Imagine sailing on a two week cruise to Antartica and seeing icebergs up close and personal or saying hello to penguins at an arms length away. Picture being able to see polar bears and other wildlife animals with an experienced and knowledgable expert by your side. That’s what you can expect if you cruise with Hapag-Lloyd.

Hapag-Lloyd, a line of luxury and expedition ships offer all the benefits of a yacht and unique routes that bring you to destinations you never thought would be possible. I had the privilege to sail the first Hanseatic Inspiration ship with Hapag-Lloyd and I have been converted to a cruise lover. For full disclosure, I was not always a cruise type of gal. I used to have a somewhat negative and one sided mindset when it came to cruises because the thought of being “stuck” on a boat didn’t appease me. I was only familiar with tours with travel agencies and did my own independent travels, but I never purposely seek out a cruise option.

After receiving more information about Hapag-Lloyd and researching more on the company, I was open to the experience of sailing the first Hanseatic Inspiration ship across the Atlantic Ocean.

The new expedition class: A mixture of adventures and comfort

The wind in your hair and the spray on your skin – become an explorer under an open sky. This is why our new expedition ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit (from 2021) have more open deck space than any other expedition ship. Hear the ice crack as you stand on the bow. Or discover the dense mangrove forests of the Amazon from various perspectives as they pass by at arm’s length.”

The description could not be more accurate because that’s exactly what I experienced after sailing for 8 days from Antwerp to Lisbon (*The full cruise was 15 days and ended at Tenerife but I had to cut the sail short due to a prior commitment).

WHAT MAKES HAPAG-LLOYD SPECIAL

Unlike other cruises, Hapag-LLoyd stands out because the company specializes in expedition, excursions and unique destinations with connections to nature and expedition. If you are looking for a cruise to just relax and be entertained, then I would say Hapag-Lloyd might not be the best option. However, if you’re looking for adventures and unique experiences with an expert team, then Hapag-Lloyd will satisfy the explorer in you. My experience was more of a destination cruise, but most of Hapag-Lloyd cruises are expedition cruises, which means the routes are carefully curated to destinations that seem unreachable.

Mr. Karl Pojer, the CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, explains,

“Passengers shouldn’t expect either helicopters or submersibles on the new ship, but instead an “inspired by nature” focus.  Guests come to the line for its experience in expedition cruising and that they also want the pure experience of getting up close to nature.”

As a result, guests can explore different climates, oceans and countries by way of a fleet of zodiacs (large inflatable boats used for shore landings and exploring) in all of the cruise ships. Compared to other ships, Hapag-Lloyd can seem small in size, but the beauty is that these ships can bring passengers closer to nature and destinations that aren’t easily accessible by larger ships.

Hapag-Lloyd primarily draws German speakers as they are a German cruise line but they are working to cater to a more international audience with focus on English speaking travelers, which is why I was invited to experience their Hanseatic Inspiration cruise line. It should be noted that Hapag-Lloyd is a luxury expedition line so this cruise line is geared towards more luxury travelers who seek adventure and comfort. However the Europa2 is more suitable for families and kids as the ship is targeted to a younger crowd. Also Hapag-Lloyd’s Ms Europa and Europa2 “provide the largest space-per-guest ratio of any cruise ships currently on the market.”

When you book with Hapag-Lloyd, know that you are booking the best quality when it comes to service. The luxury cruise ships EUROPA and EUROPA 2 are the only cruise ships to receive the coveted distinction of 5-stars-plus in the latest edition of the renowned Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2020 and The HANSEATIC nature was named best boutique ship for the first time and awarded a 5-star rating by Berlitz Cruise Guide. It’s difficult for me to be critical since I haven’t boarded many cruise ships prior to Hanseatic Inspiration, but I can say that I have a high expectation for any other cruise that I go on moving forward.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT ON CRUISE

Passengers should look forward to being ashore and exploring nature and new destinations during the expedition cruises. During sailing days, lectures and talks are conducted by experts, which guests can enjoy in the atriums or watch live in the comfort of their cabins. The evenings are more low key and intimate with dining options as well as music and concerts in the observation deck. For those who want to exercise, there is a nice fitness center where classes are offered by a personal trainer. For those who want to pamper themselves, there is also a spa with body, nail and hair services. Guests also have access to a sauna as well as a pool on the observation deck.

Aside from the adventures and expeditions, you can expect to enjoy your time on ship because there is a daily program containing all the activities and important information regarding what’s happening on the cruise. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel claustrophobic in my cabin because it was spacious and comfortable. “Each of Hapag-LLoyd cruises accommodates a maximum of 500 people, who experience unforgettable moments on board in the comfort of an intimate atmosphere.” Most of the cabins also have balconies, so you can sit out and enjoy the view during sailing.

The culinary options vary depending on which ship you cruise on, but the Hanseatic Inspiration had three dining options including Hanseatic Restaurant, Lido (buffet style dining for breakfast and lunch with indoor and outdoor seating ), and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian specialty restaurant, which requires a reservation, but is my personal favorite!). You can expect to find that all the food is fresh and there’s a variety of options offered in the menus regardless of your dietary needs and restrictions. It’s necessary to mention all food is included on board except for drinks, but they are also priced fairly.

Another great feature on the Hanseatic Inspiration is the Ocean Academy, a large study room with innovative touchscreen technology, and interactive microscopes and computers. It was designed and created with the sole purpose of providing useful information relating to the current ship’s itinerary. Passengers have the option to watch scientific films, read articles and research information on various topics relating to ships’ routes. Throughout the cruise, there are many learning opportunities that are held daily which goes to show that Hapag-Lloyd is more than just a vacation type of cruise. The company prides itself on educating their passengers about important topics relating to nature, environment and exploration, which satisfied my personal curiosity and need for intellectual stimulation.

HIGHLIGHTS ON THE CRUISE

As stated previously, I boarded the Hanseatic Inspiration ship from Antwerp to Lisbon. The full route can be seen below:

I actually haven’t been to any of these locations before except for Lisbon. I enjoyed all the stops because in my opinion, they were less covered in the social media space. I have been prioritizing discovering destinations that are bit under the radar and I was glad I was able to see Antwerp, Belgium, Honfleur, France, Guernsey, Germany, and Isla Cies. The best part is that Hapag-Lloyd offers excursions for each cruise stop, so passengers don’t have to worry about planning their days. And for those who want to explore themselves can do so as well. I personally love exploring destinations myself, but if there are tours that pique my interest that I wouldn’t be able to visit on my own, then I would go for the excursion options.

Another great highlight from my trip is getting to know the wonderful staff and crew members. They are not only the most welcoming and warmest people I’ve met, but they are all very passionate about their jobs and about travel and nature and that made me enjoy the cruise even more. Though the ship consists of mostly German natives, the crew on my specific ship was diverse and all had interesting backgrounds.

Overall, I am beyond satisfied with my experience on Hanseatic Inspiration! I wish I could’ve completed the full tour but this just gives me a reason to explore a true expedition ship in the future with Hapag-Lloyd. I love that there are different cruise routes and destinations depending on your interest. There seems to be something for everyone and I am looking forward to tapping more into the explorer within me!