Hamburg, 19 March 2018

A first for Antwerp: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will hold the naming ceremony for its second expedition ship, the HANSEATIC inspiration, on 13 October 2019

  • Maiden voyage to start on 14 October 2019
  • New ships underline the TUI Group’s growth strategy for the cruise segment

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will hold the naming ceremony for its second expedition ship, the HANSEATIC inspiration, on 13 October 2019 against the backdrop of the Belgian port city of Antwerp. It will be the first time in the city’s history that an ocean-going cruise ship has been christened in Antwerp. The announcement was made at lunchtime today by the CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Karl J. Pojer, who spoke to invited representatives of the press and the Deputy Mayor of Antwerp, Koen Kennis. Once she has been christened, the HANSEATIC inspiration will set sail from Antwerp the following day for her 15-day maiden voyage to Tenerife.

Karl J. Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating the launch of our second expedition ship, the HANSEATIC inspiration, against the beautiful backdrop of Antwerp. We have enjoyed many years of excellent collaboration with all of the city’s representatives and our choice of location for the ceremony demonstrates our deep connection with Antwerp. It also underlines our growth strategy for the international market.”

Koen Kennis, Deputy Mayor of Antwerp, added: “The HANSEATIC inspiration will be the first ocean-going cruise ship to be christened in the city of Antwerp. That is something very special. On behalf of the city of Antwerp, I would like to thank Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for the years of trust and confidence that the company has shown in the city.”

The Hamburg-based company will be putting two new expedition ships into service next year. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises recently announced that the naming ceremony for the HANSEATIC nature – the sister ship of the HANSEATIC inspiration – will be held in Hamburg on 12 April 2019. The two small, manoeuvrable expedition ships feature cutting-edge technology and have the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC6). Their routes will take the ships from one extreme to the other – from cold polar waters to the warm regions of the Amazon. The construction, design and routes of the two new ships revolve around providing a true expedition experience, getting as close to nature as possible and incorporating state-of-the-art equipment to minimise the environmental impact.

The HANSEATIC inspiration will make her 15-day maiden voyage from October 14 to 29 October 2019, sailing from Antwerp to Tenerife with stops in Honfleur, and Guernsey, numerous destinations on the Iberian Peninsula, in Morocco, and in Madeira, with prices starting from € 8,530 ($ 9,810, £ 7,260) per person, cruise-only.

About Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

In the German-speaking area, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is known to be the leading cruise brand in the luxury and expedition sector. Small, individual, and outstanding in their class: the fleet includes the world's best luxury ships. the EUROPA and the EUROPA 2, which are the only ships to be awarded the top rating of 5-star plus by the Berlitz Cruise Guide, as well as the HANSEATIC nature and the HANSEATIC inspiration, the first two of the new expedition class which consists of three ships. The new HANSEATIC spirit completed the fleet, when she joined in summer 2021, and continues the modernization process of the expedition fleet. The adventure trips on the luxurious ALBERT BALLIN private jet, a particularly exclusive type of travel, complements the portfolio.

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