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MSC Euribia at Saint-Nazaire, June 2023, sailing from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany

Cruise Frog guide

Cruises from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg and Kiel are Germany's main ocean cruise ports, with sailings to the Baltic, Norway and the British Isles.

Things to do in Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany

  • Elbphilharmonie PlazaA free viewing deck on the concert hall over the harbour.
  • Speicherstadt and Miniatur WunderlandRed-brick warehouses and the world's biggest model railway.
  • Harbour boat tourContainer ships and docks from the Landungsbrücken piers.
  • Fish marketThe Sunday morning Fischmarkt, early.
  • Kiel FjordThe promenade and the U-boat at Laboe, from Kiel's terminals.

When to go

  1. Jan: low season
  2. Feb: low season
  3. Mar: low season
  4. Apr: shoulder season
  5. May: high season
  6. Jun: high season
  7. Jul: high season
  8. Aug: high season
  9. Sep: high season
  10. Oct: shoulder season
  11. Nov: shoulder season
  12. Dec: shoulder season

Northern Europe sailings run from spring to autumn; in winter a few ships sail south to the Canaries.

Flying in and getting to the ship

Easy transferHamburg's cruise terminals (Altona, Steinwerder, HafenCity) are about 15 km from Hamburg Airport, 20 to 30 minutes by taxi, or S-Bahn into town and a short taxi. Kiel is about 1.5 hours from Hamburg Airport by road; lines run coach transfers.

Rental cars: Available at the airport, though trains and taxis cover the trip.

The airport for Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany is Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM), with 4 lounges to wait in before you board.

Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM) on Lounge Frog

Ships sailing from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany

All ports
4.2 ★TUI CruisesMein Schiff Flow2026 · 3,984 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsMein Schiff Flow is the second InTUItion class ship of TUI Cruises and a sister to Mein Schiff Relax. Fincantieri handed her over at Monfalcone on 12 June 2026, her first voyage…MSC Euribia at Saint-Nazaire, June 20233.5 ★MSC CruisesMSC Euribia2023 · 184,011 GT · 6,327 guests · Norwegian Fjords · MediterraneanMSC Euribia is the third Meraviglia Plus-class ship and the second LNG-powered ship in the MSC fleet, launched in June 2022 and in service since June 2023. At 184,011 gross tons…AIDAnova near Hook of Holland, 20243.3 ★AIDA CruisesAIDAnova2018 · 183,858 GT · 5,252 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAIDAnova was the first cruise ship able to run entirely on liquefied natural gas when Meyer Werft delivered it in December 2018. The 183,858-ton Excellence-class ship, AIDA's…MSC Preziosa near Hook of Holland, May 20243.3 ★MSC CruisesMSC Preziosa2013 · 139,072 GT · 3,959 guests · Northern EuropeMSC Preziosa is the fourth and last Fantasia-class ship, built at Saint-Nazaire and in service since March 2013. At 139,072 gross tons she is a near twin of MSC Divina, and in…AIDAperla in Le Havre, 20183.2 ★AIDA CruisesAIDAperla2017 · 125,572 GT · 3,286 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAIDAperla is AIDAprima's sister, a 125,572-ton Hyperion-class ship built by Mitsubishi in Nagasaki and delivered in spring 2017. It has 1,643 cabins for 3,286 guests at double…AIDAprima in Rotterdam, 20163.2 ★AIDA CruisesAIDAprima2016 · 125,572 GT · 3,286 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsAIDAprima is AIDA's flagship, a 125,572-ton Hyperion-class ship built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Nagasaki, the first AIDA ship since 2003 not built by Meyer Werft…AIDAbella in Kiel, 20223.0 ★AIDA CruisesAIDAbella2008 · 69,203 GT · 2,050 guests · Northern Europe · CaribbeanAIDAbella is the second Sphinx-class ship, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg and in service since 2008, with 1,025 cabins for about 2,050 guests. Its name was picked in a naming…AIDAluna anchored off Road Town, Tortola, 20243.0 ★AIDA CruisesAIDAluna2009 · 69,203 GT · 2,050 guests · Northern Europe · CaribbeanAIDAluna is the third Sphinx-class ship, delivered by Meyer Werft in March 2009; its maiden voyage left Hamburg on 22 March 2009 for Palma de Mallorca. The 69,203-ton ship has…Costa Favolosa in Barcelona, 20183.0 ★Costa CruisesCosta Favolosa2011 · 113,216 GT · 3,780 guests · Northern Europe · Norwegian FjordsCosta Favolosa is a modified Concordia-class ship of about 113,000 tons, built at Fincantieri's Marghera yard and in service since July 2011 as part of a five-ship expansion of…AIDAsol at anchor in Trondheim, 20182.8 ★AIDA CruisesAIDAsol2011 · 71,304 GT · 2,192 guests · Northern Europe · World cruisesAIDAsol is a 71,304-ton Sphinx-class ship built by Meyer Werft and christened in Kiel on 9 April 2011, with room for 2,192 guests. Like AIDAblu it has an extra deck compared with…Finnmarken, 20072.7 ★HurtigrutenFinnmarken2002 · 15,690 GT · 526 guests · Norwegian Fjords · Northern EuropeFinnmarken is a 15,690-ton hybrid-powered ship built by Kleven in Ulsteinvik that began her maiden voyage on 6 April 2002, the third Hurtigruten ship to carry the name. She…Midnatsol at Sortland, 20182.7 ★HurtigrutenMidnatsol2003 · 16,151 GT · 570 guests · Norwegian Fjords · Northern EuropeMidnatsol is a 16,151-ton ship from 2003, built by Bruces Verkstad in Sweden and Fosen Mekaniske Verksteder in Norway and a sister of Trollfjord; she is the fourth Hurtigruten…

Quick answers

Which cruise ships sail from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany?

On Cruise Frog, 12 ships sail from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany: Mein Schiff Flow (TUI Cruises), MSC Euribia (MSC Cruises), AIDAnova (AIDA Cruises), MSC Preziosa (MSC Cruises), AIDAperla (AIDA Cruises), AIDAprima (AIDA Cruises), AIDAbella (AIDA Cruises), AIDAluna (AIDA Cruises), Costa Favolosa (Costa Cruises), AIDAsol (AIDA Cruises) and 2 more.

Which cruise lines sail from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany?

TUI Cruises, MSC Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises and Hurtigruten sail from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany.

What is the best-rated ship sailing from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany?

Mein Schiff Flow (TUI Cruises), at 4.2 out of 5 in Cruise Frog's editorial ratings.

Which airport do you fly into for a cruise from Kiel, Germany and Hamburg, Germany?

Hamburg Airport Helmut Schmidt (HAM). Lounge Frog lists 4 open lounges there for the wait before boarding.

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