The Hamburg Cruise Days 2015: An attractive programme along the waterfront, mesmerized visitors and a spectacular parade (FOTO)

Hamburg (ots) -

The first two days of this year's Hamburg Cruise Days have been
a resounding success: the event again brought hundreds of
thousands of visitors to the event along the waterside. The
highlight was the Grand Hamburg Cruise Days Parade.

Along the event boulevard, which stretched for more than four
kilometres between Cruise Center Altona and HafenCity, locals and
visitors to Hamburg celebrated the first two days of the Hamburg
Cruise Days with unparalleled enthusiasm. Under the blue skies and
with pleasant, late-summer temperatures, the 15 Theme Islands invited
visitors to browse, marvel and enjoy the wonderful world of cruises.

On Friday, the Costa neoRomantica and the Amadea - the new "dream
ship" from the German television series - both visited the port of
Hamburg; on Saturday, Mein Schiff 4, MS EUROPA and AIDAbella docked
in the port.

At 21:20 on Saturday evening the great moment finally arrived:
hundreds of thousands of cheering visitors gathered on the banks of
the Elbe for a close-up view of the spectacular Hamburg Cruise Days
Parade. Escorted by countless barges, sailing vessels and passenger
ships, the cruise liners AIDAbella, Mein Schiff 4 and MS EUROPA made
their way down the River Elbe - against the beautiful backdrop of the
port, which was bathed in magical blue light as part of the BLUE PORT
HAMBURG project. Each of the ships was welcomed with its own
fireworks display and was waved off on its journey with a
personalised laser message.

"We are very satisfied with the first two days of the event," say
organisers Katja Derow and Uwe Bergmann. "The Hamburg Cruise Days
Parade is the ultimate highlight of this event and once again
showcased the most beautiful side of Hamburg." "This evening once
again showed why Hamburg sits at the very top of the shipping
companies' ranking of European destinations," adds Thorsten Kausch,
managing director of the Hamburg Convention Bureau, which issues the
licence for the Hamburg Cruise Days. "The people of Hamburg have an
unrivalled passion and enthusiasm for cruises, and the city will once
again be broadcasting amazing images from the event all over the
world."

On Sunday, two iconic ships will be the stars in the port of
Hamburg: Queen Mary 2 and MSC Splendida. Both liners will be leaving
the port together in the evening, thus ending the event on a
majestically high note.

Media Contact:
Katja Derow
red roses communications
k.derow@redroses-pr.com
Tel.: +49 40 4696770-0