Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has revealed 23 new cruises for its 2021/22 season aboard the bilingual expedition ship, HANSEATIC inspiration.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ newest expedition ship, HANSEATIC inspiration, was christened by godmother Laura Dekker on the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany on Friday [11 October, 2019] night. Around 230 guests were on hand to watch the naming ceremony of the second of three new luxury expedition ships that have joined the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet, backed by TUI Group.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has confirmed its global fleet of luxury and expedition ships will switch to marine gas oil effective July 2020. The low-pollutant fuel (which has a maximum sulphur content of 0.1%), will reduce the sulphur emissions of the cruise company’s tourism operation by 80%. The changeover to marine gas oil will also result in a reduction of soot and particulates of up to 30%.

New Zealand-born Dutch sailor, Laura Dekker, has been revealed as the godmother of HANSEATIC inspiration, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ second of the three new expedition ships. The 24-year-old is a passionate sailor who rose to fame by sailing solo around the world between 2010 and 2012.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will officially name its second of three new expedition ships, HANSEATIC inspiration, on Friday 11 October 2019 in Hamburg. The christening follows the debut of sister-ship HANSEATIC nature in May 2019.

The year 2019 will see two new state-of-the-art expedition ships joining the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet, a company that has already gained an enviable reputation as providers of both luxury and expedition cruises.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ brand new expedition ship, HANSEATIC nature, will enter service today [Sunday 5 May, 2019] on its inaugural cruise from Hamburg.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has also announced that low-pollutant marine gas oil (MGO) will be used exclusively on all routes sailed by its expedition ships in the fleet – the HANSEATIC nature, the HANSEATIC inspiration and the BREMEN – from July 2020. Joining the fleet in 2021, the HANSEATIC spirit will also use this fuel.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is introducing a new, user-friendly concept for digital learning never seen before on board an expedition ship. The study wall will be found on board the new HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration, and HANSEATIC spirit expedition ships.

Cruise operator Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has announced two new appointments on its ships’ bridges. Ulf Wolter, current captain of the Europa 2 will take the helm of the new, international expedition ship Hanseatic Inspiration, taking to the water in October 2019. Jörn Gottschalk – who has, until now, been captain of MS BREMEN – is moving over to the five-stars-plus luxury ship, MS Europa 2.