Who Needs Charts? We Found Hamburg!

“We found Hamburg!” — that’s my go-to sarcastic cheer every time we pull into port, as if we’ve just completed some grand voyage of discovery. Never mind that we’ve got a full navigation team, high-tech equipment, and numerous different alarms telling us exactly where we are. Still, the joke never gets old—at least for me.

Anyway, our arrival in Hamburg today was textbook-smooth. No drama, no chaos — just the way we like it. I took over the watch at midnight (because who doesn’t love starting their shift when even the moon looks half-asleep?). About an hour in, we picked up our pilot—on time, no surprises. With pilot taking over the conn, Safety Officer stayed with me through the whole shift, keeping me company and making sure neither of us accidentally sailed to Denmark..

Once I was relieved, I didn’t waste a second. Straight to my cabin, straight to bed, and the next thing I knew, we were already moored. I love when that happens—it’s like teleporting past the boring bits.

Now, for this call, we’re berthed at CCI – Hafencity. Not our usual stomping ground, which is Altona Cruise Terminal. And honestly? I kind of miss Altona. Why? Simple. It’s a stone’s throw from the infamous St. Pauli district. And if you know, there’s a certain charm (and chaos) in there that only seasoned mariners truly appreciate. There’s just something about that district: a blend of neon lights, bad decisions, and stories you’ll never tell your grandkids.

So here we are, in the heart of Hamburg but not quite in our favorite neighborhood. Still, a port’s a port.

“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
— André Gide