With new itineraries aboard the two luxury ships EUROPA and EUROPA 2, as well as the three structurally identical expedition ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises demonstrates once again how more than 130 years of route planning experience translates into exceptional results.
The diverse cruise program offers the ideal experience for every type of traveler. In addition to established classics and special themed cruises, guests can enjoy brand-new destinations and innovative itinerary combinations.
The EUROPA and EUROPA 2 will begin in 2028 with carefully coordinated itineraries to avoid overlaps and offer the maximum variety of destinations.
From January to April 2028, Asia will be the focus of EUROPA's long-haul season: in addition to two intensive cruises to the Philippines, Japan returns to the itinerary as a trending destination for globetrotters and cosmopolitans, just in time for cherry blossom season. Southeast Asia offers a wonderful mix of tropical islands and vibrant cities, with easily accessible connecting ports such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Yokohama providing added convenience and flexibility.
Before returning to closer waters, the EUROPA will explore the Indian Ocean around Cape Town and sail to the Canary Islands. In the summer of 2028, the small luxury ship will remain in the Mediterranean, with a particularly busy season: short cruises along the French Riviera, an extensive north-south voyage along the Italian coast, and itineraries to Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands. The program includes cruises of between 5 and 13 days that combine pleasure, culture, and relaxation.
From August to September 2028, the EUROPA will explore Western Europe and the Baltic Sea from German ports, before setting sail for Canada via Greenland in October to experience the magic of the Northern Hemisphere's autumn (Indian Summer). In November and December, it will cruise along the East Coast of the United States and south, heading for the Caribbean, before the 400 guests on board can enjoy a tropical Christmas amidst the exotic flora and fauna of Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama.
For extended stays on board, the EUROPA will offer route combinations of between 54 and 108 days.
Meanwhile, the EUROPA 2 will sail to Central America in 2028, with Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia on its January itinerary. In February, it will cruise to and from Miami, with stops in New Orleans and Galveston, as well as Caribbean beaches and Mayan culture in Mexico. It will then cross the Atlantic from the ABC Islands, passing Cape Verde, the Canary Islands, and the Azores along the coast of Western Europe, returning to Hamburg in April. Until mid-July, it will explore Western Europe, the Baltic Sea, and Norway from German ports, including two stops in Svalbard, sailing through St. Jonsfjord and around the North Cape, which returns to the itinerary after several years.
The route then continues through the western and eastern Mediterranean. The Middle East also returns to the itinerary: on the nine-day pre-Christmas cruise, guests can visit the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman, while the Christmas cruise from Dubai to Singapore—with stops in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia—will offer white-sand beaches instead of snowflakes.
In 2028, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' new expedition class will celebrate a debut within its range of itineraries. While the HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit will continue exploring Antarctica, the HANSEATIC nature will spend the season in warmer climates.
Until March 2028, the ship will sail the Indian Ocean, focusing on Madagascar and the Seychelles, with landings at remote atolls like Aldabra, which can only be visited by small expedition vessels due to its strict visitor limits. The maximum of 230 guests will enjoy frequent Zodiac boat excursions, guided hikes, beach breaks, and snorkeling adventures, accompanied by experts who will provide information on the unique flora and fauna, including Aldabra's famous giant tortoises.
In the winter of 2028/2029, the HANSEATIC nature will return to Northern Europe, offering shorter cruises alongside classic routes, for example to the Baltic Sea or on Northern Lights expeditions to the North Cape and the Geirangerfjord, which can be combined into longer voyages.
The identical HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit will spend the winter months until February 2028 in Antarctica. New this year are two short 14-day cruises to South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, in addition to classic itineraries that include days in the Weddell Sea, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and a crossing of the Antarctic Circle.
The popular semi-circumnavigation from Tierra del Fuego to New Zealand is also returning. Starting in November 2028, both ships will return to the fascinating world of ice.
In spring and summer 2028, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit will focus on discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations. HANSEATIC spirit will take guests to Indonesia, with three different itineraries and unforgettable days in the underwater paradise of Raja Ampat, as well as exploring the Kimberley region of Western Australia for the first time. An 18-day expedition will include spectacular Zodiac crossings on the King George River, Montgomery Reef, and the Houtman Abrolhos archipelago.
Meanwhile, the HANSEATIC inspiration will make two Amazon River cruises in April before heading to the Great Lakes. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is the only operator in the world that combines all five Great Lakes in a single cruise.
In 2028, the HANSEATIC inspiration will continue to set standards with diverse and exceptional routes: in spring and autumn, guests can look forward to itineraries with inaugural stops in Cleveland and Alpena, expedition days on Lake Superior — a rarely visited territory — and new route combinations that extend to Labrador, Newfoundland and Greenland.
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