Kiel Cruises
Situated at the eastern end of the Kiel Canal, the busiest man-made waterway in the world, Kiel is a long-established maritime city with a busy seaport and a rich history of ship and submarine building. Almost completely destroyed in World War II, Kiel has been extensively rebuilt since the 1950’s and now features broad boulevards and wide squares; and holds the international regatta and festival, Kieler Woche, each year in summer.
Top Experiences
Kiel Naval History
Started in 1927 and completed in 1936, the Laboe Naval Memorial originally memorialised the World War I dead of the Kaiserliche Marine, with the Kriegsmarine dead of the World War II being added after 1945. The monument consists of a 85-metre high tower topped by an observation deck.
Elsewhere, Kiel's historic war sites also include a hall of remembrance and a World War II-era German Submarine U-995 (the world’s only remaining Type VII U-boat), which today houses a technical museum.
Kiel Canal
The Kiel Canal, a remarkable, 100-kilometre-long stretch of freshwater, links the North Sea and the Baltic and is the busiest artificial waterway. This magnificent example of German engineering took 9,000 workers eight years to dig and today plays a major role in trade between the countries of the Baltic and the rest of the world.
Cruises to Kiel
Discovering the Castles & Cultures of the Baltic • S2414
- Visit Helsinki for the Tall Ships Races and Kiel for Kieler Woche
- Enjoy time in the fairytale-esque old town of Tallinn
- Explore the city walls & towers in the well-preserved city of Visby