WARNEMÜNDE: AIDAmar - Behind the scenes of a cruiseship giant

The morning silence in Warnemünde was broken today by the majestic arrival of the AIDAmar from Copenhagen. After an impressive ten-day journey, the 29,000-ton cruise ship reached the harbor, marking the start of the beloved harbor festival.

For the 2,700 guests, it was time to say goodbye, while an equal number of vacationers began their much-anticipated getaway on board. For Head Chef Andreas Rieg, it was a crucial workday, ensuring the massive number of guests were adequately catered to. On a ship of this size, the quantity of food required is staggering.

Truckloads of fresh products were brought on board and subjected to strict quality control, revealing some surprising findings, such as pineapples with or without tops. The focus was on reducing waste and workload on board.

The ship's bridge sits nearly 50 meters above the waterline. Captain Manuel Panschek expertly maneuvered the ship through the narrow harbor basin of Warnemünde. The busy port required precise coordination, especially with ferry traffic.

Even though the ship was now docked, there was no rest for the crew. Warnemünde serves as a home port, where technicians come on board to overhaul equipment and perform maintenance tasks.

Meanwhile, the new guests began the check-in process, complete with airport-like security checks. Next door, the AIDAmar was anchored in such a way that the dirty diesel generators could be turned off while in port—a small but important step towards environmental protection.

Despite the impressive scale of the cruise ship, guests are thoroughly enjoying their journey. Captain Panschek burns an impressive 140 tons of ship diesel per day, but the guests' enthusiasm remains unshaken.

The kitchen crew is working at full capacity. Andreas Rieck, who comes from a Michelin-starred kitchen, ensures that the dishes are served on time and arrive warm. The logistical challenge is significant, as the restaurants span several floors.

At the end of the day, the AIDAmar sets sail again, this time towards Scandinavia. In ten days, it will return to Warnemünde to welcome new guests and restock supplies. The cruise spectacle in Warnemünde thus continues into a new round.

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