Cruise lines with high-density vessels are likely to take months, if not years, to return to their capacity heyday when new health and safety protocols come into effect, driven by the pandemic. The likely ship passenger capacity reductions were mentioned by Adam Goldstein, Global Chair of the Cruise Lines International Association, while addressing media in Australia and New Zealand on a conference call from the US yesterday [22 July 2020].

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will recommence sailing next week, with a heavily reduced passenger count and extensive hygiene and preventive measures. The service reboot begins with a series of five-day voyages from Germany to Scandinavia and eight-day cruises to the Norwegian Fjords and Baltic Sea.

The TUI Group has completed the sale of its subsidiary Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to TUI Cruises after agreeing to the sale in February this year.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is repositioning four of its five ships to Hamburg as the cruise line pushes the ‘stay at home’ global message fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic. The fleet of ships would normally be sailing the seven seas, but are now heading for the waters of its home port.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has cited changing entry requirements at cruise ports around the world and flight restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak for the temporary suspension of all cruises until 28 April 2020.

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

Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Chairman of the CLIA Deutschland Leadership Council, received the Special Award, which recognises those who have made a special contribution with their success and innovation.

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.