Debuting in 2019, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ two new expedition ships are divided between the German-speaking market (Hanseatic Nature) and the English and German-speaking international market (Hanseatic Inspiration). The 230-passenger Inspiration, now open for pre-bookings, includes the Amazon and the Great Lakes among its numerous itineraries.
Inspiration will sail a 17-day Amazon expedition from Belem, Brazil, to Iquitos, Peru, from March 25 to April 11, 2020, sailing upstream on the lower and upper Amazon, with varied expedition activities and Zodiac landings via Manaus, Brazil.
And, after nearly a decade-long hiatus, Hapag-Lloyd will return to the Great Lakes with a 14-day cruise, sailing June 3-17, 2020.
Inspiration’s design includes a retractable bridge wing that allows it to pass through narrow locks. The expedition vessel has a distinctive finish with a partially blue hull, and accommodations range from the 237-square-foot Panorama Cabin to the 764-square-foot Grand Suite. An innovative retractable glass balcony design will suspend passengers above water. The ship has been rated at the highest ice class to allow it to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic, as well.
Nonbinding pre-bookings are available now, with final bookings opening in January 2018.
Hapag-Lloyd, known for its innovative itineraries and luxurious ships, currently has four vessels in its fleet: the line’s flagship Europa; expedition ships Bremen and Hanseatic; and Europa 2, which debuted in 2013 as the line’s first newbuild in 14 years. It has dramatically increased its presence in the North American market, especially since the launch of Europa 2. In 2014, Hapag-Lloyd announced an overall rise in international guests (non-German) of 52 percent.
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Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
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