The HANSEATIC (I) seen underway at sea was German Atlantik Lines first ship. Introduced in 1958 following an extensive modernization, this ships was so sucessful that in the early 1960s a new replacement ship was planned. So the HAMBURG / MAXIM GORKIY was born and introduced in 1969...
Now that we have lost the MAXIM GORKIY, it is time to remember this ship looking always imaculate. In this photograph taken in 2008 she is berthed in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria Island.
Unconfirmed reports have been circulating that the MAXIM GORKIY is being beached today, 24 February 2009 at Alang, India, in order to be broken up, following unsucessful atempts to preserve her in Germany.
Front cover of a brochure published in 1972 by Deutsche Atlantik Linie covering cruises marketed to the German market and operated by HAMBURG and HANSEATIC.
The short 5-year career of the T.S. HAMBURG under Deutsche Atlantik Linie management is a proud one the ship being actually the largest German cruise ship following the sale of the BREMEN ex-PASTEUR to Chandris Cruises. And she was all the time "Deutschlands modernstes Kreuzfahrtschiff", the most modern German cruise ship...
Two great cruises operated by the HAMBURG: the New Year's cruise with departure from Cuxhaven on 27 December 1972 and a call in Funchal, Madeira for the New Year's famous fireworks on 31 December, and the Great South Seas and Far East cruise from Los Angeles on 29 March 1973.
At anchor off Lisbon on 8 May 2006.
My friend Holger informs that "Today is the big day of the final countdown for the MAXIM GORKI / HAMBURG. Today there is a meeting between the investors and the people of the city Hamburg. 
The MAKSIM GORKIY arriving Lisbon early in the morning of 23 May 1990 spotting the radar antenna added to the bow after the summer 1989 accident in the Artic.
Two photos of the former HAMBURG in Funchal, Madeira with other classic passenger ships by Luís Filipe Jardim: the MAKSIM GORKIY in late Soviet livery with red hull line in the 1980s with former P&O liner CANBERRA and a decade later as MAXIM GORKIY, with Russian post-soviet colours and the VISTAFJORD in Cunard livery.
The HAMBURG was a frequent visitor to Funchal, Madeira Island under German, Soviet and Bahamas registries over the years.
The brand new HAMBURG photographed in Japanese waters while cruising in the Far East. Photograph sent by my friend Y. Fukawa.
Two b&w photos of theMAKSIM GORKIY departing from Lisbon on 13 June 1987 while cruising under charter to Neckermann
el Correia
Final visit of the MAXIM GORKIY ex-HAMBURG in Lisbon on 25 May 2008. The first call as HAMBURG was on 2nd May 1969 on the return leg of the inaugural cruise to South America and West Africa. Also seen in the photo is the former HADAG passenger ship TRAFARIA PRAIA.
The MAXIM GORKIY berthed at the Alcântara Passenger Ship Terminal on her final call in Lisbon, 25 May 2008.
A family portrait from the Deutsche Atlantik Linie days with fleet mates HAMBURG and HANSEATIC calling at St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands while cruising in the Caribbean.
The MAKSIM GORKIY was the Soviet Union flagship of their passenger ship fleet but spent most of her long career cruising under charter to the German market. She made her first cruise for Neckermann on 21 December 1975 and remained under charter to them until 1988.
