Hamburg

Hamburg - Cuxhaven

Heritage, History, Culture

A 4-days bus trip ( group or individual travel)

Hamburg was the most important port of embarkation for millions of emigrants from Eastern Europe and Germany next to Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Le Havre, Liverpool and other European cities. Around 1900 the Hamburg America Line, HAPAG, was the biggest shipping company with splendid ocean liners on the North Atlantic route. In 1889 the Hapag started from the port of Cuxhaven.
RESEARCH AND TRAVEL has designed an unusual itinerary to discover the emigrant experience at these historic places. Meet people, learn about living conditions in the old times, understand the motivation to leave one's home, discover the history of Hamburg, Cuxhaven and the Hamburg America Line and learn how the journey was organized.
Sailing on the river will complete your fantastic trip. An introductory seminar and guiding services by university experts, access to research facilities, passenger lists, databases and archival holdings as well as a RESEARCH AND TRAVEL service package are provided.

With pleasure we design your personal itinerary.

Itinerary

Hamburg Hanseatic City

A welcome dinner in the hotel’s restaurant rounds up the day. The evening is free to browse through the city or relax from the flight. Hotel: 3 nights in Hamburg R, D.

Day 2

The Emigration Trail

After breakfast we start a sightseeing tour exploring the trail of the emigrants in Hamburg. Included is a boat tour to discover the old harbor facilities. Follow the traces of circa 5 million men, women and children on their passage to America. Hamburg was especially important for the many Russian emigrants and Jewish refugees trying to escape pogroms in Czarist Russia between the 1880ies and 1914. Learn about the flow of emigration, the cholera, the innkeepers, hostels etc. see the old Hapag barracks, buildings and emigration Hall at the Veddel and the famous Landungsbrücke at Hamburg St. Pauli which still is a fascinating starting point for Ocean Liners.

The historic harbor district

Lunch will be on your own before we meet for continuation of the tour. After a general orientation about the City's highlights the balance of the afternoon is dedicated to enjoy the wonderful Binnenalster and the chic arcades on your own. Dinner will be at the Hamburg Ratskeller. B, D

Optional: Individual family research at the Historic Emigration Office (HEO) and State Archive
Those who want to carry out individual family research can break away from the group to visit the Historic Emigration Office (HEO). Since years Elisabeth Sroka has served her clients with investigations in Hamburg Passenger Lists. The Hamburg project "Link to your Roots" is compiling a computerized database with the ambitious goal to give access to all Hamburg passengers 1850 - 1834. As per March 2001 circa 1890 to 1893 is available. According to progress in the customer service access to the sources will be provided. Historical-biographical research can be very time consuming and complicated but findings can be mailed later. Additional costs might occur (closed weekends).

Farewell

Day 3

Cruise to Cuxhaven / Biographical Portraits

A 2 hours cruise aboard the high speed ferry "Hansestar" on the river Elbe brings you right in the heart of the port of Cuxhaven. Before we visit the historic Hapag buildings and Germany's largest sea-side resort enjoy fresh seafood specials during our lunch break.

MV Vaterland at Cuxhaven Steubenhöft (around 1914)

The historical ensemble of the Hapag-Terminal and the Steubenhoeft were built as the most modern state-of-the-art passenger facility of its time. It opened its doors to operation with the processing of the steamer “Graf Waldensee“ on its route to New York on June 1st, 1902. Today the buildings have been carefully renovated. Yet, even after the passing of the steamship era every square meter of this quay still emanates a farewell. The permanent exhibit entitled, “Departure to America“ has found a fitting place at this spot. The database CUXAUS with 7.000 entries of emigrants from the surrounding county is at your disposal.

Farewell in Cuxhaven (1999)

To round up the day we will introduce biographical portraits steeped in emigration history during a short bus tour. Retrace the steps of the Confederate General John F. Wagener, learn about the elegance of the tiffany studio at Altenbruch’s, Gehben Villa or about Claus Spreckels, who became famous as the Sugar King of California. The ferry brings you back to Hamburg to arrive there by 8 p. m. where we gather for a farewell reception. B, L, R

Day 4 Farewell or optional individual travel
The tour ends after breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to Hamburg airport (30 minutes) Central Station or rental car will be on your own. Your tour director will provide every assistance that is needed.

Price per person	EURO 590
Single supplement	EURO 90
Extra nights in Hamburg or Cuxhaven (double incl breakfast)	EURO 60

Tour starts day 01 at Hamburg 4 p.m.
Tour ends day 04 at Hamburg after breakfast

A minimum of 5 participants is required. Should we need to cancel a tour we will send out a revised arrangement at least 2 month prior to departure or a full refund of any deposits paid. A consumer protection plan is available along with reservation.

This program is available all year round for a minimum of 5 Participants. With pleasure we design customized arrangements for your minigroup. Please call, fax, E-mail us

Arrangements for Mini-Groups:

all year round

Click here for terms & conditions

Reservation

Included (land only):

3 nights in first class tourist hotels (three plus/four stars) with private facilities, double occupancy, full breakfast buffet each morning. City-Hotel is centrally located, attractions within short walking distance.
Transportation in comfortable Minivan during excursions.
Highspeed ferry Hamburg - Cuxhaven - Hamburg.
Harbor cruise Hamburg.
Introductory seminar by university experts, Research and Travel service package (brochures, maps, manual for German handwriting, reprint of historic documents).
All admissions (Hapag Terminal Cuxhaven, Villa Gehben, John Wagener Haus).
Full time bilingual expert guide / driver guide.
3 full breakfast, 1 lunch, 2 3-course dinners, 2 receptions, (B= Full Breakfast/Buffet, D = Dinner, R = Reception).
Baggage handling one piece per person.
All taxes and service-charges on hotels, meals and other prepaid services.

Not included: Airfares, transfers upon arrival and departure, beverages with lunch/dinners, possible individual cost for research, customary gratuities to tour directors / drivers.

Optional extension
Your Personal Itinerary

We have designed a special service for the individual traveler who wants to benefit from pre-travel research and arrangements: „Your Personal Itinerary“:. Based on your advance information we check your request and start preliminary research about the possible origin of your family. A dossier with all relevant information and professional tourist service allows you to find your way to the places, records and people you like to see.

Debstedt near Cuxhaven

Day 4 Visit your forefathers place of origin
After breakfast meet with your tour director for a final check and orientation of your itinerary to come. Board train or pick-up rental car and continue your trip according to our proposals. Every destination within Germany can be reached within 8 hours maximum. Overnight accommodation according to local destination.

Following days Local Heritage program
We have prepared a local heritage program for you: Walk in your forefathers steps, see where they lived, find traces of the past in names, buildings, meet people at their farm, visit church and cemetery, enjoy local hospitality. Upon request we can pre-arrange meetings in church offices, local archives or with local experts.

Farewell Day Home
Transfer according to your flight connections. Arrive at your US destination early evening local time.

Costs
Costs to design your Personal Itinerary include pre-trip research on the possible place of origin. Based on an hourly fee of EURO 30 costs are usually between EURO 200 - 300. You can also set a limit or agree on a step-by-step progress ional plan. Please note that extensive genealogical research can be extremely time consuming and is not included in this service but can be carried out according to individual agreements. Costs for transportation, accommodation and possible guiding services will be additional and based on final arrangements.

Reservation

Day 0

Transatlantic Flight from USA to Germany or individual travel to Hamburg

Depart via any gateway city and arrive at Hamburg airport the next day. All major airlines have direct or connecting service to Hamburg. Intercity Express trains from all major cities arrive at the Central Station every hour.

Day 1

Welcome to Hamburg, Introductory Seminar

Transfer to your hotel is on your own (airport 30 Min, Central Station: 10 Min or walking). Detailed information will be provided with booking/confirmations.
Your program starts at 4 p.m. at your hotel. You will be met by your tour director during a welcome reception and a tour orientation. An introductory seminar will introduce you to the history of German emigration to America, the Hamburg America Line and Hamburg and Cuxhaven as emigrant cities and will also inform you about strategies in historical biographical and genealogical research, about relevant documents and archives etc. Included is a RESEARCH AND TRAVEL service package with maps, manual of German handwriting etc. We issue a reprint of an old Hamburg passport to make you a "legal traveler" during your stay.