AIDAperla has to stay in Hamburg due to storm - guests extend their stay!

AIDAperla has to stay in Hamburg due to storm - guests extend their stay!

Storm warnings and unexpected changes are currently shaping the port of Hamburg. The AIDAperla from AIDA Cruises, originally scheduled for Saturday evening at 5 p.m. to Bergen, Norway, could not leave as planned due to the storm-related closure of the Elbe. Instead, a change of berth within the port was necessary to make room for the MSC Preziosa, which was also stranded in Hamburg due to the storm. The AIDAperla docked at the Cruise Center Altona, where shore excursions for the passengers will be on the program on Sunday before the return of all guests at 4:30 p.m. and the departure at around 5 p.m., provided the weather conditions and the lifting of the Elbe closure allow it. The original travel date of October 4th to 11th, 2025 will therefore not be adhered to, an updated itinerary will be announced soon.

According to information from T Online, the Elbe Tunnel on the A7 will be completely closed from Friday evening to Monday morning. Diversions are signposted, but the ADAC warns of kilometre-long traffic jams due to the start of the holidays in Bremen and Lower Saxony. The police advise you to avoid side streets as these can quickly become blocked. This can be particularly challenging for cruise guests who need to travel in and out of the city.

Special events and traffic tips

In addition to the cruise calls, Hamburg has a lot to offer on the first weekend in October. Pop star Ed Sheeran draws the crowds to the Volksparkstadion, where around 57,000 fans are expected. At the same time, the Schlagermove takes place on the Reeperbahn, to which more than 400,000 visitors flock. This causes additional traffic disruptions, which is why cruise guests are advised to use public transport or travel to Hamburg by train or plane early. The S-Bahn runs on lines S1 to S5 every 10 minutes.

The situation highlights the challenges associated with cruise tourism. While such trips attract many tourists, the environmental impact cannot be ignored. More than 400 cruise ships worldwide, each of which can accommodate around 4,000 passengers, are putting a lot of strain on the environment through the use of environmentally harmful heavy fuel oils. These engines often continue to run even while ships are moored in port, contributing to a high carbon footprint. A ship trip from Great Britain to New York can produce around 9 tonnes of CO2 equivalents per passenger - a significant environmental aspect.

The situation is even more critical in the cities and ports visited by the crusaders. A study from the University of Bergen shows that cruise tourists spend on average three times less money than hotel guests, which may not provide enough support to the local economy. In addition, cruise ships generate a quarter of the solid waste in global maritime transport, while invasive species can be introduced through ballast water.

As the events of AIDAperla show once again, cruise tourism has many facets, ranging from joy and adventure to logistical challenges and ecological concerns. Hamburg remains a hotspot for cruises and shows how important it is to raise awareness of the ecological footprint of impressive luxury trips.