Germany Cruise from Hamburg to Kiel — 13 Days

12 nights · Germany · Departs Hamburg (Germany) · Visiting Kiel Canal, Copenhagen, Gdynia-Gdansk, Klaipeda, Stockholm, Riga, Visby, Kiel · Aboard Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on the ms Europa

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ms Europa
Hamburg Cruise Port Kiel Canal Cruise Guide: Expert Tips for the World's Busiest Waterway Copenhagen Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide Gdansk Cruise Port: Shore Excursions & Expert Guide
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Image courtesy of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ©

Cruise lineHapag-Lloyd Cruises
Shipms Europa
Duration12 nights
Port calls9
Departures1 sailings
Year built1999
Guests408
Cabins204
Crew285
Length198 m
Beam24 m
Cruising speed21.0 kn
  1. Day 1

    Hamburg, Germany

    Hamburg rewards visitors who look beyond its grand harbor to discover a city shaped by trade and water. From the Speicherstadt warehouses and canals to the Elbphilharmonie’s sweeping river views, Hamburg pairs historic character with modern ambition. Stroll around the Rathaus and lakeside paths, then sample fresh fish or coffee in a city with enduring maritime energy. Allow time for a harbor ferry: it offers a memorable view of Hamburg’s working waterfront.

  2. Day 2

    Kiel Canal, Germany

    At the Kiel Canal, Germany’s working waterway becomes the day’s unfolding spectacle. The 61-mile (98-kilometre) passage links the North Sea and Baltic, crossing Schleswig-Holstein and saving ships a long voyage around Denmark. From the deck, watch freighters pass close by as green banks and quiet farms slide past. At Brunsbüttel and Kiel-Holtenau, lock chambers reveal the precision behind this busy maritime shortcut.

  3. Day 3

    Copenhagen, Denmark

    Copenhagen is best explored at street level, where royal history meets modern design. At Nyhavn, colorful harbor-front houses frame canal tours; nearby Amalienborg Palace is the monarch’s winter residence. Christiansborg Palace combines Denmark’s parliament with historic royal rooms, while Christianshavn’s canals reveal a quieter side. Pause for smørrebrød, the open-faced rye-bread staple, and explore the city’s design shops before returning to port.

  4. Day 5

    Gdynia-Gdansk, Poland

    Gdańsk pairs a Hanseatic waterfront with a history that shaped modern Europe. Follow the Royal Route to the Long Market, where Neptune’s Fountain anchors the old town. St Mary’s Church rises above streets rebuilt after the Second World War. At the European Solidarity Centre, learn how the 1980 shipyard strike helped weaken communist rule. Amber shops and waterfront cafés offer an easy pause between landmarks.

  5. Day 6

    Klaipeda, Lithuania

    Klaipėda is Lithuania’s Baltic port, where maritime history meets an unexpectedly handsome old town. Its half-timbered warehouses and narrow lanes recall centuries of trade under Prussian rule. Ferries cross the lagoon to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO-listed sweep of dunes, pine woods and fishing villages. Stay in town for museums and cafés, or make the crossing for a striking day outdoors.

  6. Day 7

    Stockholm, Sweden

    Stockholm rewards the curious with a capital spread across 14 islands, where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. From the waterfront, ferries and bridges lead to Gamla Stan’s narrow lanes, the Royal Palace, and the Nobel Prize Museum. Visit the Vasa Museum to see a 17th-century warship recovered from the harbor. Then pause for coffee in a city where water, design, and history shape everyday life.

  7. Day 9

    Riga, Latvia

    Riga rewards a day ashore with a compact UNESCO-listed Old Town and one of Europe’s richest Art Nouveau districts. Begin at the House of the Blackheads, then follow cobbled lanes to Riga Cathedral and the riverfront. Across the canal, Alberta Street displays ornate façades that made the city a landmark of early twentieth-century design. For local life, browse Riga Central Market, set in former Zeppelin hangars near the Daugava.

  8. Day 11

    Visby, Sweden

    On Gotland’s western shore, Visby makes a striking first impression with its medieval walls and Baltic setting. Inside the ring wall, cobbled lanes lead past merchants’ houses, church ruins and rose-filled gardens. Once a powerful Hanseatic port, the town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, best explored on foot. Pause at St Mary’s Cathedral, then follow the ramparts for broad views over rooftops and sea. Visby rewards a slow walk, with island scenery just beyond the walls.

  9. Day 13

    Kiel, Germany

    Kiel faces the Baltic at the western end of Kiel Fjord, where Germany’s great ship canal begins. This working maritime city rewards a waterfront stroll, with ferries, sailboats and cargo ships sharing the harbor. From central cruise berths, the old town, St. Nicholas Church and City Hall are within easy reach. For a closer look at naval history, take the short trip to Laboe’s memorial and preserved U-boat.

ms Europa Cruises

Published September 18, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard

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