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Baltic Sea Cruises

Architecture, history, and stunning scenery await you on a Baltic Sea Cruise

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Discover Old European Charm on a Baltic Sea Cruise

If you’ve ever wanted to step inside a Medieval fairytale, a Baltic Sea cruise most certainly delivers. Experience the Middle Ages as you explore Tallinn’s UNESCO-protected Old Town. Marvel at Denmark’s magical castles, and amble along the cobblestone streets and radiant, historic buildings of Gamla Stan in Stockholm. Explore religious sites and the all-encompassing history of Berlin. Spend the afternoon in one of Helsinki’s fascinating museums, then take a dip in the deep blue Baltic Sea.

Embark on an unforgettable cruise vacation aboard Celebrity Apex or Celebrity Silhouette, where you’ll find stylish accommodations, amenities, and globally inspired cuisine. Discover the beguiling countries that surround the Baltic Sea with Celebrity Cruises, voted “Best Cruise Line in Europe” for nine consecutive years at Travel Weekly’s 16th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.

Baltic Sea Cruise Highlights

Castles & palaces.

The countries along the Baltic Sea are brimming with historic castles and palaces. Go on a whirlwind tour of the famous castles of North Zealand outside of Copenhagen to see the royals’ part-time residence and the setting for Hamlet . Admire the stately Stockholm Palace where the King of Sweden resides. Explore the majestic Catherine Palace, the former summer retreat of Russian tsars. Revel in the romance and splendor of these opulent landmarks.

Outdoor Escapes

Kayak the Finnish archipelago surrounding Helsinki, or explore the scenic countryside of Porvoo. In Stockholm, venture beyond the city to the Långholmen Kajak, a Venice-like system of canals where you can enjoy a Swedish gondola ride. Venture to the Malusi islands off the coast of Estonia to spot seals in their natural habitat.

Urban Exploration

The extraordinary cities you’ll visit on a Baltic Sea cruise are brimming with culture, history, and excitement at every turn. Admire the quintessential rust-colored roofs of Tallinn. Stroll alongside the vibrant facades of Gamla Stan’s storied structures in Stockholm. Do as the locals do and bike through Copenhagen’s streets, admiring the sleek Scandinavian design juxtaposed with hundreds of years of history at every turn. 

Featured Ports

Copenhagen, denmark.

A stop in Copenhagen makes for a fabulous day in port while on a cruise to Scandinavia and to Northern Europe’s capitals. Spend the day admiring the city’s opulent castles and stroll along the colorful waterfront district of Nyhavn. Don’t forget to try a Danish brew and sample local eats at a food hall while you’re here.

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in northern Europe. The city’s Old Town is filled with medieval houses and cobblestone alleyways still protected by the remnants of the city wall. Aside from Tallin’s charming city, you can venture to the countryside to sip vodka amongst the ruins of Rakvere Castle, or sample cheese at a local dairy farm.

Stockholm, Sweden

Discover Stockholm, the trend-setting capital of Sweden known as “Beauty on the Water”. Get a glimpse of a time before industrialization at Skansen, an open-air museum and zoo that showcases Sweden’s traditional way of life and exotic wildlife. Spend an afternoon at the Nationalmuseum or the Vasa Museum for a crash course in Viking history and Swedish art. No trip to the city is complete without spending a few hours in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town.

Baltic Sea Cruise Itineraries

On a cruise to the Baltic Sea, you’ll sail on award-winning ships like Celebrity Apex or Celebrity Silhouette. Itineraries range from 11 to 13 nights and depart from Rotterdam or Amsterdam, Netherlands and Southampton, England (which is conveniently close to London) from May to August.

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Why Sail on a Baltic Sea Cruise with Celebrity

Experience some of Europe’s most riveting cities while sailing in complete comfort on one of our cruise ships. Lounge at the Lawn Club and watch the Baltic Sea glitter as day turns to dusk. Sample local beer in Estonia, then try a new cocktail at one of our innovative bars. After a long, unforgettable day spent exploring Stockholm or Helsinki, you’ll be welcomed back to the ship, where exquisite cuisine, an award-winning wine list, and elevated staterooms and suites await.

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Baltic Cruise Excursions

Previewing: Promo Dashboard Campaigns

New TUI cruise ship will transform Baltic voyages

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Test Voyage Details

• Aarhus and Copenhagen, Denmark
• Oslo, Norway

Construction and Environmental Features

• Length: 316 meters
• Gross Tonnage: 115,000 tons
• Capacity: 2,896 passengers and 1,000 crew members

Onboard Amenities and Features

• 12 restaurants and bistros
• New Asian restaurant
• Day & Night Bistro offering all-day dining
• 10 venues, many with sea views and open-air settings
• Drinks included in the fare
• Full-service spa
• Jogging course
• Health and relaxation courses
• Expansive fitness area
• Island of Pirates kids’ club
• Teens’ lounge for ages 12 and older
• Spaces for parents and children under 3
• Schaubühne theater with performances and live concerts
• Infotainment programs featuring lectures and courses

Inaugural and Subsequent Voyages

• Nordfjordeid
• Honningsvag
• Longyearbyen

Fleet Expansion

Impact on travel and tourism.

• Enhanced Cruise Offerings: The introduction of Mein Schiff 7 is set to elevate the cruising experience with advanced amenities and environmental features.
• Increased Tourism: The new routes and itineraries will attract more tourists to the Baltic and Scandinavian regions, boosting local economies.
• Sustainable Travel: The ship’s eco-friendly design underscores the industry’s shift towards more sustainable travel options.

Tags: baltic , Cruise , Environmental , launch , Mein Schiff , scandinavia , Ship , Tourism , Travel , TUI Cruises

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TUI Cruises: Summer 2024 Deployment Breakdown

• June 14, 2024

With the new Mein Schiff 7 debuting in June , TUI Cruises is set to offer its largest summer program ever in 2024.

Serving the German-speaking markets, the company is offering itineraries in different parts of Europe, including the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea.

Cruise Industry News looked into the company’s full program for the 2024 summer. Here’s the breakdown:

Northern Europe

Mein Schiff 7 Capacity: 2,900 guests Built: 2024 Homeports: Kiel, Warnemunde and Hamburg (Germany) Length: Two to 17 nights Itineraries: Maiden season in Northern Europe with itineraries departing from three different German ports and visiting destinations in Scandinavia, Svalbard, Iceland, the Baltic Sea and the British Isles Sailing Season: June 23 to September 27

Mein Schiff 1 Capacity: 2,900 guests Built: 2018 Homeports: Hamburg and Kiel (Germany) Length: Four to 11 nights Itineraries: Norwegian Fjords, the North Cape, the Baltic, Western Europe and Scandinavia Sailing Season: May 17 to September 5

Mein Schiff 4 Capacity: 2,500 guests Built: 2015 Homeports: Bremerhaven (Germany) Length: Five to 17 nights Itineraries: Scandinavia and Norwegian Fjords featuring visits to the North Cape, Tromsø, Geiranger, Ålesund, Flåm and more. Sailing Season: April 25 to September 2

Mein Schiff 3 Capacity: 2,500 guests Built: 2014 Homeports: Bremerhaven and Kiel (Germany) Length: Five to 14 nights Itineraries: Different itineraries to the British Isles, Iceland, Norway, the Baltic Sea and Western Europe Sailing Season: February 18 to October 7

Mediterranean

Mein Schiff 2 Capacity: 2,900 guests Built: 2019 Homeports: Palma de Mallorca (Spain) Length: Seven to 10 nights Itineraries: Western Mediterranean, visiting Gibraltar, Spain, Italy, France, Malta and Gibraltar Sailing Season: May 5 to October 9

Mein Schiff 6 Capacity: 2,534 guests Built: 2017 Homeports: Trieste (Italy) and Heraklion (Greece) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Greek Isles and the Adriatic visiting Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta and Turkey Sailing Season: May 3 to October 27

Mein Schiff 5 Capacity: 2,500 guests Built: 2016 Homeports: Heraklion (Greece); Trieste (Italy); La Valletta (Malta); and Antalya (Turkey) Length: Seven nights Itineraries: Week-long cruises to Southern Italy, Cyprus, Turkey, Malta, Sicily and the Greek Isles Sailing Season: June 21 to October 11

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Everything You Need To Know Before Taking a Baltic Cruise

If you are considering a baltic cruise you probably have a lot of questions. I’ve been on two baltic cruises and I’d wholeheartedly recommend a visit if you are considering it. There are a number of things that are specific to baltic cruises which you should know about before you cruise, in this post we will explore popular questions like, When should you go? What should you pack? Which cruise lines are best and lots more.

Which Countries do Baltic Cruises Visit?

Baltic cruises visit the following countries: Russia, Poland, Sweden, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Denmark. The ‘Baltics’ when referenced in regards to cruising are any countries which border the baltic sea.

The ‘Baltic states’ are slightly different and refer to only Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Popular cruise ports include: Oslo, Stockholm, Riga, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Tallinn, Warnemunde, St. Petersburg, Gdansk, Hamburg,

A Typical Baltic Cruise Itinerary

A typical Baltic cruise itinerary would be either a week or two weeks long. There are frequent Baltic cruises from the UK most of which are two weeks long and visit ports along the baltic sea before visiting Russia and then returning.

It is possible to take a Baltic cruise which doesn’t visit the UK, these tend to be shorter and may start at somewhere like Copenhagen or Amsterdam.

Prepare to be Busy!

Baltic cruises are very port intensive and will visit a new port almost every day. In a 14-night Baltic cruise you may have 2/3 sea days but generally speaking, as the countries are quite close together you won’t have a prolonged time at sea. Baltic cruises provide passengers with the opportunity to visit multiple countries in a relatively short period of time. During a 14-night Baltic cruise, it is possible to visit 8 or so different countries. If you were to try to replicate this type of trip on land it would be very expensive and very time-consuming.

Overnight Stays Are Common

It is very popular for a baltic cruise to include an overnight stay at some point of the cruise. The most popular place for this to happen is many cruises in St Petersburg where most cruise ships will dock overnight. When I visited St Petersburg we were docked with 8 other cruise ships! St Petersburg is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world.

The overnight stay meant that we were able to go on excursions on both days. It is worth checking that the times of your stay allow this though as I recently took another cruise which featured ‘two days in Amsterdam’ it docked at 3 pm and left at 10 am the next day!

Which Currencies do You Need For a Baltic Cruise?

Countries on a Baltic cruise take British Pounds, Danish Krona, Euros, Russian Rubles and many more. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, especially in cruise ports so it may be worth putting the majority of purchases on a card.

I have been on full cruises and never once needed to use cash.

Baltic cruises visit multiple countries, many of which have their own currencies. I wouldn’t suggest that you keep withdrawing and exchanging currencies because not only is this time consuming but you can also lose quite a bit of money if the exchange rates aren’t favourable.

In some places, countries which don’t have the Euro currency will take Euros as an alternative. Many of the countries visited on a Baltic cruise take Euros so I would recommend that you do take some cash in the form of Euros and use a credit or debit card in the other countries. It’s always important to have some small coins (Euros are usually fine) for things like public toilets.

In a lot of Europe, there is a charge to use public toilets so it’s always better to keep a few Euro coins in your purse. An alternative, of course, is to find a McDonalds or Starbucks where you’ll almost always find a toilet that you can use for free.

If you do decide to take cash, make sure you read this guide which takes you through everything you may need to budget for, some of these you may not even consider so do make sure you have a read: How Much Cash Should I Bring on a Cruise? Budgeting Guide

When is The Best Time to Take a Baltic Cruise?

The best time to take a Baltic cruise is in July and August. May, June, September and October are also fairly popular. Winter months are generally less desirable because the weather is poor but cruises do still cruise the Baltics year-round.

July and August are the most expensive months with cruises out of this season being considerably cheaper.

In the summer months of July and August, there will be the greatest number of cruise lines sailing the Baltics. This does mean that passengers have more choice of who to sail with but it can also mean that the cruise ports are busy. It isn’t uncommon for 3 or 4 cruise ships to dock in the same place at the same time.

What Is The Weather Like on a Baltic Cruise?

The weather on a Baltic cruise is generally mild. In summer temperatures may rise in places to 80f and in winter temperatures can drop to 30f. Rain is a common year-round.

There is no guarantee of good weather even in the summer months. If you really do care about having warm sunny weather the Mediterranean or Canary Islands may be a better option for you than the Baltics. That said, you could get lucky!

I’ve been on two Baltic cruises and both times we had rain almost every day. I took a two week Marella cruise to the Baltics in 2018 and although we travelled in September we had some really bad weather. That said, we had some really lovely weather too! On a few days of the cruise, I did manage to sit out on the balcony and try to do a little bit of sunbathing. It wasn’t really ever ‘hot’ but compared to the UK where I live it did feel warm!

We visited Tallinn in Estonia which was brilliant, we took a bike tour and it rained constantly. We were soaked through and the ink genuinely came off of my socks and dyed my feet funny colours. That said, we had an amazing time and it was brilliant. My coat and Cardigan in the photo below aren’t usually that colour, they’re soaked. I particularly like the people in the rain ponchos in the background, I think that says a lot.

What should you pack for a Baltic cruise?

On a baltic cruise you should pack the following:

• A waterproof coat
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Clothing essentials
• Any medicines needed
• Passport/Documentation/VISAs
• Travel adapters

The most important things you can pack for a Baltic cruise are a good comfortable pair of walking shoes and a coat. Regardless of the time of year that you visit the Baltics, you may get rain so it’s much better to be prepared. Pack clothes which you find comfortable as you’ll probably be doing a lot of walking.

Clothing Essentials

As far as clothes go I’d recommend you start by packing more underwear than the number of days that you’re away, I always do this. I’m not too sure why but it’s better to be safe than sorry! It’s also a good idea to bring travel wash so that you can wash some little items in the sink if you are running low on clothes. Cruise ships do have laundries but these can be expensive and it’s usually easier if you just want to wash a few small items, to do so in the sink.

For a 14 night cruise, I always try to pack in the region of 10 t-shirts/shirts/blouses, 4 jeans/trousers, 4 shorts (if warm), 6-day dresses (if warm), 6 evening dresses, 3 hoodies/sweaters/jumpers, 2 smaller cardigans/cover-ups, 3 skirts, 2 pairs of tights/leggings, 1 swimwear, 1 pyjamas, 2x gym wear.

Lots of Shoes

When it comes to shoes the most important thing is to pack shoes that are comfortable. I’d recommend at least one or possibly two pairs of sneakers/trainers/walking boots, during my baltic cruise I got so wet that on occasion it took my shoe days to dry. Having another pair that you can change into is always a good idea.

I’d also recommend you pack another pair of flat shoes for daily walking around the ship or in port. I usually bring a pair of lightweight (cheap) sneakers as a backup!

Packing a pair of heels or similar for evenings onboard is usually a good idea. Most cruise lines have some form of formal nights and having at least one, or maybe two pairs of ‘nice’ shoes to wear is always good.

If you are going to be travelling in summer I’d recommend that you bring some sandals or flip flops. It may be worth packing 2 or so pairs so that you can alternate if needed. As far as walking goes I’d say that baltic cruises are one of the most intensive. Of course, you don’t have to do any walking if you don’t want to but most countries visited on baltic cruises are so easy to explore by foot that it would be a shame not to if you are able. Keep this in mind during all of your packing. Don’t think ‘hmm, I haven’t worn this for 5 years but this cruise might be a perfect time’. It probably isn’t, there’s a reason you haven’t worn the clothes lately.

Other Must-Haves

In addition to your coat, it’s probably a good idea to pack a small umbrella. It might sound strange that I’m telling you to pack an umbrella and I’m now going to tell you to pack sunscreen but trust me, you might need that too! The Baltics provides extremes of all-weather and it can change with very little warning. In Tallinn in Estonia, it rains roughly every 3 days even in the summer season.

As far as cruise essentials go make sure that you pack things like your passport, travel documents, luggage tags, travel adapters, phone, camera, credit/debit card, chargers, medicines and toiletries! You’ll find more packing information in my cruise course which teaches you how I make sure that I’m always the person on the cruise who’s paid the least: Start Now.

What Should You Do in Baltic Cruise Ports?

Of course, the activities offered do vary by cruise ports but there are some things which you are able to do in almost all Baltic cruise ports. Russia is the only country on a Baltic cruise which requires a special visa which means that you are unable to ‘DIY’ an excursion.

Hop-on Hop-Off Bus

In almost all ports on a baltic cruise, you’ll find Hop on Hop Off buses. I’m personally a big fan of Hop on Hop Off buses because they provide you with everything that you need for a day of exploring. When you cruise you will usually only have one day in port so it’s important to make the most of it.

A daily Hop on Hop off bus ticket usually costs around $40/£30 and this is a 24-hour ticket. 48 hour and 72-hour tickets are usually available for longer stays.

Hop on Hop Off buses allow you to explore a city on set routes. Most Hop on Hop Off bus providers will have a couple of routes and these are usually either named by colours or letters. The best part about Hop on Hop Off buses is that you can join the bus for any parts of the journey you want and repeatedly get on/off the bus.

The buses usually have commentary in multiple languages so that you can learn some facts about the place that you are visiting. I did this in Stockholm and learnt that Stockholm translates to ‘log island’. Fun fact!

Walking Tours

There are usually walking tours you can join in most countries in the Baltic cities. Some have a charge and some are free, on the free tours, you are usually expected to give a tip, which makes sense. An alternative is to download a walking tour of your phone. If you’re from the UK or most of Europe you can use your internet on your phone in most European countries at no extra cost. If you are from elsewhere you can usually download the walking tour ahead of time.

Make sure you do bring those comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. During a Baltic cruise, it isn’t uncommon for me to walk 20,000 steps per day, my record is 33,000!

Walking is one of my favourite ways to stay healthy on a cruise, many people worry about putting on weight on a cruise but to be honest I genuinely feel as though I come back healthier! To find out the little things I do that make a big difference, check out this post:

Avoid Cruise Ship Weight Gain – 7 Easy Things You Can Do

Use Public Transport

Most countries visited on a Baltic cruise have relatively cheap and easy to use public transport systems. If there is a particular thing you want to see or do it’s usually possible to buy a bus or train ticket and make your own way to the attraction. You really do see the country that you’re visiting when you travel on public transport, I much prefer it to sit on a coach with other British people.

It’s usually a good idea to bring some cash for things like public transport although this isn’t necessary for most places. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in most ports. Booking attractions ahead of time can also save you money so it is worth considering this.

Cruise Line Excursions

If there is something in particular you would like to do it might be worth considering a cruise line excursion. Cruise line excursions can be quite expensive but they are often the easiest way to explore a place. Most cruise line excursions are based, at least in some parts, on coaches. Groups will usually be of at least 20+ passengers and you might end up following a tour guide around with a flag on a stick.

If you are visiting St Petersburg you either have to take a ship organised excursion or an excursion with an independent provider. Due to the visas needed in St Petersburg you can’t ‘DIY’ your day as much as in other ports. During my Marella Baltic cruise, we took two St Petersburg excursions.

Independent Excursions

Another option is to take independent excursions with other companies. These are often much cheaper than booking through the cruise line but it does take a bit more organisation. There are lots and lots of companies in the Baltics which provide independent excursions. The main downside of booking excursions independently is if your cruise port is cancelled you won’t get your money back. To learn more about what happens when itineraries are changed, and this happens a LOT, check out this post:  Do You Get Compensation For Missed Cruise Ports?

For independent excursions in Russia I personally recommend Alla Tours as an alternative to a cruise line excursion. Alla Tours organise all visas for their guests and the trips are often much cheaper and more personal than cruise line excursions.

Which Cruise Line’s Are Best For a Baltic Cruise?

Norwegian Cruise Line , Princess Cruises , Royal Caribbean, P&O, Marella and MSC are good options for Baltic cruises. They offer itineraries in a variety of lengths starting and ending in multiple countries. 

There are a number of luxury cruise lines who also cruise the Baltics which usually offer smaller less well-known cruise ports. Azamara, Silversea, Oceana and Seabourn are just a few of the cruise lines that cruise this route.

Choosing a cruise line can be a very confusing process, there are so many things to consider. Dress codes, dining, entertainment and more. To help you to find the perfect cruise line for you, I’ve put together this video:

To learn about a specific cruise line check out our full recommended cruise lines post. In this post I talk about the positives and negatives of each cruise line in addition to who their typical passengers are and what the experience onboard is like day to day:

Recommended Cruise Lines, Full List

Where To Next?

There is not a lot that I love more than going on a cruise, meeting new friends and realising that I paid considerably less than everybody else for the exact same cruise.

Finding and booking a cruise is no easy task. I’ve been able to cruise for as little as $50 per night and I regularly save over 75% compared to advertised brochure prices.  You can do it too!

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Baltic Cruises from Southampton

The best of the baltic sea, 2023, 2024 & 2025 cruises from southampton.

With Northern Europe so close to home, adventure is practically on our doorstep with Baltic cruises from Southampton. Travelling to the Baltic States is an eye-opening expedition all year round, with exciting “must-see” attractions from the natural beauty of Lahemaa National Park in Estonia, to historical landmarks like the Doma Cathedral in Latvia.

With a rich cultural heritage and interesting diversity, it’s no surprise the Baltics is fast becoming one of the most popular cruise holiday choices. Whether it’s history, local life, or cuisine, this region — made up of Denmark, Finland, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — has something different to offer at each destination.

Fairy-Tale Cities

Occupying a unique frontier position on the European continent, a journey to the Baltics is an ideal holiday for those who want to take the road less travelled. Dominated by pretty landscapes with gothic castles and old-world cobbled streets, cities like Tallinn and Riga have a charming fairy-tale aura about them.

Wander through the impressive Art Nouveau district of Vecrīga, or explore the architectural wonders of UNESCO World Heritage Site Vanalinn. From markets to museums, every experience on your trip will be a moment to remember.

The Nordic shores also beckon, where the trendy metropolitan landscape belies remnants of a Viking past, but only at first glance. However, it’s not all artifacts and monuments. Rock paintings make way for cutting-edge marvels — like the Löyly floating sauna or Black Diamond Royal Library — when you take in the sights of these harbour cities. Enjoy a boat ride through the waterways of Stockholm, stroll leisurely along a marina in Helsinki, or pay your respects to the Little Mermaid statue on Copenhagen’s promenade — wherever your journey takes you, you’ll discover that this part of Europe blends old and new like no other. And if you’re fortunate enough to celebrate the festive season here, you might even find out for yourself the true meaning of hygge!

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All fares shown on this website are per person, based on two adults sharing, and include all promotional discount (total fare for two, divided by two is shown). Promotional details, fares and itineraries were correct at time of publish and may be changed/withdrawn at any time. E&OE

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Kiel (Germany)

Cruise port schedule, live map, terminals, news.

Region Baltic - Norwegian Fjords - Russia

Local Time 2024-07-04 22:30

Port Kiel cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Kiel, Germany. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

Port Kiel (Kieler Hafen) is located in northern Germany, on the Baltic Sea's inlet and at the eastern end of Kiel Canal . This port city is also Schleswig-Holstein state's capital (population around 235,000) located approx 90 km (56 mi) north of Hamburg (Germany's largest cargo port). Due to its geographic location, Kieler Hafen is currently one of the major passenger (cruise-ferry) and cargo ports in Germany. It is also known for the annually held Kiel Week ("Kieler Woche") - world's biggest sailing regatta.

Via ferries . Kiel is linked with daily scheduled crossings to Oslo Norway ( COLOR LINE ), Goteborg Sweden ( STENA LINE ) and Klaipeda Lithuania ( DFDS SEAWAYS ).

Kiel Port is also a German Navy base (since 1838) and has a shipyard for submarines. Port's cruise schedule has listed mainly homeported vessels of the German brands AIDA, TUI , Fred Olsen . Among the largest cruise companies operating through the seaport are Holland America , MSC , Costa , P&O UK , Pullmantur , Ponant , Viking Ocean , Saga . Traditionally, ships visiting Port Kiel for the first time (making "maiden port call") are met and accompanied by a tugboat (performing a water fountain display) and a commemorative plaque is given to the Captain.

Port's ever first cruise ship was Frederico C (1958-built for Costa Cruises, sunk in 2000 as "SeaBreeze" / owned by Premier Cruises). The liner (with 1724 passengers) docked at Bollhornkai Terminal in 1976.

Kieler Hafen's cruising business with MSC started in 2005 with the visit of the 1997-built MSC Rhapsody (now Golden Iris) . MSC's turnaround/homeporting operations started in 2006. In 2019, here was homeported one of world's largest liners ( MSC Meraviglia ) for a total of 22 roundtrips. MSC vessels dock at Ostuferhafen Terminal's Berth 1.

Port's cruising season runs from early April through late October. The Port (locode DEKEL) is managed by the company Seehafen Kiel GmbH & Co KG.

FY2017 (fiscal year) was a record year with handling 7,4+ million cargo tons and 2,1 million passengers (ferry and cruise).

Kiel's main passenger shipping business are the regularly scheduled ferries to Sweden, Norway and Russia, while summer is the "cruising season".

In 2013, the cruise port handled 128 ship calls (by 22 different cruise lines) and over 363,000 passengers. In 2014 were handled 127 ship calls (by 25 different lines).

On June 4, 2014, at OSTSEEKAI berthed TUI's Mein Schiff 3 visiting Kiel during the maiden voyage. On June 5, 2015, at Berth 1 (Ostuferhafen Terminal) was held the christening ceremony of TUI's Mein Schiff 4 . On July 10, 2015, at OSTSEEKAI (Berth 1) docked Kiel Port's largest cruise vessel ever - Regal Princess . During season 2015, the Port handled a total of 133 cruise ship calls.

On July 15, 2016, the newest TUI ship Mein Schiff 5 sailed on a Cruise to Nowhere from Kiel. The 1-night itinerary had no call ports. The ship left at 3 pm (July 15th) and returned back at 7 am (July 16th). In 2016, the Port handled a total of 485,200 cruise passengers (5,8% increase over 2015) with a total of 147 ship calls (10,5% increase over 2015) made by 26 different ships. AIDA, TUI, MSC, HAL and Costa accounted for 100+ visits.

In 2017 (April 9 through October 21), the port handled a total of 143 cruise ship calls by 29 different vessels (2,7 % decrease over 2016) and over 0,5 million passengers (513,500, or 5,8% increase). The record-breaking year was marked by the two largest German cruise companies - AIDA and TUI - both homeporting in Kiel, respectively, 4 and 3 vessels. Among the other major companies visiting the port were MSC, Costa and Holland America (combined over 100 ship calls). There were 11 days when here berthed 3-4 liners at a time. Season's highlight was Kieler Woche (sailing regatta) opening on June 18. During the event, here berthed 5 ocean ships and 2 riverboats, in addition to the regularly scheduled Ro-Ro ferries.

Season 2017's largest passenger vessel was MSC Fantasia (2008-launched, 138,000 GT tons, max capacity 3930 pax plus 1370 crew). This ship alone was homeported for a total of 21x roundtrips from Kiel. Nearly 2/3 of all homeported ships were operated by AIDA, TUI, Costa and MSC.

Season 2018 started on April 6 with Boudicca (Fred Olsen) and ended on October 28 with AIDAbella . This was port's longest cruise shipping season, with total 169 calls (by 34 different cruise ships, combined GT tonnage over 11,5 million tons / 15,3% increase over 2017) and nearly 600,000 passengers (16,5% increase). Most homeports (turnarounds/roundtrips) in 2018 were booked by AIDA (63 calls with 5 liners), Costa, MSC and TUI. Season's largest vessel was MSC Preziosa (GT 139,000 tons, maiden call on April 28 at OSTSEEKAI). Highlights in port's 2018 schedule were TUI's newest ship Mein Schiff 1 (April 27) and the maiden calls of 7 liners, including Cunard Line 's Queen Victoria (July 17). Among port's new customers were Viking Ocean and Pullmantur .

On April 26, 2018, officials from Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel's Mayor, Seehafen Kiel, Costa Group and Carnival Asia (subsidiaries of Carnival Corporation ) met onboard AIDAluna . During the meeting was signed an agreement for joint promotion of sustainable eco-friendly cruise shipping in Port Kiel. By this agreement, SEEHAFEN KIEL GmbH started (on Oct 26) to build shoreside powerplant (at Norwegenkai Terminal), while AIDA ships use LNG fuel (when berthed) and got upgraded with EGCSA (scrubbers). By the agreement, AIDA upgraded AIDAbella and AIDAluna with shoreside power capabilities. Port's total investment in this project was EUR 1,3 million (including EUR 400,000 Schleswig-Holstein state-funded), with contractor Siemens AG. Norwegenkai's shorepower plant has max output 4,5 MW (frequency 50 Hz). The facility was officially inaugurated on May 9, 2019.

The first ships served at Norwegenkai were COLOR LINE's cruiseferries Color Fantasy and Color Magic . Both ferries (sisterships) are deployed the Oslo-Kiel route with daily crossings - arriving at 10 am and departing at 2 pm. Both vessels' annual power requirement while in port is ~4 million kW hours.

In 2018, 14 ship calls were during Kieler Woche (June 16-24), including 2 by riverboats. There were also 12 days with 3+ ocean-going vessels docked. On August 11, 5 liners were berthed at the same time. On May 4, 2018, Pullmantur Cruises made the company's maiden port call with Zenith (berthed at OSTSEEKAI Terminal). The ship was on 8-day repositioning voyage (April 27 - May 5) from Lisbon to Warnemunde.

In late-summer 2018 started construction works on a second (new, EUR 30 million) OSTSEEKAI Terminal (read more in port's "Terminal" section). The building (Ostseekai 28) was inaugurated on August 3, 2020.

For 2019, the port had booked 179 cruise ship calls by 33 different vessels, with expected ~620,000 cruise passengers plus ~1,6 million ferry passengers. AIDA and TUI homeport here 4 ships each. 2019's largest liner is MSC Meraviglia (2017-built, 171,600 tons, 5700 passengers). Port's cruising season started on January 1 ( Crystal Ravel riverboat) and March 31 ( Viking Sky ocean liner) and ended on October 12 (AIDAprima liner) and December 30 ( Crystal Debussy riverboat). For maiden visits were booked MS Nieuw Statendam (2018-built, Holland America ) and AIDAprima (2016-built). Season 2019 ended with 174 ship calls (32 vessels) and ~800,000 cruise tourists handled. The visiting tourists (crew, cruisers, ferry passengers) generated EUR 75+ million in ashore spending.

In FY2018 (fiscal year), Port Kiel cruise and ferry passengers (and crews) generated turnover around EUR 68 million, with passenger spending over EUR 53 million (ferry) and over EUR 15 million (cruise). Of those, EUR 10 million were spent on hotels in Schleswig-Holstein (pre- or post-cruise). In 2018, the cruise port handled 169 ship calls (compared to 143 in 2017) by 34 different vessels with total GT over 11,5 million tons (15,3% increase over 2017). The number of handled cruise passengers was nearly 598,000 (16,5% increase).

In February 2020, Port Kiel commissioned Siemens AG to build (currently) Germany's largest shorepower-generating system (output 16 MVA / megavolt amperes). The Siemens system (scheduled completion within season 2020) consists of a substation (with 4x Geafol transformers), 4x Nxair switch-gears and 1x frequency converter (Siplink) with software-controlled, two-berth supply. Siplink synchronizes both networks (city grid's 50 Hz with the vessel's 60 Hz network) and also coordinates both ships to be supplied with electricity simultaneously.

On June 16, 2021, was commissioned and with AIDAsol inaugurated Ostseekai Terminal's ShoreCONNECT (joint project of Wabtec Corporation and Port of Kiel) for sustainable shorepower for cruise vessels. ShoreCONNECT is a mobile power supply system that provides berthed ships with city-grid electricity. The mobile platform (self-propelled electric vehicle) can provide one ship (at a time) with up to 16 MVA. A second ShoreCONNECT was installed at the ferry terminal.

2022 was the cruise port's record-breaking year with handled 243 ship calls (+38% over 2019/pre-COVID) of which 20x were maiden - by boats from the fleets of NCL-Norwegian , RSSC-Regent Seven Seas , CCL-Carnival , Hurtigruten . The number of handled cruise tourists was 834431 (passengers and crew).

In 2023, Port Kiel had booked a total of 222 cruise ship berthings (of which received 214) and 1,187148 million passengers handled. Over the weekend of September 16th to 18th, the Port reached 1 million cruisers for the first time - a record number of tourists for a single season. The season concluded on Nov 4th, with received 215 calls (26 brands/companies) and 1,174 million passengers.

On September 23, 2023, with the arrival of MSC Eurubia (2023-built) were officially inaugurated Ostuferhafen Terminal's two shore-power facilities (EUR 11M project). The special event was attended by Daniel Gunther (Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister), Ulf Kampfer (Kiel's Lord Mayor), MSC Euribia’s Master (Captain Christopher Pugh), Linden Coppell (MSC's VP Sustainability & ESG) as well as port officials and representatives of Siemens (project's technical contractor). One of the stations is for cruise ships and ferries, while the other is only for ferries.

Port statistics 2020

In 2020, Port Kiel handled 6,92 million tons of cargo (-1,2 % over 2019), 517,500 passengers (78% decrease), and made investments of EUR 17 million. Ostuferhafen was inaugurated, but its shoreside-power connection was completed in 2023. Ostseekai Terminal's Berth 28 became operational, with a new shoreside-power plant (EUR 15 M).

Port's ferry division (~85 % of all transhipments) handled 240,000 units (+2,3 % over 2019). A total of 32,957 cargo units (38,2% increase) were loaded onto wagons. In 2020 was opened the train link Kiel-Bettembourg (Luxembourg) with three connections weekly.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, passenger shipping (cruise and ferry) traffic decreased by 69,6 %. COLOR LINE's homeported in Kiel ships (Color Magic and Color Fantasy) were both taken out of service. The cruise port received a total of 198 ship calls (mainly technical stops/for bunkering and supplies), of which only 29 voyages.

Port statistics 2018

In 2018, Port Kiel handled over 2,2 million passengers (4,2% increase over 2017) and over 7 million tons of cargo (3,5% decrease / 7,15 million tons in 2017). Ferries account for ~80% of Port's overall transhipment. The traffic to Norway increased by 2,3%). Bulk cargo dropped 2%. Since its inauguration (2016-2018) at SCA Terminal (operated by Svenska Cellulosa AB / Swedish timber-pulp-paper manufacturer) were handled over 1,5 million tons of products. Nearly 29,000 trailers and TEUs (containers) were loaded onto trains in the seaport.

Port's total passenger traffic in 2018 (2,2 million) included over 1,5 million ferry passengers who generated a turnover EUR 50+ million. For the first time, Port's total cruiseship tonnage passed 11 million GT. International cruise tourists arriving in Kiel often pre-book daily excursions throughout Schleswig-Holstein, also to Lubeck and Hamburg. In 2018, the cruise port handled 169 ship calls by 34 different vessels (total GT over 11,5 million / 15,3% increase over 2017). Nearly 600,000 cruisers embarked or debarked here (16.5% increase).

Since January 2019, Norwegenkai Terminal is integrated into Port's Hamburg-Billwerder daily train shuttle service operated year-round (Mondays through Fridays). Arriving rail freight units are transhipped to Norway on the same day via Color Carrier (COLOR LINE-owned, ice-classed freight ferry with capacity 1775 lanemeters). Two of Norwegenkai's berths have hydraulic Ro-Ro ramps.

For 2019 were planned an upgrade of the shunting station and building of a 3rd rail track at Schwedenkai. Port's current projects (budgeted EUR 30 million) are for facility expansions and environmental protection. Ostuferhafen's apron was redesigned to optimize logistics and its parking space (for wheeled cargo and cars) was expanded. Construction of the first shorepower plant (serving COLOR LINE ships) was completed. Shoreside power plants were installed at the terminals Ostseekai (EUR 13 million) and Schwedenkai (EUR 9 million).

BLUE PORT KIEL

"BLUE PORT KIEL" is an ongoing development project that outlines in-port strategies and initiatives to make the used energy resources more efficient, to reduce emissions and replace the hinterland transport with railways.

Since 2010 only vessels using low-sulfur fuel and vessels with installed scrubbers are allowed to dock. For many years, Kiel's seaport uses electricity from sustainable/regenerative sources. All terminal facilities are energy efficient and with LED lighting. At Ostuferhafen, solar panels were mounted on warehouses' roofs and on passenger terminals. Of all the port's vehicle fleet, 15% are fully-electric.

In 2017, at OSTSEEKAI was inaugurated Europe's most advanced wastewater processing plant. LNG bunkering operations are planned to start in spring 2019, when the LNG-powered AIDAprima was homeported here.

To increase railways' traffic share in the rail-ship intermodal split, the seaport planned significant investments in infrastructures. Both railyards at Kiel-Meimersdorf were upgraded (2018-2019) to handle cargoes from trains with max length 750 m (previously 550 m). An additional 3rd track was laid along Railway Quay to increase Schwedenkai Terminal's capacity.

Cruise itineraries to and from Kiel Germany

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Kiel:

• Roundtrip Baltic cruise itineraries leaving from Kiel visit Norway (7-night Norwegian Fjords) or Scandinavia and Russia (with overnight stays in St Petersburg ). Most round-trips are to Norway (7-days in length) operated during summer.
• Longer westbound roundtrip itineraries visit Norway combined with UK-Scotland and Iceland.
• Longer Norway Fjords itineraries visit Spitsbergen Island (with up to 2 overnights in Longyearbyen ), also Honningsvag and Tromso .
• Scandinavia and Russia ("Baltic Capitals") itineraries visit Sweden ( Stockholm ), Finland ( Helsinki , Estonia ( Tallinn ), Latvia ( Riga ), Lithuania ( Klaipeda ), Poland ( Gdynia ), Russia ( St Petersburg /overnight stay).
• "British Isles" itineraries (around Britain) visit both island destinations and UK mainland ports in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England.
• Short-break (mini cruises) leaving round-trip from Kiel are offered mainly by AIDA (4-nights) and visit Norway ( Oslo or Goteborg / with overnight stays) and Denmark ( Copenhagen ). There are also 2-night / 3-day long round-trips to Copenhagen alone.
• Transatlantic crossings on repositioning cruises from Kiel to USA and Canada-New England are one-way itineraries offered at the end of the season (late August - early September). Westbound ship relocation routes often include stops in Iceland, Greenland and UK ports, and usually end in NYC New York .

Relocation voyages to the Mediterranean leaving from Kiel are offered mostly by Costa and MSC, which reposition to their homeports in Italy ( Savona , Genoa , Civitavecchia-Rome , Venice ).

Kiel cruise terminal

Kiel is a homeport/turnaround cruise port in Northern Europe and among the most visited ports of call on Baltic Sea itineraries to Norway's Fjords, Scandinavia and Russia (Sankt Petersburg).

Kiel Port currently has 4 cruise ship terminals named OSTSEEKAI, Ostuferhafen (Berth 1), Norwegenkai and Schwedenkai. The main one (accommodating the largest liners) is OSTSEEKAI.

Kiel-Ostseekai cruise terminal

• location (GPS coordinates) - latitude=54.325058, longitude 10.1456526

Port's main cruise ship terminal Osteekai (Eastern Quay, fka Oslo-Kai) handles over 200,000 passengers per year. The terminal has 2 piers (max capacity 3000 passengers each / 6000 pax combined). The berths are 360 m (1180 ft) and 285 m (935 ft) in length, and with draft / water depth 10 m (33 ft). Since 2019, Ostseekai Terminal has 2 buildings (1 per berth). Each building is on 2 levels and fitted with movable gangways (passenger bridges) connecting it directly to the vessel.

At OSTSEEKAI regularly dock large-sized liners from the fleets of AIDA, Costa, MSC, TUI. An advantage is terminal's convenient location in Kiel Fjord, which offers direct access to Kiel Canal and Baltic Sea. On weekends, the buildings are also used as special event venues.

A train station is located at ~5 min walking distance from the terminal. Nearby car parks are named Ostseekai-North, Parkhaus Altstadt (10-min walk), Fordeparkhaus (12-min walk) and at Kiel Airport (bus shuttle, 15-min drive time).

In 2018 started construction works on the second terminal building (Ostseekai 28, project cost EUR 9 million). The new 2-storey building is sized 3700 m2 (39800 ft2), designed by Eins zu Eins Architekten AG (Hamburg) and completed in 2019-Q1. The new terminal was integrated with the existing building via connections on both levels. New building's frontage picks up on existing surroundings, featuring huge glass surfaces, combined (for both terminals) V-shaped reception area, large outdoor terrace (accessed via outside staircase).

Kiel-Ostuferhafen cruise terminal

Ostuferhafen is mainly a cargo port. A new cruise terminal facility ("Berth 1") was opened on June 2, 2014, and  Costa Pacifica  was the first ship to dock there.

At Berth 1 can dock world's largest passenger liners LOA length up to 400 m / 1300 ft). Ostuferhafen's water depth is 11,5 m (38 ft). The building has length 110 m (360 ft).

The reconstruction project (Berth 1 is a converted warehouse) cost around EUR 4,5 million.

In 2015, Berth 1 received 18 ship calls.

• location (GPS coordinates) - latitude=54.3338777, longitude 10.1749116

Ostuferhafen has 11 berths, Ro-Ro equipment, a crane (lifting capacity 45 tons), storage areas, warehouses, silos, service buildings, waste management facilities. The ferry traffic is mainly to Russia and Scandinavian countries. The car parking space is at 2-min walking distance from the terminal and there is bus shuttle available.

The next YouTube video shows KIEL FERRY TERMINAL (OSTUFERHAFEN).

Kiel-Norwegenkai ferry and cruise ship terminal

• location (GPS coordinates) - latitude=54.31631, longitude 10.13923
• (statistics) In 2011, Norwegenkai handled over 1,1 million passengers and 800000 tons of rolling cargo (trucks, cars, trailers, etc).

Norwegenkai terminal (Norwegian Quay) is the port's second cruise ship terminal. At Norwegenkai dock mainly local ferries , most of which serve the route Kiel-Oslo (Norway).

Terminal's construction was part of the Kai-City Kiel project (completed 1997). A pedestrian bridge connects the terminal to the city's west bank. Norwegenkai has a passenger and ferry (Ro-Ro) terminals. Norwegenkai serves the shipping trade routes with Scandinavian countries. The Color Line's ships Color Magic and Color Fantasy regularly operate the itinerary route between Kiel and Oslo transporting both passengers and rolling cargo. Between 2008-2012, Norwegenkai's area was expanded northeast and now has additional storage and building space.

During summer months, Norwegenkai is additionally used for docking of cruise vessels. There is a dedicated paved parking space (fenced) located 150 m / 500 ft (some 5 min walking distance) from the terminal. Norwegenkai terminal is visible clearly from the train station. The terminal building is impressive, made of concrete, glass and steel.

Kiel-Schwedenkai ferry and cruise ship terminal

• location (GPS coordinates) - latitude=54.319413, longitude 10.1380999

Schwedenkai terminal (Swedish Quay) was inaugurated in 1967 and now serves mainly STENA LINE (passenger and Ro-Ro ferries). A passenger gangway connects the terminal building directly to the ships. Stena Line serves the route between Kiel and Goteborg (Sweden) and operates some of the world's largest ferry ships.

Terminal's reconstruction project cost ~EUR 30 million, of which EUR 20+ million were invested in the building and EUR 12 million in logistics and infrastructure upgrades.

The Kile port area is among the city's most intersting tourist attractions. It comprises the Kiel Yacht Club, the German Navy port and Laboe (historic place). Laboe used to be a Slavic farming and fishing village. Currently, it is a popular resort.

• port address - "Seehafen Kiel GmbH, Kommanditgesellschaft, Bollhornkai 1, Kiel 24103, Germany"
• UN-LOCODE (United Nations location code) - DEKEL.
• supported by excellent road, rail and air infrastructure
• sheltered harbor, large turning/swinging basins, deepwater berths
• can accommodate up to 4 cruise ships at a time
• The port's cruising season runs from late April through early October.

Cruise ships usually arrive in Kiel in the early morning (7, 8 am) and depart from Kiel in the late afternoon (6, 6:30, 7 pm).

St Nicholas Church: it is located in the old town. The Nikolaikirche (St Nicholas Church) is on the Alter Markt

Kleiner Kiel: located on the west side of Markt. It used to be firth’s arm that surrounded the old Kiel.

Sophienhof: this is the cultural quarter that dates from 1888. the building has two stories and it is home of the Stadtbildnerei and the Stadtgalerie .

Shipping Museum: located on the east side of Markt. It is housed in the old Fischhalle. Discover amazing displays of historic vessels.

Art Gallery: located at Düsternbrooker Weg 1. The Kunsthalle displays paintings of German artists from the period between 17th and 20th century.

Museum of Ethnography: located on Hegewischstraße 3. There you can see artifacts from Oceania, Africa and Asia.

Zoological Museum: discover the interesting collections of North Sea fauna, Ice Age animals’ specimens and whales’ skeletons.

Institute of Marine Biology: located at Düsternbrooker Weg 20. The institute houses sea and fresh water aquariums and a pool for seals.

Kiel tours, shore excursions, hotels

City tours and shore excursions.

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Kiel - user reviews and comments

Impacts may be 'catastrophic' as Hurricane Beryl pounds Jamaica: Live updates

Hurricane Beryl was retreating from Jamaica late Wednesday and is expected to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight as a major hurricane, bringing intense winds and heavy rain, the National Hurricane Center said.

As of 2 a.m. ET Thursday, Beryl was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 mph and was about 110 miles southeast of Grand Cayman — the largest of the Cayman Islands. After roaring by Jamaica's southern coast, the hurricane was expected to unload "devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves" across the Cayman Islands, according to the hurricane center.

The Cayman Islands could get up to half a foot of rain through Thursday. Weather officials are also warning about life-threatening surf and rip currents along parts of western Cuba, the Yucatan Peninsula, and the coast of Belize.

Beryl was on track to approach the Cayman Islands on Wednesday night and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula about 24 hours later, still as a hurricane but weakened by expected wind shear.

In Jamaica, emergency crews evacuated people living in flood-prone communities and nearly 500 people were in shelters by Wednesday afternoon, according to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

“We’re concerned about widespread damage and potentially catastrophic impacts in Jamaica,” said Bernie Rayno, AccuWeather's chief on-air meteorologist. "Flooding may last days to even weeks. Widespread power outages are expected. Beryl will likely damage many homes and businesses and cause severe coastal inundation."

The chances of Beryl impacting part of the Texas Gulf Coast have increased with the projected path veering northwest, AccuWeather reported , although it would not bring anywhere near the ferocity of its devastating assault on the southern Windward Islands earlier this week. The current track calls for Beryl to weaken to a tropical storm as it crosses the Yucatan and then becomes a hurricane again before making landfall along the coast near the border of Mexico and Texas.

The storm is projected to drench Jamaica with 4 to 8 inches of rain, and 12 inches are forecast in some places, which could cause "life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides," the NHC said. Holness declared all of Jamaica a "disaster area" and imposed an islandwide curfew Wednesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On Monday, Beryl made landfall in Grenada's Carriacou island as a Category 4 hurricane, ravaging the southern Caribbean Islands, flattening hundreds of buildings and causing the deaths of at least seven people. On Monday night, Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Driven by record-hot ocean temperatures, Beryl's rapid strengthening has stunned experts.

Amazing drone footage: As Hurricane Beryl tears through Caribbean, a drone sends back stunning footage

Developments:

∎ The death toll from the powerful hurricane rose to at least 10, according to Reuters. But that figure is expected to increase as communications come back online across islands damaged by flooding and intense winds.

∎ The Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Jamaica posted on X that a small section of the roof of its passenger boarding pier was damaged by Beryl. "Once the storm has completely passed, a full assessment of damage will be done," the airport stated on X.

∎ The Meteorological Service of Mexico issued a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, a popular tourist destination, according to the NHC. Tropical storm warnings were also issued for other parts of the Yucatan Peninsula.

∎ Venezuela's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, and senior officials in her traveling party were injured by a falling tree Tuesday night while surveying an area near the country's Caribbean coast where the Manzanares River overran its banks after heavy rainfall caused by Beryl.

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path of storm

Will Hurricane Beryl hit Texas?

Portions of South Texas are now within the forecast cone of Hurricane Beryl , which meteorologists say could arrive in the state over the weekend or early Monday.

However, forecasters remain unsure of what Beryl will do and how strong it will be as it approaches the Gulf Coast after hitting Mexico: "High uncertainty remains with both the track and intensity of Beryl," the  National Weather Service said Wednesday.

"From Panama City, Florida to New Orleans, there is a low risk of direct impacts from Beryl, but from about Corpus Christi to Brownsville, Texas, the risk increases significantly due to the potential for Beryl to have more direct impacts,"  AccuWeather  meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. "That southern portion of the Texas coast is the zone we have to really watch."

Coastal threats could begin this weekend, Weather.com warned: "Well ahead of Beryl, onshore winds could lead to increasing surf, rip currents and coastal flooding along parts of the Gulf Coast from eastern Mexico to Texas and western Louisiana beginning as soon as Saturday, and continuing until just after Beryl's final landfall, Weather.com  said. The rip current threat could also even extend farther east along the northern Gulf Coast.

Brennan said Tuesday that "folks in the Texas coast, as we go into the holiday weekend, you're going to want to make sure you check back on the forecast and make sure you're ready for any potential impact. If we were to see tropical storm conditions affect those areas in the far western Gulf of Mexico, it could be during the day Saturday."

– Doyle Rice

More than 90% of the homes, buildings destroyed

More than 90% of homes and buildings across at least three islands were destroyed or severely damaged after Beryl tore through the southeast Caribbean, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reported Wednesday. The agency was assisting with the disaster response in Grenada, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.

Beryl struck the islands with winds of 150 mph and higher gusts on Monday, causing significant impacts to the islands, according to Elizabeth Riley, the disaster management agency's executive director. In addition to infrastructure damages, some islands have also faced power outages and disruptions to communications.

In a briefing late Tuesday, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described "total destruction" on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

"There's really nothing that can prepare you to see this level of destruction," Mitchell said. "It is almost Armageddon-like, almost total damage and destruction of all buildings. Complete devastation and destruction of agriculture. Complete and total destruction of the natural environment."

— Dinah Voyles Pulver

Airlines waive fees for some in Hurricane Beryl's path

Six major U.S. airlines said they're waiving various fees for travelers who have flights booked in Beryl's path. In most cases, flights booked before July 1 are eligible for the changes. The listed flights include departures from or arrivals in airports in Mexico, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Belize.

American , JetBlue , United , Delta , Southwest , and Spirit Airlines are offering a variety of fee waivers because of the hurricane. Passengers are encouraged to check directly with the airlines on what amended policies apply to them.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said on its website travelers on international flights may be able to recover expenses from a delayed or canceled flight by filing a claim with the airline.

"If the claim is denied, you may pursue the matter in court if you believe that the carrier did not take all measures that could reasonably be required to avoid the damages caused by the delay," the agency said. 

− Krystal Nurse

Resort manager in Jamaica maintains composure as Hurricane Beryl approaches

The coming hurricane doesn't scare Tamar Atkinson, the manager of a small resort in Hanover, a community on Jamaica's northwest coast.

"The way I look at it, I can't stop it," she told USA TODAY. "If the hurricane is going to blow your house down, it's going to blow the house down."

Atkinson, 42, who moved back to Hanover a year ago after she lived in the U.S. for 20 years, already has her sea legs in weathering Jamaica's hurricanes. She remembers facing Hurricane Gilbert, a Category 5, as a little girl – the storm blew the roof off her aunt's house, where she sheltered, but left her mother's house in "perfect condition."

When Hurricane Ivan hit two decades ago, Atkinson sheltered at a nearby school. Once again, the storm blew out the school's windows but left Atkinson's house untouched. "I'm not leaving my house, and I'm not going to go crazy like the rest of the people," she said, adding that she's told her guests to "relax their nerves."

Jamaica closes all international airports as Hurricane Beryl nears island

The Jamaica Tourist Board announced Wednesday that the Sangster, Norman Manley, and Ian Fleming international airports were closed as Hurricane Beryl approached the island.

Jamaica's travel website, VisitJamaica.com, doesn't list a reopening time for the airports and encourages travelers to contact their travel agents and/or airlines for flight updates. The website also encourages travelers to heed any instructions from their hotel or private accommodation on sheltering.

"We also encourage you to register with your Embassy for country-specific guidance and support," the board said on the website.

The U.S. Embassy in Jamaica is open on a limited basis and encourages Americans to not visit the embassy for shelter and instead seek a government-run shelter. Citizens in Jamaica are encouraged to call the embassy at (876) 702-6486 if they need assistance. 

– Krystal Nurse

Ahead of Hurricane Beryl, Jamaicans prepare their homes

Donae Maye stocked up on water, candles, and food earlier this week, before supermarkets across her hometown of Montego Bay, a city on Jamaica's northern Coast, emptied.

"There was no bread, no essentials that you actually need, no candles, very few tin products," she said on Wednesday, after a recent visit to some local grocery stores.

Maye, 27, also prepped her home, where she will shelter with her fiance, her son and his father. "We cleared away any trees that might be blocking any electrical wires and stuff like that that might fall and break the window," she said.

She's confident that her house, which is made of concrete, will stand up to the storm better than many buildings did to Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago. Back then, more structures were made of board, which didn't fare well in the storm, she said. Today, "most structures are built to withstand the winds and the hurricane," she said.

Humanitarian groups rally relief for impacted countries

Global Giving and Americares are among the humanitarian organizations collecting money for those affected by Hurricane Beryl. Both promise donations to support various impacted communities, focusing on those who are disadvantaged and on decimated medical facilities.

Cora Nally, international emergency response director of Americares, said the organization focuses on restoring damaged medical facilities and expects to deploy its workers to Jamaica soon after Beryl leaves.

"That is really going to serve as a home base for them, and we are asking them to do an assessment of all the impacted islands in the Caribbean, and we are going to be keeping an eye on the storm as it moves towards Mexico and the United States," she said.

Is Cancun in the path of Hurricane Beryl?

Among the parts of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and surrounding areas under hurricane warnings were Cancun and the island of Cozumel, two popular tourist destinations packed with luxury resorts and cruise ship ports.

The hurricane warnings were issued by the Meteorological Service of Mexico as forecasters warned residents and tourists of the projected impact of Hurricane Beryl.

Brennan, the director of the NHC, said in a YouTube livestream on Wednesday that the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, including Cancun, faces 3 to 5 feet of storm surge as well as up to 8 inches of rain.

The record-breaking hurricane is expected to make landfall along the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday night or early Friday, NHC said.

In Jamaica, tourists shelter in hotel ballroom from Hurricane Beryl

Cecilia Garcia and her family initially planned to weather the beginning of the hurricane in the bathroom of their hotel room in Ocho Rios, on Jamaica's northern coastline. "We do have windows in our room, so I think the safest option would probably be to go in our restroom," she said.

Moon Palace Jamaica, where Garcia, 25, is staying with her parents, brother, sister and two kids, told hotel guests to evacuate to a ballroom. When Garcia and her family first visited the shelter, they found it too chaotic. "We ended up back in our room because it was very crowded," she said. "It was very hot in there."

But later on Wednesday morning, as the winds picked up, the family returned to the packed ballroom, where thin cots were arranged in rows, according to a video Garcia shared with USA TODAY.

Garcia and her family's flight back to their home of Houston, Texas, isn't until Saturday – the hurricane will strike at the midpoint of their week-long vacation. Garcia said if they chose to end their stay earlier, they wouldn't get a refund. 

Looking out at skies still partially clear on Wednesday morning, Garcia said the family was keeping calm ahead of the storm. "We're kind of used to bad weather and floods like that in Houston," she said. "But again, it's different when you're not at home, so that's the only scary part."

Hurricane Beryl spoiling graduation trip

Mona Parhar, 23, and Arezoo Rafkhani, 24, didn't start searching for early return flights from their vacation to Jamaica until Tuesday night, less than 24 hours before Hurricane Beryl was expected to sweep across the island. By then, they learned airports had closed.

"We really have no choice but to stick it out," Parhar said Wednesday from their hotel room at the Hotel Riu in Montego Bay on the island's northern side.

The two Toronto natives booked their trip to celebrate their recent graduations – Rafkhani from Toronto Metropolitan University and Parhar from York University. "We've never experienced something like this as Canadians," Rafkhani said. "It's kind of nerve-wracking."

The pair were comforted by the hotel staff, who kept guests informed and safe. "Since last night, they've been sending us messages about how to get prepared, what they're doing and will be doing this morning," Rafkhani said. "They've been keeping us calm," Parhar said.

Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl

Jamaican officials warned residents to stock up on food, batteries, candles, and drinking water. Residents in flood-prone areas were also advised to prepare for evacuation.

"Secure your critical documents and remove any trees or items that could endanger your property," the Office of the Prime Minister in Jamaica said on X on Tuesday. "Everyone, including those living alone, should take these necessary steps now."

As a precaution, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Tuesday night that electricity and water services will likely be shut off "if the storm reaches a serious threshold" to prevent fires and protect equipment.

"Only one hurricane has ever affected Jamaica during July," according to AccuWeather meteorologist Jesse Ferrell. "Category 4 Hurricane Dennis in 2005 did not make landfall but killed one person and caused a lot of damage."

Record-breaking path: Hurricane Beryl tears through the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl breaks records

Forecasters have projected 2024 to be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record. Beryl has already surprised forecasters and broken records since it formed, including becoming the earliest Category 4 or 5 storm on record.

Beryl broke the previous record set by Hurricane Emily on July 17, 2005, for the strongest Category 5 hurricane. Beryl rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm to a major hurricane in about 48 hours.

The storm is also the earliest Category 4 or larger storm by more than a week, breaking the record set by Hurricane Dennis, a Category 4 storm on July 8, 2005.

It was fueled by  much warmer than normal  ocean temperatures in the Atlantic and aided in that development by light winds that allowed it to build a strong inner core.

— Jennifer Borresen, Dinah Voyles Pulver and Ramon Padilla

Hurricane Beryl tracker: See projected path of Category 5 storm

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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