Country: Germany
Language: German
Local currency: Euro
Disembarking:
The cruise terminal at Warnemünde is surprisingly big for such a small place. I didn’t have to go through any kind of security after getting off the ship and the cruise terminal was pretty empty by the time I disembarked. I left the cruise ships hours after we docked to avoid the crowds so it may have been busier earlier. The area immediately surrounding the cruise terminal was pretty quiet. There was a shop as we left which was crowded but it is easy to avoid it.
Things to do in Warnemünde:
It is a very short walk from the cruise ship to the main tourist area of this town so if you don’t want to take an excursion you can spend a day in Warnemünde. Although this is a small town, there was lots going on. There were two ships docked while I was there so I imagine this is why there was so much happening in the town. There were lots of activities for children, like ball pits and bouncy castles. There were people playing live music and the many restaurants and bars in the town were packed. Warnemünde is beautiful with the most gorgeous old houses and pretty streets but I did find the noise quite overwhelming at times and as it was so crowded I didn’t stop in any of the bars or restaurants.
There was a big wheel where you can see views of the local area and there’s also a lighthouse. I don’t personally enjoy going to the beach because of sensory issues with sand but if you are a beach person, there is a nice beach.
Public transport:
The cruise ships dock right next to the train station and it could not be easier to get to. I took the train to nearby Rostock, which is also very beautiful, has more to do and was actually less crowded and quieter than Warnemünde. The train was not expensive (it cost 6 euros for a return trip) and it was easy to buy a ticket at the machine without having to interact with anyone. One of the trains we took was air-conditioned but the other was not and it was a hot day. The trains do get very crowded.
You do need to remember that after you buy your ticket, you then have to validate it by putting it in a different machine. If you don’t do this, you can get a big fine.
Embarking:
To get back into the cruise terminal I just had to show my cruise card. Security took place on the ship and it was quick and easy.
Autistic friendly?
The thing with small cruise port towns is they tend to get very crowded when cruise ships are docked and the public transport, even if you leave it later in the day like I did, can get really busy too. This makes Warnemünde not particularly accessible for autistic people who dislike crowds and noise. However, I did take some walks and find some quieter and equally pretty areas of the town a little further from the port. I visited at the end of June and the weather was hot and dry. This wasn’t great for me, because I have issues with heat and sunlight and air-conditioning did not seem to be common. However, this is a beautiful town and for me it was worth the sensory overload. It helped that it’s such a short walk to the ship so you can retreat back to the ship if you need to.
Videos of the Cruise Terminal:
Travel Autistic 