Iveta Apkalna, principal organist of the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, christened the cruise ship “Mein Schiff 6” after the spectacular new concert hall. With a cane, Ms. Apkalna signaled for a bottle of champagne to be smashed against the ship's bow. Visibly moved, she commented: “For me, as an organist, theatrical performances are part of my everyday life. However, christening a cruise ship in the name of the Elbphilharmonie was a unique experience that I will surely remember for a long time.”.
The Mein Schiff 6 departed the Hamburg-Altona cruise terminal at 9:00 PM last night and sailed up the Elbe River to the Elbphilharmonie to prepare for the inauguration ceremony. In keeping with the motto “Mein Schiff wird Musik” (My Ship Becomes Music), the event's musical program began. First, there were performances by two choirs, followed by the premiere of a piece inspired by the fourth movement of Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 1, composed specifically for the occasion. Based on the concept of an acoustic sculpture, the composition incorporated different instrument groups to highlight the Elbphilharmonie's extraordinary musical diversity. The show also featured an opera singer, a DJ, a rock guitarist, a laser harpist, and a string quartet.
The event was not only a feast for the ears but also for the eyes, as the musical program was accompanied by a stunning light show, seamlessly blending the ship and the concert hall. Once the champagne bottle was broken, the Elbphilharmonie bathed the Mein Schiff 6 in blue light and a dazzling fireworks display in the sky above the Elbe River. The cruise ship then set sail on its maiden voyage. Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises, commented: “The Elbphilharmonie offers extraordinary experiences, and at TUI Cruises we strive to do the same. It was important for us to design an event that reflects these shared values. Thus, even with the Elbe River between them, the Elbphilharmonie and the Mein Schiff 6 became one.”
Hamburg is the world's leading destination for cruise events, and the port frequently transforms into a grand stage for the cruise industry. Following the Hafengeburtstag port festival in May, the launch ceremony for the Mein Schiff 6 was the second highlight in a packed summer calendar of events. With the Norwegian Jade (2,466 passengers) arriving on June 4 and the Independence of the Seas (3,634 passengers) arriving on July 12, an increasing number of large cruise ships are making their maiden calls at the Port of Hamburg.
Hamburg's most spectacular cruise event will take place at the end of summer: Hamburg Cruise Days, from September 8 to 10, 2017, will transform the Port of Hamburg into a grand stage for the cruise industry. Ten cruise ships are scheduled to participate in the 2017 Hamburg Cruise Days, Europe's largest public cruise festival. Participating ships will include the AIDAprima (AIDA Cruises), the MSC Preziosa (MSC Cruises), the Europa and Europa 2 (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises), the Mein Schiff 3 (TUI Cruises), the MS Albatros and MS Amadea (Phoenix Reisen), the Silver Wind (Silversea Cruises), as well as the Norwegian Jade and the Sans Souci (Plantours) – marking the first time a river cruise ship has participated in this event. This record-breaking attendance of cruise ships will make this year's parade the largest ever. On the night of September 9, the cruise ships will jointly leave the port of Hamburg and travel up the Elbe River, accompanied by 24 escort vessels and a grand fireworks display.
With the opening of its spectacular concert hall last January, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, which combines tradition and modernity, has positioned the German music city as one of the top destinations for 2017. With this new concert hall on the Elbe, Hamburg is striving to become one of the world's leading music cities.
