St. Pauli

Cap San Diego

The world's largest seaworthy museum cargo ship — a 159-metre general-cargo freighter.

The Cap San Diego is the world's largest seaworthy museum cargo ship and a genuine source of Hamburg pride — built in 1961-62 at Deutsche Werft Finkenwerder, 159 metres long, she sailed Hamburg-Süd's South America route as a 'White Swan' (the nickname for six identical sister ships): elegant, fast and loaded with the classic Hamburg general cargo — bananas, coffee, ironware. After 120 voyages to Buenos Aires she was taken out of service in 1986, bought by the City of Hamburg and has been moored as a museum ship at the Überseebrücke next to the Landungsbrücken since 1988. Today: fully accessible with all decks, engine room, bridge, crew cabins, cargo hatches and the original on-board restaurant. Anyone bringing children should be warned that climbing around and playing captain is taken very seriously. Highlight for adults: several times a year the Cap San Diego sets out under her own steam for short harbour cruises — tickets must be reserved and sell out long in advance. Also possible: overnight stays on board in the former officers' cabins (from 95 €/night, a quirky Hamburg experience). Practical: 9 € adults, 5 € children. Getting there: U3/S1/S3 Landungsbrücken, then a 4-minute walk.

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