Hapag-Lloyd Cruises restarts operations with cruises from Hamburg in July 2020

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises plans to resume sailing from the end of July 2020, with comprehensive health and safety measures in place. The cruise line will restart cruises from Hamburg with its luxury ship, the Europa 2, and its expedition ship, the Hanseatic Inspiration. Passenger capacity will be reduced by 40%, with between 150 and 300 people on board. The decision to resume cruise operations at this time was made based on guidelines from the relevant authorities, developed in coordination with CLIA Deutschland cruise lines and in collaboration with experts. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' ten-point safety and prevention protocols will ensure a safe and comfortable cruise with the highest hygiene standards. In accordance with German authorities, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has agreed to welcome only passengers residing in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at this time, due to the COVID-19 containment situation in these countries. “We have taken extraordinary measures to prepare for the restart and are facing a new travel reality with significantly stricter prevention and hygiene standards. We have taken our time because the safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority,” says Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “For the relaunch, in accordance with German authorities, we have agreed to initially welcome only guests residing in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In the next phase, we will assess whether to allow guests residing in other countries to travel with us, depending on the infection rates in those countries.” “Our relaunch will be carried out in a controlled manner, and we are going beyond the requirements set by the authorities. Between each cruise, we will intentionally have a day without guests on board to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection of the entire ship. Our goal is to make our passengers' time on board safe, worry-free, and enjoyable, adhering to the necessary social distancing rules and providing personalized, one-on-one service. Our small ships offer ideal conditions for this,” says Pojer. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ ten-point plan: Before sailing, passengers will be informed about the health measures, which they will be required to sign. In addition, thermal cameras will be used during boarding, and a staggered and controlled embarkation process will be implemented to ensure comprehensive preventative measures are taken and social distancing is maintained. The crew will also undergo thorough health screening. They will complete a quarantine period before beginning their duties and will be given a PCR test. Crew members will have their temperature checked every day before starting their shift. We have an onboard medical team, emergency and contingency plans in place, and a comprehensive training and safety program for the crew as part of our new health and safety concept. The medical team has been expanded to include a Director of Health, responsible for implementing preventative and hygiene measures. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' luxury and expedition ships offer ample space, allowing for compliance with social distancing guidelines in public areas. For areas where this is not possible—such as during embarkation and disembarkation or in elevators—passengers will receive a kit that includes face masks. The ships are equipped with thermal imaging cameras and a mobile laboratory for the rapid detection of viral diseases, such as COVID-19. Cold fogging devices will be used to clean suites, cabins, and public areas. In addition, the number of hand sanitizer dispensers onboard has been significantly increased. The new standards will be integrated into onboard life to ensure our guests' enjoyment: a 1:1 crew-to-passenger ratio, which means individual and personalized service. The number of seats in restaurants will be reduced, and opening hours will be extended. There will be no self-service in restaurants, buffets, or bars, and 24-hour room service will be available. Hapag-Lloyd cruises also guarantee 100% fresh air in cabins and all public areas.