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Vard Tulcea lays the keel for Hanseatic Spirit

coin for hanseatic spirit keel-laying
A coin was placed inside Hanseatic Spirit's keel for good luck PHOTO: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Vard's Romanian shipyard in Tulcea laid the keel for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' 230-passenger expedition ship Hanseatic Spirit on Tuesday.

This last of three sister vessels is scheduled to enter service in May 2021. Bookings will open July 23.

Hanseatic Nature, the prototype vessel, started operating in the spring and has been very well-received, according to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. Hanseatic Inspiration is due for delivery this autumn.

As with the earlier two ships, Hanseatic Spirit's hull will be constructed at Tulcea then towed to Norway for outfitting.

Adults-only ship tailored to German-speakers

Hanseatic Spirit is designed for the German-speaking market as an adults-only ship that will carry passengers aged 18 and up.

It is going to replace Bremen, which has been sold to Scylla AG for operation outside the German market, with delivery in spring 2021.

Northwest Passage and the Ring of Fire

Hanseatic Spirit is planned to sail the Northwest Passage in its first season. The 30-day cruise embarks at Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland, Aug. 13, 2021, bound for Anchorage.

After that the ship will explore the Ring of Fire, calling at Kamchatka, the Aleutian and Kurile Islands, on a 23-day itinerary.