"Greetings on board": NDR broadcasts Christmas messages on Christmas Eve

For many - whether on land or at sea - it is already part of the Christmas routine: the "Greetings on board" programme will once again sweeten the festive season for some this year. The traditional programme was first broadcast on Christmas Eve 1953 via Norddeich Radio, a maritime radio station in East Frisia. Today, there are many (including modern) ways to follow the programme. Unlike in previous years, the recording only takes place on one day and only in Hamburg.

The recording of "Greetings on board" on 8 December

The Christmas greetings will be recorded at the Hamburg Seamen's Mission Duckdalben on the second Advent. Presenters Birgit Langhammer and Ocke Bandixen will be on site from 4pm to record the messages. The whole event will be accompanied by music from the Swedish-South African folk-pop band Fjarill. Peter Tschentscher, Hamburg's First Mayor, and Bishop Kirsten Fehrs will also be part of the recording.

Anyone who would like to be present at the recording on 8 December or send their greetings to friends at sea can register by 3 December by sending an e-mail to gruss-an-bord@ndr.de log in.

How to follow the "Greetings on board" programme 2024

The Christmas greetings are rolling in Christmas Eve from 7 to 10 pm on both NDR Info and NDR Info Spezial. Both can be listened to via the NDR Radio app. You can also receive NDR Info via FM, DAB+ and DVB-S radio. NDR Info Spezial cannot be received via FM. NDR has rented shortwave frequencies especially for the Christmas messages. This means that seafarers can follow the programme all over the world. The following frequencies are used for this purpose:

• Europe: 6080 kHz
• Atlantic - Northwest: 15770 kHz
• Atlantic - South: 13830 kHz
• Atlantic-Northeast: 6030 kHz
• Indian Ocean: 9635 kHz
• Atlantic/Indian Ocean/(South Africa): 11650 kHz

Before the actual "Greetings on Board" programme, there will be a one-hour special programme with a maritime focus.