Hamburg and Bruges visits on an MSC cruise in November

MSC like most cruise lines calls at Zeebrugge for Bruges.

They provide a shuttle bus to Blankenberge railway station for trains to Bruges, although there is also a railway station for Bruges in Zeebrugge itself. Blankenberge is the bigger railway station.

There is also a stop on the coastal tram service very close to the cruise terminal which takes you to Blankenberge and in the other direction to Knokke - another railway station for Bruges.

In Hamburg bus #256 leaves from the road just outside the terminal at 44 minutes past each hour to Veddel S Bahn. Journey time 12 minutes then the S Bahn S3 into the centre of Hamburg- 7 minutes to the Hauptbanhof.

The return bus is at 31 minutes past each hour.

See the HVV website for details at 23 minutes past each hour.

Buy your day ticket for all HVV services on HVV before arrival.

It is also possible to walk to the cross river foot tunnel then walk through the tunnel.

PS- for Miniatur Wunderland stay on the S3 two more stops to Stadthausbrücke- journey time 12 minutes from Veddel- then a 10 minute walk.

Just wanted to say that Miniatur Wunderland was my absolute favorite thing that I saw on a visit to Hamburg - it was fascinating! Glad it's on your itinerary.

We have done 21 ocean cruises since 2010 and visited Bruges and many other European ports.

I suggest you check out private tours (excursions) from any cruise ship. The prices are always cheaper, sometimes more than half the price. Also, you are usually on tour with a smaller group of people.

Yes, you can do some places on your own, but frequently you don't make the best use of your time.
https://shoreexcursions.com
https://www.ventureashore.com

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/first-timers-guide-to-shore-excursions

Also, you can organize your own tours using:
https://www.toursbylocals.com/?&msclkid=741c0c2a69641ccbfaed690e76515ddc&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=18G%20Generic%20(USA)%20-Old&utm_term=independent%20cruise%20excursions&utm_content=011c%20Like-a-Local%20Tours%20-%20VG

In Hamburg you could also take the ferry--I think it's 73? The ferries are part of the HVV ticket, and it's a great way to travel! Way better than bus and S-Bahn, and you end up at Landungsbrücken. From Miniatur Wunderland to the Elphi is less than a 10 minute walk, so I do recommend hitting that.

The ferry 75 from Steinwerder doesn't run on a Sunday, which is when the OP is in port- only on Monday to Friday. Even when it does run it is morning and afternoon peaks only so the last morning boat from Steinwerder is at 0822, with those back being between 1430 and 1730.

Book Miniature Wunderland early - like now if you are leaving in the next month.

I've visited several times, most recently in early July. Granted, that was high tourist season, but some of the time slots were already filled 6 months in advance. While we were there, we stopped by the day before our reserved tickets to see if we could get in. We could have if we wanted to wait 3 hours until evening. We took a pass on that and waited for the next day at our reserved time.

I was thinking of 73, which goes to Argentinienstraße, not Steinwerder. But that one also apparently doesn't run on Sundays, so the point is moot.

I'm not up on my cruising--is MSC always at the Steinwerder terminal?

MSC always use Steinwerder, and always seem to call on a Sunday, so this is a very familiar question.

On a weekday there are many more buses, but that is by the by.

To those like me, who have spent too much time on all the Harbour ferries in Hamburg, Altona is by far the best cruise berth, as there the Harbour ferries berth directly astern of the cruise ship, way into the late evening. One time when we sailed at 1am I was the last person back on board off the last ferry!

I have also covered an indecent amount of the U and S bahn, way away from the tourist areas.

What I have never managed to do is the boat trips on the Alster.

The best way to do the Alster is by renting a canoe, SUP, or similar. Obviously in the summer ;)

But to the OP--the best markets in HH are the one at the Rathaus and the Altona/Ottensen market, and they are crowded on weekends--especially the Rathaus one. I recommend Ottensen anyway. The atmosphere is a lot less magical old world, but the crafts are better--more original, as is the Glühwein. For magical old world, the best, albeit quite small, market in Hamburg is Bergedorf. Santa Pauli is not safe for children, so avoid that one!

Another one to check if it corresponds with your travels is the one at Kiekeberg. This is an open air museum of farmhouses and life in earlier times. The museum is GREAT for kids, though I have never been in winter, and they do offer a Christmas market on some weekends each season. I haven't been, but it might be worth looking into.