Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will expand its offering in the Great Lakes of North America in 2027 with two new expeditions aboard the HANSEATIC inspiration that, for the first time, will connect the five Great Lakes with the St. Lawrence River in a single voyage.
The Great Lakes routes have become some of the company's most exclusive experiences, with high demand resulting in this season's itineraries being fully booked. In response to travelers' growing interest in more extensive and immersive experiences, the cruise line has redesigned its 2027 program, incorporating two new 21-day itineraries that will offer an unprecedented exploration of this region.
The new cruises, scheduled between August and September 2027, will join two other expeditions already planned for the season, creating a program of four trips that will allow you to discover some of the most spectacular landscapes in Canada and the United States.
The Great Lakes constitute the world's largest continuous freshwater system and represent one of the most complex environments from a nautical perspective. Narrow channels, shallow areas, and numerous locks demand specially equipped vessels.
The HANSEATIC inspiration is one of the few expedition ships in the world specifically designed to navigate this region. Its features include a retractable bridge wing system, a sleek structure, and a shallow draft that allows it to pass through extremely narrow locks and waterways. With a capacity for only 230 passengers, the ship also offers an exclusive and personalized experience.
One of the most impressive moments of the journey will be the passage through the Welland Canal, which connects Lakes Ontario and Erie. During this navigation, the ship will have to pass through eight locks and a drop of nearly 100 meters, in some places with barely two and a half meters of clearance from the walls of the lock chambers.
The new routes combine for the first time the diverse landscapes of the five Great Lakes with the cultural and maritime richness of the St. Lawrence River.
The itinerary will take you through cities like Milwaukee, Toronto, Montreal, and Quebec City, as well as stunning natural landscapes. Highlights include Lake Superior, the second largest freshwater lake in the world; the rugged coastline of Ontario; Georgian Bay with its nearly 30,000 islands; and the spectacular Saguenay Fjord.
Passengers can participate in Zodiac boat excursions, hiking trails, scenic flights, and wildlife viewing. In certain areas, it will be possible to spot black bears, moose, bald eagles, beluga whales, and even humpback whales.
The experience will be accompanied by a team of experts and lecturers who will offer information on the history, geology, nature and engineering of this fascinating region, enriching every stage of the journey.
Among the new offerings is the cruise "Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River: Five Lakes, One Great Expedition Adventure," which will depart from Milwaukee on August 20, 2027, and end in Halifax after 21 days of sailing.
The second new feature will be “Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River: from the Atlantic to the Great Lakes”, a reverse journey between Halifax and Milwaukee that will take place from September 10 to October 1, 2027.
Both expeditions will last 21 days and will allow the exploration of the five Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River in a single journey for the first time.
In addition, the program will include two other itineraries: an expedition focused exclusively on the five Great Lakes in August 2027 and a trip between Milwaukee and Halifax in October, coinciding with the spectacular colors of the North American autumn.
Following the 2027 season, the HANSEATIC inspiration will return to sail the Great Lakes in 2028, both during the spring en route to the Arctic and in late summer on its voyages to South America and Antarctica, consolidating Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' presence in one of the world's most unique expedition destinations.
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