Your two options at a glance
If you drive to your cruise in Hamburg in your own car, you basically have two options: you park on a car park right at the terminal – provided there is parking for the length of your trip – or you park outside the port and take a shuttle to the ship. Which option suits you depends mainly on the terminal.
| Aspect | Parking at the terminal | Car park with shuttle (Hansa Parking) |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the car? | On a car park at the terminal, where available | In the car park at Modering 1, 22457 Hamburg |
| Getting to the ship | On foot from the car park to the terminal | Approx. 20 minutes by shuttle to the pick-up zone in front of the terminal |
| Steinwerder | Car parks run by the terminal operator | Shuttle there and back |
| Altona | No long-stay parking, according to the operator | Shuttle there and back |
| HafenCity | Parking in the quarter, on the terms of the respective operators | Shuttle there and back |
| Times | Independent of shuttle times | Shuttle daily from 07:00 to 18:00, as needed |
| Return journey | Straight from the terminal to your car | Pick-up at the terminal at your reserved time (fixed seat reservation), or at the airport |
| Price | Rates of the respective operator | Price shown online in the booking form straight away, payment on site |
Cruise Center Steinwerder: the operator’s car parks
At Cruise Center Steinwerder, the terminal operator Cruise Gate Hamburg says it offers more than 1,500 long-stay and short-stay parking spaces. Booking and rates are handled by the operator. Important if your voyage starts or ends at a different terminal: according to Cruise Gate Hamburg, there is no shuttle service from there for departures or arrivals in Altona or HafenCity.
When you park with Hansa Parking, you do not leave your car at the terminal but in our car park at Modering 1. The shuttle takes you to the terminal and collects you there again.
Cruise Center Altona: no long-stay parking
In Altona the situation is clear: according to Cruise Gate Hamburg, Cruise Center Altona does not offer long-stay parking. The car park in front of the terminal is public. Vehicles left there without authorisation for the duration of a cruise will be towed away at the owner’s expense, the operator says. There are short-stay spaces in front of the terminal, for example for dropping off and picking up.
So if you sail from Altona and arrive by car, you need to park away from the terminal – for example in our car park with a shuttle to Cruise Center Altona.
Cruise Center HafenCity: a terminal in the heart of the quarter
Cruise Center HafenCity has been in operation since 2025 and is part of Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier. According to Cruise Gate Hamburg, there are around 4,400 parking spaces in HafenCity, 1,500 of them directly in the Überseequartier. Designated kiss-and-ride spaces in the car park are available for dropping off and picking up passengers. Rates and conditions are set by the respective operators.
Which option suits you?
Parking right at the terminal suits you if …
- your terminal offers parking for the length of your trip – according to the operator, this is not the case in Altona.
- you want to arrive and leave independently of shuttle times.
- you are happy to walk from your car to the terminal.
A car park with shuttle suits you if …
- you are not yet sure which terminal your ship will use – our shuttle serves all three.
- your voyage starts or ends in Altona.
- your return journey ends with a flight to Hamburg – we also collect you at the airport.
- you can plan to arrive at the car park between 07:00 and 18:00.
Parking with shuttle at Hansa Parking: the facts
- Car park at Modering 1, 22457 Hamburg, entrance height max. 2.00 m
- You park yourself – your car key stays with you
- Shuttle daily from 07:00 to 18:00 as needed, approx. 20 minutes’ drive to the terminal
- 4 people included in the shuttle, each additional person €20.00 for the outward and return trip
- Pick-up after your cruise at the terminal or at the airport
- CCTV-monitored around the clock by Wachschutz Nord
- Payment on site: debit card, credit card or cash
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before arrival; after that the full price is charged
Which cruise line docks at which terminal according to the official call list is shown in our guide Cruise lines & terminals.
Secure your parking space for your cruise
See the price online in the booking form straight away – you pay on site. Your car key stays with you.
More about the terminals
- Cruise Center Steinwerder – parking with shuttle, location and procedure at the terminal
- Cruise Center Altona – parking with shuttle, location and procedure at the terminal
- Cruise Center HafenCity – parking with shuttle, location and procedure at the terminal
Frequently asked questions
Can I park at Cruise Center Altona during my cruise?
No. According to Cruise Gate Hamburg, Cruise Center Altona does not offer long-stay parking. Vehicles left on the public car park in front of the terminal for the duration of a cruise will be towed away at the owner’s expense.
Is there parking at Cruise Center Steinwerder?
Yes. The terminal operator Cruise Gate Hamburg says it offers more than 1,500 long-stay and short-stay parking spaces there. According to the operator, there is no shuttle service from there for departures or arrivals in Altona or HafenCity.
How long does the shuttle take from the car park to the terminal?
The driving time alone from the car park at Modering 1 to the terminal is approx. 20 minutes. The shuttle runs daily from 07:00 to 18:00 as needed; there is no fixed timetable.
Do I have to hand over my car key?
No. You park the car yourself and keep your car key for the whole of your stay.
What if my ship docks at a different terminal?
The terminal can change from one voyage to the next; your travel documents are what count. Our shuttle serves all three terminals: Steinwerder, Altona and HafenCity.
How and when do I pay?
You see the price online in the booking form straight away. You pay on site by debit card, credit card or cash. Cancellation is free of charge up to 24 hours before arrival; after that the full price is charged.
Sources: Cruise Gate Hamburg (operator of the Hamburg cruise terminals), “Parking” page, terminal pages for Cruise Center Altona and Cruise Center HafenCity, and the terminal overview, accessed on 22 September 2026. Hansa Parking is an independent provider and not a partner of Cruise Gate Hamburg.