Hamburg: 2-hour Harbor Cruise

worst experience ever. Tour of industrial area not of Hamburg. Guide only in German. Surely help and audio was only available if you downloaded with internet service. Do not go-------waste of money.

The tour was ok. As an English speaker listening to just the audio tour I felt I missed out on a lot o the local experiences and history that the guide provided. I wouldn’t suggest this tour for an English speaker. I does seem like a wonderful tour for locals.

The tour was enjoyable for the Germans on board. I think they found the tour guide informative and witty at time. We're English speaking but,we're not made aware of how to go about using the audio guide.

This was a pleasant cruise around Hamburg Harbor. However, the “guide” portion was unacceptable. This was advertised as “in German” but with multilingual translation available. When I boarded, they told me to download the company’s app, which I was able to do. However, after the brief introduction, the app crashed and would not give any further narration no matter how many times I relaunched it. Searching online, it seems this is a known issue with the company’s app and certain phones (I have an iPhone 17 Pro) and their app has not been updated. Also, there was no instruction to bring headphones/AirPods in the booking information, and this should be added as they ask you not to have your phone on speaker It later occurred to me I could use “live translation” on my iPhone. This did work reasonably well, although I often had to read the translation as I couldn’t hear the translated version through my AirPods given the loud German coming out of the speakers on the boat. I didn’t really care for the live guide, who seemed to make an endless stream of often sexist jokes. Of course I was getting this through translation on my phone, so perhaps something was lost in translation. Overall, a reasonable value in a Harbor cruise. with a little bit of history thrown in. Remember to bring AirPods, or better yet, your German friend to translate.

I had to download a special app to tell me about some of the points of interest. I thought I signed up for an English tour. It was in German. It was crowded and people were smoking.

As English speakers I found the app to be confusing trying to follow along. Also I didn’t have my AirPods so listening was difficult. The views were nice.

Boat was of good standard. Seating comfortable. A very enjoyable time. Guide was in German. I wasn't aware that English translation had to be downloaded.

Unless you speak German, this is not for you. Firrsly, you need to download the English version on your phone but yiu need your own headphonesc which we didnt have. Commentary was over the microphone so you couldn't hear the English version on your phone anyway. Very disappointing tour again. 3rd in a row now sadly.

This tour was NOT presented in English in spite of representation on Viator site. The supppsed translation phone app does not work.

You need to download the app in your language, and figure out how to work it before the boat tour. The narration on the app is different then what the host is saying.

Don’t trust what you see on the internet. We were sent from Pier 1, to 4, to 9, back to 4. Then eventually, 45 minutes of chaos, got a boat that did not have English commentary as promised.

They advertise the tour as having English audio, but the guide only speaks German. Apparently, there is supposed to be an app that explains what the tour is about in English, but it is impossible to download or access. To make matters worse, Viator simply washes its hands of the situation and offers no real assistance.

The cruise itself showed a great view of the harbor. The app that was suggested to get the commentary in English wasn’t very effective. As the commentators pointed out historical or interesting sites, we were able to Google the site in location for more information. So, I would suggest the river cruise. Just make sure it’s in the correct language and don’t depend on an app.

Very pleasant and enjoyable. The boat wash very clean and beer was cold

Beautiful day, interesting tour but I did not understand German commentary..

A great experience to have a global and detailed overview of the port of Hamburg and the city. If you do not speak german, you can download an app which will translate the whole visit. The commentaries are extrememy detailed and provides you with a great amount of informations. You need your phone with activated geoloc and headset (be sure to have fully loaded batteries). Also have an umbrella and warm clothes. Small tip: ask for the 12h45 tour, which is 15 minutes longer than the regular 2h visit and which allows you to see more spots. The price is a little expensive but definitely worth it.

This tour is strictly for guests on the right side of the ship. Those on the left will have views obstructed by the right side. You’d think the tour operators would know this is unfair!

The experience was entirely unsatisfactory; practically, that was the sole observation. The application failed to function as intended. It was the most mundane experience of my life. The service was overpriced; I advise against participation.

The audio guide was not working correctly going in and out. I told the guide and his response was to make a joke about “English” and the whole boat laughed at us. Also, the “Beauty” of Hamburg was spent mostly viewing the industrial container ships. Avoid this tour!!!!!

Location information was disappointing. Tickets said to go to Dock/pier one. At the kiosk at Pier One was a sign to go to Pier Four. We checked in at Pier Four and were told to go to Pier Seven, but the boat was actually at Pier Eight. We were very lucky we allowed a bunch of extra time. Also, there was no indication on Viator or with the company that the trip would be completely in German.

The trip was narrated entirely in German. The advertisement did not disclose that it was entirely in German. No options were offered for translation into English. As a result, we sat in the boat for over two hours and understood almost nothing about the voyage and the sites.

Use the App for English translation... easy to follow and good, comprehensive descriptions of the sites along the harbor. Recommend the 2hr tour; the 1hr tour wouldn't be enough to cover all of the interesting points. But be aware; the 2hr tour uses open canopy boats....the canopy can be closed over the main body of the boat if it rains, however, the 'upper deck' cannot be covered...but the upper deck offers the best viewing and is recommended. Well worth the price

It's hard to put into words how awful this was. We were given the wrong meeting point. We boarded and weren't offered a drink. We had to download an app, but it didn't work for either of us; the audio file failed to play. We were given no headphones...so even if it did, we wouldn't have been able to hear it. So we sat for two hours looking at dreary grey ships cranes and broken tyres. It's two years of my life I will not get back. Looking around at the yawning Germans, I'm not sure even if I could understand what was being said..

Disappointed. Booked in English when booking received said German. Supposed to download app for guides in other languages. You needed headphones which we didn’t have. Or port in our iPhones. Thank goodness for Google image as would not have had a clue what we were looking at. Don’t book unless you can speak German.

Finding the boat was easy. They did not scan but looked at my mobile wallet ticket. They have communal tables set up on the main level. They had drinks available as well as a wc. The aft is open with bench style seating. I got there about 20 mins before sail time and the boat was pretty full. People kept coming until they raised the gangway. Unfortunately they packed this boat and people that showed up a few mins before sailing ended up standing in front of those of us who arrived early to get a good seat for the whole tour. Oh and they allow smoking in the aft open deck. The tour is given in German but the do have an app that you can listen along to. The app was ok but my signal was weak (no wifi on boat) and the app stopped working well. Everyone was laughing with the guide, who was quite animated. I felt a little left out! The tour focused way too much on the industrial port. We got very close to container ships which could not have interested me less. They even took us out to where our ship was docked and we came way closer than I thought would be allowed. There was about 30 minutes in the canals. The tour was exactly 2 hours, too long for what they were showing us. If I was able to have a do-over I’d have stuck to the hop on hop off tour to see a lot more of the city.

They resented I booked it through TripAdvisor. They didn’t tell me which dock the boat was leaving from until it was a crisis to run there. Tour is only in German — fine they have an App. The app for English translation crashes on every point of interest. Don’t wast the money

Many great views really fun for photos as well as history . It was good to see hamburg from the canals while taking some good photos

The available information in English is not a translation of the actual presentation. It only provides basic details about the sites you will see during the tour. I found the website difficult to navigate. Please note that you need Wi-Fi and must bring your own headphones. While the German speakers in our group found the tour entertaining, the rest of us did not share the same experience.

The tour was very good except that wish there were more information about the need to bring earphones.

I recommend this cruise. A one hour cruise is not adequate. Try 2 hour. Refresments and wait staff aboard. I used their phone app for English tour. It is triggered by gps location from your phone. But there is a 250MB download of the tour data! Not good for international phone data plan for tourists. They don't mention that in the brochure!! I ended up trying Google "live translate", and it did a good job of translating the live German commentary. There was on big logistical problem. The email and ticket just gives you a general address ... a dockside ticket office. They had to tell me to walk to dock 7, about a quarter of a mile away. Get there early so you are not rushing to get to an unexpected location. It was good to see various segments of the town from the river and canals.. very memorable encounters with massive, docked container ships.

Excellent harbor cruise. We speak English, so you get a free app to download to hear the comments with photos and names of places you see. There is a little map, it shows you in real time where you are. Nice helpful crew.

We had a great cruise and saw amazing architecture and heard some interesting history and facts. Our guide spoke in German and we are American so we missed the jokes and personal touches. We had not brought our earbuds to listen to the translation so one person listened and passed on pertinent information. We should have thought to bring sunscreen as well. We made it work.

We had a wonderful time on the cruise, and the mobile app was super user-friendly with its English explanations. It would be beneficial if the operator could add clearer instructions on how to actually find the boat, though—especially for those of us who don't speak German

Great trip around the harbour. Be aware that the English version is an audio guide app that’s best to have downloaded in advance - this worked well for us.

Good spirits and great to see the Hamburt harbour. Really the heart of all that Hamburg is about. I’d recommend this one. Magnificent ships to see

Overall a very disappointing experience and poor value for money. ( thursday 11 June at 1400) Booked as 2 hour English audio tour ( clearly shown on tickets as this but commentary only in German). Commentary meant nothing to us so not clear what we we were looking at. Really could not wait to get off boat. Feel a bit ripped off and mis-sold as English audio available. If we had known only in German then we would not have booked.

You need to download the app to hear it in another language before it starts As even though I booked English, there was not any. So I have no idea .

If you do not speak German, this tour is not for you. The entire tour is in German. We downloaded the app only because we read about it on Viator, but it was horrible. No one on the boat suggested getting the app either. Two hours is WAY too long.

The app somewhat helpful for English narration, but speaker on board very loud. We had difficulty aligning the sites, narration, and competing languages. Environment on-board was pleasant and well-covered (out of the rain).

Interesting tour of the container ships port.

I didn’t realize I would need to download commentary and use headphones ahead of time to get the English translation.

You have to have headphones and download the app to have it in English. We used Google Translate but that uses up phone battery so much. Wished it focused only on the canals in the city. Did not care about the shipping port and that was an entire hour of the cruise. We did like the comfort and ability to order drinks and snacks.

Very informative and always love cruises in the city and learn more about the Hamburg Harbor! Just wished for sunny skies😂😎 didn’t realize until later that I could’ve asked for English until after the tour, but used my Translator GO app😂 and my daughter speaks German!

The tour claims to be English speaking however it was in German. There was an app which no one explained until we were on the boat. If you didn’t have internet you could not download the audio app. If this had been disclosed we would not have chosen this tour. Don’t waste your time!!!!

My wife and I recently booked and paid for, through trip adviser, for a 2 hour Hamburg harbor cruise. We were directed to the one hour cruise and were given no explanation for this , nor were we offered any refund on the price difference. Within 48 hours of the cruise we were texted to give feedback on the tour and despite providing our negative review we have not heard back. The cruise company was Rainer Abicht.

while we signed up for English audio, there was not mention except super small print, that we would need to bring a phone to download an app and ear pieces. And that would only have been canned info on a few places we passed. Every other tour (20+) i've been on, the guide repeated most of everything in English. this guide did NO English and didn't seem to know that 5 of us had booked English.

buying the tickets it was requested the language for the tour however, the only language spoken during the whole tour was in German. I guess only german speaking people visit Hamburg...

We had a great boat tour. The guide was funny and we had the chance to see a lot, from the city to the harbour. The music add to the fun of the trip. Highly recommended if you wish to have a trip that is not boring.

Kompetente Abwicklung. Sehr informativ. Too Gastro.