Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Hanseatic inspiration to serve German and international markets

8f85c6dfe3dda493d5a13c834850343b
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' new ships will feature an aft water sports marina
 Hapag-Lloyd Cruises announced Hanseatic inspiration, the second of two new expedition ships being built by Fincantieri/Vard and launching in October 2019, will serve the German-speaking and international markets.

The first of the pair of newbuilds, Hanseatic nature, launching in April 2019 is aimed exclusively at the German-speaking market.

Karl J. Pojer, ceo of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, revealed new details of Hanseatic inspiration at a press conference for the European marketplace held in London, Tuesday.

In its inaugural season, Hanseatic inspiration will sail 22 expedition routes from October 2019 through to September 2020 that take in polar expedition regions, such as the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as warmer destinations, such as the Amazon and the Great Lakes.

On board, the innovative highlight, said Pojer, is the Ocean Academy, where guests can use interactive technology to discover comprehensive background information on the regions they are visiting. The speciality restaurant offers culinary diversity in the form of fashionable Peruvian and Japanese cooking.

Between cruises to the Arctic during the European summer and expeditions to the Antarctic in the European winter, the ship will also offer intensive visits to the Amazon, Chile’s fjords, the Azores and Cape Verde.

Cruises range from four-days to the Frisian Islands to 23-day expeditions to Antarctic. The maiden is a 15-day cruise from Antwerp to Tenerife in October 2019.

The new ship can accommodate up to 230 guests, or just 199 guests on Antarctic cruises.

The ship features numerous structural elements that enhance the expedition experience even more, noted Pojer.

Retractable glass balconies on the sun deck give guests the feeling of hovering directly above the water and guests can stand on the circuit on the bow of the ship to be closer to the action – even closer than the captain, he added.

The HanseAtrium, a separable multifunctional lounge with state-of-the-art technology, hosts daily presentations by experts. In the evening, it transforms into an atmospheric bar.

The Ocean Academy has a large interactive media wall with further information about various expedition topics as well as an interactive poster that provides clear visual explanations of selected scientific contexts. Guests can also use reading chairs with swivel touchscreens to further explore the content of the media wall.

The speciality restaurant with 44 seats promises culinary diversity and will offer Japanese and Peruvian cooking. The expedition ship has two further restaurants: a main restaurant with 178 seats and a bistro restaurant with 184 seats (indoor and outdoor), a barbecue and a show kitchen. There will be flexible dining and free choice of seating in the restaurants.

Spanning 235sq mtr the Ocean Spa features a Finnish sauna, steam sauna, relaxation area, hairdresser, beauty treatments and massages. A 100sq mtr fitness area and a separate course room both provide views of the natural panorama. The sports facilities are rounded off by a large pool area with counter-current system that can be enjoyed in all weathers thanks to its flexible canopy.

The 120 outside cabins and suites range from the Panoramic Cabin at 21sq mtr to the Grand Suite at 71 sq mtr.