Cruise enthusiasts will get a close look at some of the world’s most spectacular cruise ships when international luxury liners parade up the Elbe River during the 3rd annual Hamburg Cruise Days and Blue Port celebrations.

 The highlight of Hamburg’s 2012 summer events calendar, the festival unfolds August 17-19, 2012, on and along the river Elbe, spotlighting the Hanseatic city’s long standing cruise and maritime tradition.

Stars of the Hamburg Cruise Days Parade will be the AIDAluna and AIDAmar (AIDA Cruises), the DEUTSCHLAND (Peter Deilmann), the MS Astor (TransOcean), the MS Columbus 2 (Hapag-Lloyd Cruises), and the MSC Lirica (MSC Cruises). The parade will be accompanied by a fleet of smaller passenger vessels.

The Hamburg harbor  is a popular scene for cruise ship spotting, and the stage for a score of large-scale events and celebrations.

  As the world’s largest launching dock, the harbor also features ship christening ceremonies. Special Cruise Days packages can be booked through Hamburg Tourismus, and include two overnights, a Hamburg Card, and a trip up the Elbe River aboard a vintage steam boat in the cruise ship parade.

Hamburg Tourismus, www.hamburg-tourism.de