Hamburg Disembarkation/Customs/Immigration, Taxi to Railway Station, Advice, Please

[JWB.ESQ]

Could someone please comment on the speed/efficiency of ship to train transition at Hamburg (main railway station, Hauptbahnhof)?

 

Assuming QM2 arrival from Southampton, a 10:00 docking and a 14:00 train, would self-embarkation (walk-off prior to other passengers) be advisable? I assume that taxis would be readily available for passengers who self-embark, and that the queues would be short?

 

We have crossed many times, but never to Hamburg. This question is actually for our son and daughter-in-law on their honeymoon; I'd like to be able to tell them what to expect.

 

Many thanks

[HeinBloed]

Could someone please comment on the speed/efficiency of ship to train transition at Hamburg (main railway station, Hauptbahnhof)?

 

Assuming QM2 arrival from Southampton, a 10:00 docking and a 14:00 train, would self-embarkation (walk-off prior to other passengers) be advisable? I assume that taxis would be readily available for passengers who self-embark, and that the queues would be short?

 

We have crossed many times, but never to Hamburg. This question is actually for our son and daughter-in-law on their honeymoon; I'd like to be able to tell them what to expect.

 

Many thanks

 

Hamburg always seperate the transit guests just visiting Hamburg and debarking guests which make it very smooth:

 

 

Passport control took seconds...

 

 

Train station and Cruise Terminal are just 5-8 minutes by taxi away. So even leaving the cruise terminal at 13.40 hrs would be enough to catch your train. Taxis were always around:

 

 

Even you do not find a taxi you can get by Metrobus 6 directly in 10 minutes to the train station.

 

I would not make too much stress: many cruisers stay on board and so will not debark with baggage as the cruise will continue to Norway or to UK (depending to the tour you are arriving from).

 

To ease you life and to avoid long ways to walk and to spend the right extra Euro:

 

If your train is leaving from platforms 7-14 ask the driver to deliver you at the Glockengießerwall entrance. (most long-distance services to Southern Germany)

 

If your train is leaving from platforms 1-8 ask the driver to deliver you at the Kirchenwall entrance. (most long-distance services to Northern Germany, Eastern Germany incl. Berlin).

 

All major information to get around by public transport in case you do not get a taxi can be found here:

 

http://heinbloed-cruiseguides.blogspot.com/2010/04/hamburg-germany-access-public_1494.html

 

Regards

HeinBloed

[JWB.ESQ]

Many thanks, HeinBloed. That's exactly what I needed, especially the information about the railway station entrances.

 

Best Regards,

JWB

[HeinBloed]

Kirchenwall

 

Need to correct the street name: Kirchenallee.

 

Regards

HeinBloed

[JWB.ESQ]

Thanks. They'll need the Glockengießerwall entrance. They will be taking the ICE to Munich, followed by the City Night Line overnight to Florence.

 

Regards,

JWB

[HeinBloed]

Thanks. They'll need the Glockengießerwall entrance. They will be taking the ICE to Munich, followed by the City Night Line overnight to Florence.

 

Regards,

JWB

 

Two suggestions to make it more smooth...

 

Instead of boarding the train at Hauptbahnhof there are two other options:

 

1. Altona

 

You will see on the way a little from Hamburg:

 

Landungsbrücken - Landing Stage

St. Pauli - Amusement District

 

about 15-20 minutes from the cruise terminal.

 

It's the first stop of about 90% of the trains from Hamburg - no stairs - as it is a terminal station.

 

2. Dammtor

 

You will see on the way a litte from Hamburg:

 

Rathausmarkt - Town Hall Square

Jungfernstieg/Binnenalster - Elegant Shopping District at the river Alster

 

about 12-15 minutes from the cruise terminal.

 

If your train is coming from Kiel it will not stop Altona - elevator available - as it is the stop before Hauptbahnhof/Central Station:

 

hassle free boarding - less pickpockets - less crowded...

 

Hope it helps to find your decision.

 

We went to Dammtor to board the train if time allows to avoid crowds.

 

Regards

HeinBloed

[Sauer-kraut]

HeinBloed,

So for an ICE to Hannover I should get the Kirchenallee entrance?

[HeinBloed]

HeinBloed,

So for an ICE to Hannover I should get the Kirchenallee entrance?

 

Although Hannover is Northern Germany - it's a transit stop for South Germany-bound trains to Munich or Basle.

 

So mostly track 13/14. - Therefore Glockengießerwall-Entrance.

 

Regards

HeinBloed