Travemunde, Germany Cruises

Travemunde, Germany Cruise Port

• The stretch of white beach sand is the main attraction and can get fairly crowded during peak times, so people watching is a bonus. When you need a break from sunbathing, wander the promenade called Strandpromenade and watch the big ships come in and out of the harbor.
   
• Old Town retains centuries-old charm. Structured like a ship, exploring it on foot lets you soak in the atmosphere; even the street names are called "Starboard" and "Port Side." For shopping and dining, the area between Vogteistrasse and Vorderreihe is the most focused on travelers.
   
• More than 450 years old (and the oldest in the country), the Old Lighthouse retired in 1972. You can climb to the top for excellent views, as well as check out the maritime museum that displays the lighthouse's storied history. The lighthouse also has one of the highest light beacons on earth.
   
• Check out the lovely Seebadmuseum (seaside resort museum) to learn how Travemünde went from fishing village to fort town to seaside resort. One of the exhibits shows the evolution of bathing costumes, and the use of wooden "bathing machines," which lucky servants got to push into the sea (and presumably drag them out again).