Port of Hamburg and AIDA Cruises extend co-operation

14 September 2023

Long-term agreement signed - 1 million cruise passengers expected towards end of 2023 season

AIDA Cruises and the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) have signed a five-year extension of a long-term agreement (LTA) and will continue working on the sustainable development of the cruise industry.

AIDA Cruises and HPA to expand sustainable commitment

"Our clear message is that we wish to further develop Hamburg as a cruise centre with value creation and sustainability," said Dr Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economics. The goal is to continue working on the joint commitment to sustainability, according to Jens Meier, CEO of HPA. "Since 2019, AIDA Sol has sourced green shore power year after year during layovers in the Port of Hamburg," said Felix Eichhorn, President of AIDA Cruises. That makes the company the first cruise line to start using shore power in Europe, he noted.

Cruise business in Hamburg growing

Around 1 million passengers are expected in Hamburg by the end of the 2023 season, which is unprecedented in the city's cruise business, according to the HPA. AIDA Cruises has made a significant contribution to this, Meier said. The cruise industry has developed positively this season and Hamburg is becoming a year-round destination with regular calls and in winter. A study published in 2022 highlights the economic significance of the cruise industry, which has a major impact on value creation in the region.
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