Warnemünde is one of the busiest cruise ports on the Baltic, serving as the gateway for passengers visiting Rostock, Berlin, and the wider region. On days when a large ship is in port — and in summer there are many such days — vessels of extraordinary size dock just metres from the fishing boats and restaurants of the Alter Strom. Watching a 300-metre cruise ship manoeuvre into its berth is genuinely impressive.
The cruise terminal is on the western bank of the Alter Strom, reachable by the pedestrian ferry from the main resort side. Ships typically arrive in the morning and passengers have the day ashore before re-embarking in the evening. This means that midday on a cruise day can be very crowded, while mornings and evenings are considerably quieter.
For independent visitors, the practical upside of Warnemünde's cruise status is that the resort is well set up for day visitors. There are good tourist information facilities, a wide range of food options, and an efficient S-Bahn connection to Rostock for those wanting to combine the beach with the city.