved off on its journey with its own firework display and rousing music.
There was a minor disappointment in an otherwise magnificent display: instead of six ships, only five were able to take part. Due to a technical problem, Mein Schiff 3 was unable to sail in the parade as a rope had become entangled in the propeller as it was departing.
Taking place for the sixth time, the event highlights Hamburg’s reputation as the world’s number one in the area of maritime entertainment and cruise events. Till Sunday evening the city expects up to 500.000 visitors at the Cruise Days.
