The salon steamer Alexandra is a vibrant maritime landmark in the historic harbor of Flensburg and is a fascinating sight as Germany's last still-operating salon steamer. Moored directly in the museum harbor, the ship combines history, technology, and experience in a very special way.
The Alexandra was built in 1908 at the Janssen & Schmilinsky shipyard in Hamburg and named after Princess Alexandra of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. From its inception, it operated in scheduled service on the Flensburg Fjord. For decades, it also served as a patrol boat during the First World War, as a regatta escort at the 1936 Olympic Games in Kiel, and as a pilot steamer, refugee, and rescue ship during and after the Second World War.
After the end of the war, the Alexandra returned to civilian scheduled service in 1946, primarily on the Flensburg-Glücksburg route, and was finally decommissioned in 1975. After being decommissioned, she fell into disrepair in the harbor until 1979, when dedicated citizens formed the "Save the Alexandra" association and restored the ship. Thanks to their work, the Alexandra was seaworthy again in 1989 and was recognized as a cultural monument in 1990.
Today, the Alexandra is a popular excursion option from May to September. She offers passenger trips on the fjord—for example, to the Ox Islands—and is the signature guest ship at harbor festivals such as the Rum Regatta and the Dampf-Rundum (Steam Roundabout). With modern, preserved technology from 1908—including a coal-fired steam engine—she is the only coastal ship of this type in the world still authorized for use.