The back story
Fleet: EUROPA (built 1999, 400 guests), EUROPA 2 (2013, 500 guests), HANSEATIC nature and inspiration (2019) and HANSEATIC spirit (2021), 230 guests each (hl-cruises.com, Oct 2026) · On-board languages: English and German on all five ships (hl-cruises.com technical data, Oct 2026) · Expeditions: Since 1993; ice class PC 6, the highest for passenger ships; 17 Zodiacs per expedition ship · What’s included: Soft drinks and beer in the suite minibar (spirits in the larger suites), one hour of internet per guest a day, and EUROPA 2’s seven restaurants; tips are not mandatory (hl-cruises.com, Oct 2026) · Sails to: Northern and Western Europe, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic islands, the Caribbean, the Americas, the Amazon, Antarctica, the Arctic, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, and the South Seas · Based in: Hamburg; Hapag-Lloyd Cruises describes itself as the market leader in German-speaking countries
-
H
The back story
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises·In depth
A Hamburg line that took passengers through the Northwest Passage 22 times and into the ice at 85° north, and keeps two ocean ships built for space rather than size.
The fleet
Who it suits. On a budget: A HANSEATIC outside cabin (22 m²) or panoramic cabin (21 m²) on a shorter expedition in European waters: the same Zodiacs, experts and 230-guest ship as the suites, with a soft-drinks minibar included. Mid-range: A 35 m² Veranda or Ocean Suite on EUROPA 2, where seven restaurants come at no extra charge and English is an official on-board language, or a Balcony cabin on an expedition ship. Luxury: The 114 m² Owner’s Suite on EUROPA 2, or the 85 m² Penthouse Grand Suite above EUROPA’s bridge, with butler service, its own Finnish sauna and priority at THE GLOBE by Kevin Fehling.
-
E
400 guests
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises·Ocean ship · built 1999·€€€€
The classic flagship: 400 guests, 204 outside suites, a crew of 285 and five restaurants, among them THE GLOBE by Kevin Fehling.
-
E
500 guests
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises·Ocean ship · built 2013·€€€€
The casual-luxury ship: 500 guests, 251 veranda suites, a crew of more than 370, seven restaurants at no extra charge and a 1,000 m² spa.
-
H
230 guests · PC 6
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises·Expedition ship · 2019·€€€€
The first of the three identical expedition ships, named on 4 May 2019, with Hamptons, a speciality restaurant of North American East Coast cooking.
-
H
230 guests · PC 6
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises·Expedition ship · 2019·€€€€
The second expedition ship, named on 11 October 2019, with Nikkei, a speciality restaurant where Japanese and Peruvian cooking meet.
-
H
230 guests · PC 6
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises·Expedition ship · 2021·€€€€
The third expedition ship, completed in 2021, with L’esprit, a speciality restaurant of French cooking.
