HANSEATIC spirit

Days Ashore by Zodiac, Evenings at L’esprit

On HANSEATIC spirit, the days are built around Zodiac landings and the evenings around dinner. Zodiac trips ashore are included in the fare where route and conditions allow, while some shore activities carry a charge. Experienced drivers bring you to the beach, and guides lead hikes, Nordic walking and trekking from there. If you want excursions bookable the moment they are published, the Platin fare allows it, while Silber offers a particularly attractive price for fixed plans, with stricter cancellation terms.

Back on board, an expedition team of up to 16 specialists in biology, history, geology and regional studies gives talks and briefings, so what you saw that afternoon makes sense by dinner. Children and teens have spaces of their own, included in the fare. In a research corner they can put samples of water, sand or ice under the microscope, and when operations allow, the bridge opens for conversations with the officers about navigation and radar.

Dinner is where the day settles. L’esprit is the choice for a fine-dining evening, and the open-air Lido Restaurant brings a large grill, a show kitchen and an ice cream station. Both are covered by full board, as is the HANSEATIC Restaurant. The spa’s sauna and thermal areas are free to use, while treatments are charged, as are drinks unless you have a beverage package.

Antarctica in the British Winter, Alaska and Greenland in Summer

HANSEATIC spirit follows the polar seasons, sailing south from Ushuaia between November and February and spending July to September in Alaska and Greenland. These voyages run from 13 to 32 nights.

From Ushuaia, at the southern tip of South America, she runs 20-night round trips in November, December and January. Calls change between departures, but South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula are among the places she heads for. In January and February she also sails one-way from Ushuaia to Lyttelton or Akaroa in New Zealand over 32 nights. Victoria Land, the Balleny Islands and Stewart Island are typical of that route.

In July she sails one-way from Vancouver to Alaska, ending in Seward after 13 or 14 nights. Ports vary, but Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg and Kodiak are typical. From Seward, a 29-night one-way runs in July and August to Kangerlussuaq, and you might see Nome, St. Paul in the Pribilof Islands and Sisimiut on the way. In August and September she continues from Kangerlussuaq along the coasts of Greenland to Reykjavik or Hamburg over 15 or 19 nights. Stops change between departures; Disko Island, Prince Christian Sound and Lerwick in Shetland are among them.

Nearly all her departures start with a flight from the UK, so wherever she sails from, we book the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers as one holiday. Within the Hapag Lloyd Cruises fleet, she sails alongside EUROPA, MS EUROPA 2, HANSEATIC nature and HANSEATIC inspiration.

HANSEATIC spirit Cabins and Deck Plans

HANSEATIC spirit has no inside cabins: every one of her 120 cabins is an outside cabin, a balcony cabin or a suite. Her cabins and deck plans show where the suites and balcony cabins sit, which helps if you want to be close to the Observation Lounge.

Cruise1st is one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists. Hapag Lloyd Cruises and its polar seasons are a line and a programme we know well. To see her summer voyages among every Alaska departure, start with Alaska cruises in 2027.