Cruise crews - Quarter of a millionth guest at the Seamen's Mission
The staff at the Seafarers' Lounges at Hamburg's three cruise terminals have already welcomed more than a quarter of a million visitors. "Cruises are booming again after corona. We are also noticing this where it concerns the seafarers' crews themselves, in the lounge. This year, our doors were open for around 90 percent of all calls," said Seamen's Deacon Olaf Schröder in Hamburg on Friday. The lounges are also open around the holidays, as some cruise ships also call at Hamburg over Christmas and New Year's Eve.
"Whereas there used to be a difference between high and low season in Hamburg, it now feels like the whole year is high season," said Schröder. In the meantime, the non-profit organization lacks additional staff to meet the needs of the crews. In some cases, more than 1500 people work on the large cruise ships. However, many of them are not visible to guests because they work in the laundry, engine room or kitchen.
The Seafarers' Lounge was founded in 2010 and has been organized as a gGmbH since 2016, whose shareholders are the Hamburg-Altona and Hamburg-Harburg Seamen's Missions. Initially, 10,000 crew members came each year. There are now around 30,000 crew members per year. "For the crews, the lounges are escapes from the daily work routine. Here they can refuel, buy everyday necessities and talk to their families via the free WiFi."
Seafarers' Lounge
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- Despite the resurgence of cruises post-Coronavirus, the Seamen's Mission in Hamburg's Port is struggling to meet the demands of the quarter of a million crew members who visit annually, as more than 1500 individuals often work on large cruise ships, keeping many out of sight.
- A significant increase in cruise ship visits to Hamburg's Port over the holidays, often including calls during Christmas and New Year's Eve, helps to maintain the consistent high season attendance at the Seafarers' Lounge, which was established in 2010 and has seen a tenfold increase in annual visitor numbers since its transformation into a gGmbH in 2016.
- The outbreak of the Coronavirus severely impacted the cruise industry, with hibernating cruise ships and a pause in cruises around the world, resulting in a decrease in crew members calling on Hamburg's Port for several months before their eventual return early in 2021.
- The Port of Hamburg, a principal hub for international shipping, was a notable absence on the list of cruise ship destinations when travel remained limited due to the Coronavirus, but has since resumed welcoming cruise ships after the relaxation of travel restrictions and the return of global cruising.
Source: www.stern.de
