Rostock Cruise Port

Rostock sits on the estuary of the Warnow River on the German coast of the Baltic Sea. It is the largest cruise homeport in Germany, and receives the highest number of cruise tourists in Germany every year. Ships berth at the cruise terminal in Warnemünde, the district where the river meets the sea, about fifteen minutes from Rostock's old town.

Rostock is officially the Hanseatic and University City, and is the largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In 1218, Rostock was granted Lübeck law city rights, and in 1251, the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Much of the port city was bombed during World War II, but you can still stumble upon medieval-style brick Gothic Marienkirche architecture and explore the city's defensive walls dating back to the 13th century. The Neuer Markt square features gabled merchants' houses on its east side.

The city is home to the University of Rostock, founded in 1419, the oldest university in the Baltic region and one of the oldest universities in the world. Rostock once had the largest trading fleet on the Baltic Sea, with Stadthafen as the port. In summer, the area is taken over by Hanse Sail, when 250 traditional ships dock in the city. For beer lovers, the Mahn & Ohlerich brewery, now Hanseatische Brauerei Rostock, dates from around 1900.

Rostock is also a main base for ferry operators connecting it with major Scandinavian destinations, including Helsinki, Gedser, and Trelleborg. For those wanting to venture inland, Berlin is 2 hours from the port by train.