Minibus Hire Across Germany

Coach transfers for cruise passengers

Germany's cruise ports are on the North Sea and the Baltic, often far from the airport and from the city the passengers want to see. The coach links ship, airport, hotel and shore excursion.

Hamburg: the terminal decides the plan

Hamburg's cruise ships berth at four terminals spread around the port: Altona, Steinwerder, HafenCity and the temporary Baakenhöft. Steinwerder is south of the Elbe, about 11 km by road from Rathausmarkt. HafenCity is a few minutes' walk from the centre. Plan from the terminal named on the cruise documents, not from the cruise line.

Coaches serving the HafenCity terminal must be registered in advance in the booking system of the Überseequartier next door. The operator does this once the ship and times are known.

Setra high-capacity coach, exterior
Setra high-capacity coach, exterior

Kiel and Bremerhaven

Kiel's Ostseekai terminal is about 91 km by road from Hamburg airport. Kiel publishes no coach parking at its terminals, so the coach sets down and waits at a truck and bus park in the south of the city.

Bremerhaven's terminal on the Columbuskaje is about 72 km by road from Bremen airport and about 193 km from Hamburg airport. The terminal lists space for 20 buses.

Rules the organiser should know

  • Hamburg has several cruise terminals (Altona, Steinwerder, HafenCity and Baakenhöft) in different parts of the port, so check the ship's terminal before planning a transfer
  • At Warnemünde, shore excursion agencies and shuttle services must register with the port operator in advance, and parking at the terminal is not allowed during ship calls

Warnemünde and the Berlin day

At Warnemünde, excursion and shuttle operators must register with the port in advance, and no parking is allowed at the terminal during ship calls. The coach arrives on time, loads and leaves.

Berlin is about 243 km by road. A coach is slower than a car, so a Berlin shore excursion is a long day with little room for delay. The driver needs a 45-minute break on the way, and the timetable must bring everyone back before the ship sails. Some groups take the train via Rostock instead.

Questions organisers ask

Which Hamburg terminal does our ship use?

The one printed on your cruise documents. We do not assume a terminal from the line or the ship.

Can the coach meet us at the ship?

It meets you at the terminal's coach area. What is allowed depends on the port: Bremerhaven has bus spaces, Warnemünde allows no parking during calls.

How long is the drive from Hamburg airport to Kiel?

About an hour in light traffic for about 91 km. Allow more at busy times.

Cities

Vehicles with a driver