MS Hamburg

The 1997-built MS Hamburg cruise ship is owned by Conti Holding GmbH (1995-founded investment and shipping company, principal shareholder in various companies) and operated under charter by Plantours und Partner GmbH (Bremen-based cruise company, owner of the travel brand Plantours Kreuzfahrten). Plantours' fleet also includes several chartered riverboats.

The vessel (IMO number 9138329) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 309908000) and registered in Nassau.

Previously known as "MS Columbus" (1997-2012, via the Bahamas-registered "Columbus Conti 1 Kreuzfahrt Ltd"), the ship was chartered to Hapag-Lloyd and in 2012 was replaced by Columbus 2/now Oceania Insignia.

The vessel has a relatively low draft (5 m / 16 ft) which allows it to also navigate on inland waterways (rivers and lakes) and close to shore, including for scenic cruising along fjords.

Decks and cabins

MS Hamburg staterooms (197 total) accommodate up to 420 guests.

All passenger cabins are equipped with individually controlled air-conditioning, HDTV, radio, direct-dial phone, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), mini-bar/fridge, writing desk with chair, en-suite bathroom (toilet, single-sink vanity, shower, hairdryer, bathrobes). Five cabins are designed for families, two are balconies and two are wheelchair-accessible (with ground-level entrance, accessible bathroom with fold-out shower seat, WC with holding rails, electronically adjustable bed, pull-out sofabed for the accompanying person).

The boat has 6 passenger decks, of which 5 are with cabins.

Shipboard facilities

The wellness facilities include Sauna, Hair Studio/Friseur, Gym Room/Fitnessraum. The ship has two cafe restaurants (Alsterblick, Lido Buffet) and two bar lounges (Hamburg Lounge, Palmgarten).

Other facilities include Library/Bibliothek, Kartenspielraum (Card Room/E-Mail-Center), Photo Gallery & Shop/Fotogalerie, Boutique (duty-free shop), Arcade Games/Arkaden, Tavern/Wine Bar/Weinstube.

On top-deck are the fore-located the Palmgarten/Palm Garden Lounge & Bar mit Palmgartenbalkon (indoor venue with an outdoor terrace with seating) and the aft-positioned Sonnen-Deck (Sundeck with loungers and deckchairs and Swimming Pool).

Itineraries

Plantours' MS Hamburg itinerary program includes mainly European voyages departing from homeport Hamburg Germany. Mediterranean itineraries often leave out of La Valletta (Malta) and Istanbul (Turkey). Other itineraries are operated in the Red Sea, Asia, Iceland, Greenland, Canary Islands, Africa, South America, the Caribbean.

The boat operates also World Voyages leaving from Hamburg.

During the charter with Hapag-Lloyd, MS Hamburg had scheduled various itineraries in North America, including on the Great Lakes. This destination was operated seasonally between 1997-2011.

The vessel (Wismar yard/hull number 451) was constructed by MTW Schiffswerft GmbH (MV Werften Wismar) in Wismar Germany. The physical construction started on September 5, 1995 (with the keel-layin ceremony) and ended on June 17, 1997 (with the delivery ceremony to the Munich-based shipowner Conti Holding GmbH). The ship's launch/float out from drydock was on October 30, 1996.

Between 1997 and 2012, the ship was named "C Columbus" and operated under charter by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

The powerplant is based on four Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 6L32) with combined output 10,56 MW. The propulsion system is based on two CPPs/controllable pitch propellers.

MS Hamburg refurbishments review

During drydock refurbishment 2020 (at Lisnave Shipyard, Setubal Portugal), all staterooms and public areas received new carpeting. Redesigned and renovated were Palm Garden Lounge (deck 6 forward), Lobby Reception (deck 3) and Wine Bar (deck 5), which was additionally expanded by using the Boutique Shop's space. On Lido Deck (deck 6), the sundeck area received new flooring and a new pool bar was installed.

The ship's previous drydock (in 2018) was also at Lisnave Shipyard. During the USD 20 million project Plantours conducted regular technical maintenance works as well as extensive technical modifications and modernization. During the drydocking (April 2 - May 1) were added French Balconies/infinity windows to 42x passenger staterooms. The electric-powered windows are slide-down opening and when lowered open to a glass railing.

During the next scheduled drydocking, the vessel will receive Plantours Kreuzfahrten's new livery and logo (announced in March 2024) introduced to celebrate the company's 35th anniversary.

Plantours World Cruise 2023

Next table lists all ports and destinations of MS Hamburg's World Voyage 2023 (249-day itinerary from Hamburg to Istanbul). The voyage features cruising the Svalbard Islands (including Spitsbergen Island), fjord cruising in Iceland and Greenland, lake cruising in Canada and the USA, the Caribbean, Panama Canal transit, South America (including Chilean Fjords/Patagonia), Antarctica, the UK's Falklands and South Georgia, Africa, Suez Canal transit, Mediterranean (including Holy Land).

Prices started from EUR 47850 (USD 48540 / GBP 40285) per person with double occupancy.

Plantours World Cruise 2022

Next table lists MS Hamburg's World Voyage 2022 (268-day itinerary roundtrip from Hamburg) that visits 6x Cuban port cities.

Prices started from EUR 39400 (USD 39980 / GBP 33150) per person with double occupancy.