Kiel has three cruise terminals.

Six berths for big ferry and cruise ships are available and located right in the city center and near the railway station, at the Norwegenkai, Schwedenkai and Ostseekai Terminals.

How to reach the terminals.: click here.

Printable map to take along.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Watch a destination video.

Kiel is at the end of a 17 km long fjord. The sea comes right into the heart of the city. The great natural feature in Kiel is the fjord with its beaches. The maritime aspect of the city with its harbors, the massive passenger ferries and the enormous cranes on the docks – that's typical Kiel.

Getting around Germany is incredible easy. The train network is comfortable, reliable, fast and reasonably priced. The eastern and western train systems have now been fully merged. German roads are also excellent and motorized transport can be a great way to tour the country.

The national and famous motorway network known as autobahnen, officially there is no general speed limit, but, in an attempt to increase safety and control the pollution, a lot of segments have speed limits (which are strictly controlled). If you rent a car, make sure you stay in the right lane at all times, except when passing! Speeds of 200km or over are not uncommon.

Taxis are dependable, but expensive.

All shopping areas are only a few footsteps away from the cruise terminals.

Special purchases include precision optical equipment such as binoculars and cameras, porcelain, handmade crystal, silver, steel ware, Solingen knives, leather wear, sports equipment, toys from Nuremberg and Bavarian Loden cloth. Special purchases in eastern Germany include musical instruments, wooden carved toys from the Erzgebirge Mountains, and Meissen china.

In Germany snacks (Schnellimbiss) are widely available, especially Bock wurst (boiled sausage), Bratwurst (grilled sausage) and Curry wurst (spiced sausage), as well as fries and hamburgers.

German fast food is cheap, hearty and diverse; there are a number of sausage stands, imbisses and specialty stands; you have many options from which choose. Many of the fast food is of Turkish origin, this food is very popular for being cheap and healthy. The German's favorite Turkish fast food is the Doner Kebab; a thick pita filled generally with either chicken or beef complemented with fresh French fries and salad.

In restaurants gratuity is included in the prices. If the service was beyond expectations an extra tip is given, otherwise just tell to keep the change or leave it on the table.

Euro. There are plenty of ATM machines around.

Credit Cards are not well liked and accepted in Germany, because of the high commissions retailers, hotels, restaurants have to pay. Please pay in cash whenever possible. Visitors are advised to have their traveller's cheques exchanged at bureaux de change as banks often refuse to change them and they are not accepted as payment in stores.

Currency Converter

German spoken. Germans are regarded as being punctual, disciplined and last but not least, a little formal. In German there are two forms of you: "Du" and "Sie." "Du" is less formal, "Sie" is more so. You almost always should use the "Sie" form and someone's last name with people you don't know.

110 -- Police Emergency
112 -- Fire Emergency or Ambulance Call

Internet cafes are mostly found around railway stations. Often large bookstores have internet terminals. German keyboards are awkward: it might take a few minutes just to find the @-sign. (use Ctrl and Alt, with Q)

Webcam of the harbor.

All stores must close no later than 8 p.m. Some close as early as 6:30 p.m. On Saturdays stores lock up at 1 or 2 p.m.; although in big city centers most stay upon until 2 or 4 p.m.

Sundays all stores are closed, except some bakeries which are open on sunday morning.

January 1 New Year's Day
January 6 Epiphany
varies - Good Friday
varies - Easter
varies - Easter Monday
May 1 Labor Day
varies - Ascension Day (usually in May)
varies - Whit monday (usually mid-May)
October 3 Unity Day
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 St. Stephan's Day

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