Expeditions with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have always gone beyond ice, snow, and the Northern Lights. For decades, their expedition fleet has also explored tropical and subtropical regions, from the South Seas to the Amazon.
The novelty for winter 2027/28 is the strategic focus: in addition to its classic expeditions to Antarctica, the company is specifically focusing on discovery routes in warmer climates of the Indian Ocean, where one of its three expedition ships will sail with Madagascar and the Seychelles as new major protagonists.
While two expedition-class vessels will continue exploring Antarctica, the HANSEATIC nature will undertake intensive expedition cruises to remote islands, atolls and coastlines of the western Indian Ocean during the winter of 2027/28.
“For us, expeditions are not a question of temperature, but of attitude,” says Isolde Susset, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
“For over 30 years we have been exploring not only the Earth’s poles, but also tropical regions in true expeditionary style. What’s new is that, for the first time, we are deliberately positioning these voyages as a focus in their own right for the winter. Madagascar and the Seychelles offer ideal conditions: high biodiversity, remote regions, strictly protected areas, and exactly the kind of space for discovery for which our expedition fleet was created.”.
With this new program, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises expands its winter offerings with a second expedition focus. In the future, guests will be able to choose between classic expeditions to Antarctica and tropical discovery cruises in the Indian Ocean, both adhering to the same expedition standards.
“Many travelers have automatically associated winter expeditions with ice and cold,” explains Clas Eckholt, Vice President of Sales at TUI Cruises. “This opens up an exciting opportunity for our partner agencies: we are expanding our offerings and allowing travelers to choose between polar and tropical winter adventures, both challenging, intense in nature, and characterized by our high standards. In this way, we are significantly broadening our winter portfolio and reaching new audiences, in line with our DNA and brand essence.”.
The company already has experience in winter expeditions to warmer regions with the predecessor ships of the current fleet. The HANSEATIC spirit completed three winter expeditions to Madagascar in 2022 and has two more planned for this year. This track record provides the foundation for the new approach.
Between October 2027 and March 2028, HANSEATIC nature will undertake ten itineraries along the coasts of West Africa, South Africa, the Seychelles, and around Madagascar. The aim is to explore beyond the usual routes and discover the diversity hidden behind iconic images of idyllic beaches, through Zodiac landings in small groups accompanied by interdisciplinary teams of experts.
The new routes open two of the world's most biodiverse regions to expedition travel. In Madagascar, travelers can discover endemic species such as lemurs and chameleons, explore national parks, and venture into little-known areas with the support of experts. In the Seychelles, the focus will be on remote atolls, World Heritage sites with restricted access such as Aldabra, as well as pristine lagoons and reefs accessible only by Zodiac landings.
Zodiacs' own fleet allows landings without depending on local port infrastructure, offering flexibility and profound experiences in contact with nature, always with the utmost respect for sensitive ecosystems.
The three expedition ships —HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration , and HANSEATIC spirit— are among the most modern in the world in their class. With a maximum capacity of 230 guests, the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC6), and spacious exterior decks, they allow for immersive observation of the natural environment.
The design concept “Inspired by nature” integrates the expedition theme into the interiors, reflecting the forms and structures of the regions visited. Spaces like the HanseAtrium and the Ocean Academy are outreach centers, where up to 16 experts per trip prepare and delve into content about geology, fauna, oceanography, and culture.
With 17 Zodiacs on board, a marina at the stern, and free snorkeling equipment, guests can explore directly from the ship even in locations without a port, reaffirming the exploratory spirit that defines the shipping company.
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