Each year, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises designs new itineraries for its five small luxury and expedition ships, offering passengers unique experiences around the world. With over 500 different ports of call annually, first-time visits to exclusive destinations, and routes off the beaten track, the company continues to surprise even the most seasoned travelers.
The 2027/28 season will be marked by new discoveries, including the first winter season in the Indian Ocean, a unique route combining the five Great Lakes of North America with the St. Lawrence River, in-depth itineraries through the Philippines and a new crossing along the west coast of the United States.
For over 135 years, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has been known for its pioneering spirit. With these new offerings, the company—a market leader in luxury and expedition cruises in German-speaking countries—reaffirms its expertise in designing exclusive itineraries and its commitment to providing new travel experiences to its most discerning customers, season after season.
Whether through unprecedented stops, unusual route combinations, or an in-depth exploration of certain destinations, the five ships in the fleet combine a spirit of adventure, comfort, and unique experiences across seven continents.
The luxury ships EUROPA and EUROPA 2 will once again offer exclusive itineraries in the 2027/28 season that combine culture, nature and high-level gastronomy.
Thanks to their small size, both ships will be able to access ports inaccessible to large cruise ships, allowing passengers to discover both iconic destinations and lesser-known places.
In February 2027, the EUROPA will offer for the first time a 29-day cruise that will link South America, Central America and North America in a single trip.
The itinerary will cover eight countries, from Valparaíso to San Francisco, passing through Peru and Costa Rica, and will include the spectacular passage under the Golden Gate, combining cultural diversity, impressive natural landscapes and some of the most emblematic cities on the continent.
In 2028, passengers will be able to discover the Philippine archipelago for the first time through two cruises specially designed to offer a comprehensive view of the country.
The itineraries include 13 stops in ten different ports, from vibrant Manila to small islands and bays accessible only to small ships like the EUROPA.
The program also includes a new stop on Mantigue Island.
The South Pacific and Costa Rica for EUROPA 2
The EUROPA 2 will debut a new itinerary through the South Pacific, visiting for the first time remote islands of Papua New Guinea and Palau, regions rarely visited even by the most experienced travelers.
Also, at the beginning of 2028, it will sail along the coast of Costa Rica, focusing on the country's extraordinary biodiversity.
Among the unique stops are Isla Tortuga and Puerto Jiménez, with excursions to rainforests, national parks, mangroves and Pacific beaches.
Travelers can walk across suspension bridges over the jungle, observe howler monkeys, iguanas and sloths in Manuel Antonio National Park and enjoy some of the most spectacular beaches in the country.
The expedition fleet is betting on new destinations
The ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit will also incorporate new routes away from conventional tourist destinations.
With a maximum capacity of 230 passengers, these modern expedition ships allow landings in Zodiac boats and access to places virtually inaccessible to larger vessels.
First winter season in the Indian Ocean
The big news for HANSEATIC nature will be its first winter season outside the polar regions.
For the first time, it will sail through Madagascar, the Seychelles and Mauritius, where, thanks to its shallow draft, it will be able to access remote islands and uninhabited atolls subject to strict visitor limitations.
Passengers will discover coral reefs, white sand beaches and extraordinary biodiversity through guided excursions, Zodiac tours, hikes and expert-led snorkeling activities.
New cruises to Antarctica
Although the Indian Ocean will be one of the major new additions, the polar regions will continue to be one of the pillars of the expedition program.
By early 2028, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has designed three new 14-day itineraries focused exclusively on South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, allowing you to enjoy one of the greatest wildlife shows on the planet in a shorter format.
The five Great Lakes in a single trip
In the summer of 2027, the HANSEATIC inspiration will star in another unprecedented route by becoming the only cruise that combines the five Great Lakes of North America with navigation on the St. Lawrence River in a single trip.
Thanks to its special design, with retractable wings on the bridge, it will be able to pass through the numerous locks of the river system and connect cities like Toronto, Montreal and Quebec with small coastal towns and islands.
Expedition to the Kimberley region
In May 2028, the HANSEATIC spirit will sail for the first time to the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The itinerary will take you along spectacular red sandstone coastlines, deep gorges, waterfalls like King George Falls, ancient rock formations, and some of the most isolated landscapes on the planet.
The aboriginal rock paintings and abundant wildlife that can be observed from the deck or during Zodiac excursions will make this trip one of the most exclusive expeditions in the world.
Examples of featured cruises
Luxury Fleet
- Valparaíso – San Francisco. From February 17 to March 18, 2027 (29 days).
- Ho Chi Minh City – Hong Kong. From February 14 to March 1, 2028 (16 days).
- Lautoka (Fiji) – Hong Kong. From April 7 to 29, 2027 (22 days).
- Panama – Panama. From January 7 to 20, 2028 (13 days).
Expedition Fleet
- Mauritius – Mahé (Seychelles). From January 3 to 15, 2028 (12 days).
- Ushuaia – Ushuaia. From February 11 to 25, 2028 (14 days).
- Halifax – Milwaukee. From September 10 to October 1, 2027 (21 days).
- Darwin – Darwin. From May 4 to 22, 2028 (18 days).
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