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Lübeck-Travemünde Ostpreußenkai — history and small ship exclusivity

self driven e-boat on Trave River
Cruise Baltic attendees on a self-driven e-boat take a scenic tour along the Trave River PHOTO: Michelle Winny
Germany's Lübeck-Travemünde cruise port, Ostpreußenkai, expects 14 cruise calls carrying approximately 15,000 passengers this year. One maiden call, by Seabourn Ovation, is scheduled. The port periodically handles turnarounds.

On Day 4 of the Cruise Baltic familiarisation trip Thursday, attendees learned about the port and experienced highlights of Lübeck.

Cruise ships up to 200mtr in length and 25mtr at the beam can visit Ostpreußenkai.

‘Due to the strict size limitations on vessels able to enter the cruise port, Travemünde is ideal for expedition vessels and small ships, appealing to a more exclusive market,' Anja Kron of the Lübeck Cruise team said.

Larger ships to Skandinavienkai

Berthing at cargo and shipping port Skandinavienkai is available for vessels of more than 200mtr. Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth is the largest cruise ship to have berthed there.

Local infrastructure includes a train station located 1km away with direct links into Lübeck.

A sailing event is held at the port the last week in July each year and the village is home to the oldest lighthouse in Germany (no longer operational), which now houses the Maritine Museum.

Lübeck old town by river e-boat

Lübeck, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Hanseatic past, is a key attraction for visitors to the area with its many historical buildings, cobbled streets and extensive brick Gothic architecture. The town is also renowned for its Niederegger marzipan museum where visitors can take a course on how to model with marzipan. The museum shop and café offer a large selection of marzipan and chocolates for purchase.

Lübeck is situated on the Trave River. One of the highlights for Cruise Baltic attendees included a tour of the old town aboard e-boats, available for personal hire and allowing for a relaxing meander along the river.

For a taste of authentic North German cuisine, attendees visited restaurant Schiffergesellschaft, housed in the historic guildhall dating back to 1535.