HANSEATIC spirit

HANSEATIC spirit at a Glance

HANSEATIC spirit is an expedition cruise ship operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, designed to reach the ports and wilderness coastlines that larger ships cannot enter. She sails across a remarkable range of regions — from polar waters in Alaska and the Arctic to the tropics of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, South America, the South Pacific and beyond. Current sailings on sale through Cruise1st depart from ports including Ushuaia in Argentina, Seward in Alaska, Darwin in Australia, Vancouver in Canada, Bali, Cape Town, Noumea and Hong Kong, and reach up to 32 nights in duration.

• Operator: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
• Regions sailed: Alaska, Arctic, South America, South Pacific, Japan, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Portugal, Transpacific
• Longest sailing on sale: 32 nights
• Cabins: Grand Suite, Balcony, and Ocean-view grades available
• Known for: Expedition itineraries combined with Michelin-starred dining and a full suite of bars, lounges and wellness programming

If you are considering Alaska cruises or want to explore the Arctic, HANSEATIC spirit sails to both. She also visits Japan, South Africa, the South Pacific, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, South America and Portugal.

Dining on HANSEATIC spirit

HANSEATIC spirit carries one of the most ambitious dining programmes afloat, with multiple restaurants included in the cruise fare alongside speciality venues that carry a supplement or à la carte pricing.

The signature restaurant is The Globe by Kevin Fehling, an à la carte venue built around the creative work of a three-Michelin-star chef. Fehling combines modern cooking techniques with ingredients and flavours drawn from around the world; on selected voyages he cooks on board personally. Advance reservation is required.

Pearls reimagines French seafood tradition — caviar, innovative dishes, and an outdoor terrace with uninterrupted sea views. Venezia offers Italian and Mediterranean classics from pasta to fine cheeses and dolci, with a cover charge applying. Restaurant Elements takes a different direction entirely, exploring Asian cuisines from Indian curries to Vietnamese and Chinese specialities in a relaxed, exotic-modern setting. Restaurant Sakura focuses on Japanese cuisine — classic and creative sushi alongside refined dishes made from premium ingredients, with sea views completing the experience.

For something closer to a French bistro, Restaurant Tarragon offers beef tartare prepared at the table and other timeless classics in art deco surroundings. The EUROPA Restaurant and Restaurant Weltmeere both serve daily-changing international gourmet menus — the former shaped by the regions you visit, the latter by the chef's personal signature — and both are included in the fare. Lido Café brings a more relaxed pace: breakfast on the terrace, dinner under the stars, and freshly grilled dishes at an open station, all included. The Yacht Club Restaurant runs from breakfast through dinner with unobstructed sea views and open cooking stations. For wine enthusiasts, Restaurant GRANDE Réserve pairs a carefully curated cellar with sommelier-led tastings, charged separately.

Bars and Lounges

The bar programme on HANSEATIC spirit matches the ambition of the kitchens. Sansibar is the place for sunset drinks: the largest champagne selection on board, sommelier guidance and live music on selected evenings. Gatsby's channels the cocktail culture of the 1920s — expertly mixed drinks in a nostalgic setting where dancing is not just permitted but encouraged. The Piano Bar provides a quieter counterpoint, with a pianist accompanying aperitifs and afternoon coffees.

The Havana Bar stocks a well-curated humidor alongside a considered drinks list — a comfortable place to end an evening. Club Belvedere offers panoramic views, complimentary tea, coffee and pastries, and hosts readings and entertainment on selected evenings. The Poolbar serves light snacks, refreshing drinks and fresh afternoon waffles — available for delivery to your sunlounger on request.

Wellness on Board

The EUROPA Refresh programme brings together fitness, nutrition, mental wellbeing and meditation into a structured approach to health at sea. Innovative training methods, individual nutritional advice and mindfulness courses are all part of the programme; access is included in the fare, while individual treatments and coaching sessions are charged separately.

Cabins and Suites on HANSEATIC spirit

Three cabin grades are available through Cruise1st, each with its own character. Full deck plans and cabin details are on the HANSEATIC spirit cabins and deck plans page.

• Grand Suite with Veranda (K10) — 71 m² of space for two guests, with a 16 m² private veranda fitted with heat lamps for use in any climate. The veranda alone offers a genuinely different experience in colder expedition waters.
• Balcony Cabin (GB) — 27 m² with a private balcony giving direct access to fresh air and views that Ocean-view guests do not have. Categorised as a suite grade.
• Ocean-View Cabin (K01) — 22 m² with an exterior window that brings natural light and a brighter feel than an inside cabin, at no balcony surcharge.

Where HANSEATIC spirit Sails

The itinerary range on HANSEATIC spirit is broader than almost any other single ship: polar expedition, tropical rainforest coast and cultural immersion all appear in the same sailing schedule. Departures from Seward, Alaska open up glacier and wilderness routes; Ushuaia in Argentina is the traditional gateway to South American and sub-Antarctic waters. Cape Town anchors the South Africa itineraries, while Benoa, Bali and Darwin, Australia serve the Indonesia and Southeast Asia programmes. Vancouver is the departure point for Alaska sailings heading north from Canada, and Noumea, New Caledonia features in the South Pacific programme.

Readers planning an Alaska sailing can browse cruises from Vancouver to Alaska or the full Alaska 2027 cruise search. For Japan, the Japan 2027 cruise listings, Japan 2026 sailings from Tokyo and Japan 2027 sailings from Tokyo are all searchable. Arctic travellers will find options in the Arctic cruises from the UK search, including Northern Lights cruises in 2027 and the seven-night Northern Lights cruise listings. For South America, see South America cruises from Southampton. Transpacific repositioning voyages appear in the 2027 repositioning cruise search and the broader repositioning cruises from the UK listing. Southeast Asia sailings are in the Southeast Asia cruise search.

Why Book HANSEATIC spirit with Cruise1st

Cruise1st is one of the UK's leading cruise specialists — that means real knowledge of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises specifically, not a generalist travel agent working from a brochure. Our cruise experts are available by phone before you book, to help you weigh cabin grades, compare itineraries and understand exactly what the fare includes.

For the great majority of HANSEATIC spirit sailings, the cruise is the centrepiece of a longer trip that begins and ends with a flight: departures from Argentina, the United States, Australia and New Zealand all require international travel. A Cruise1st Package brings the cruise, your flights, hotels either side and transfers together as one holiday under one booking — removing the coordination burden that expedition travel can otherwise involve.

Whatever cabin grade you choose and whichever itinerary you settle on, we help you select the fare inclusions that suit your circumstances and put the whole holiday together in one place.

Common Questions About HANSEATIC spirit

Is HANSEATIC spirit an Expedition Ship or a Luxury Cruise Ship?

HANSEATIC spirit is both. She is operated by Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as an expedition vessel capable of reaching remote and polar destinations, while also carrying a full programme of Michelin-starred dining, multiple speciality restaurants, a range of bars and lounges, and a structured wellness programme. The combination of expedition access and on-board refinement is the defining characteristic of the Hapag-Lloyd expedition fleet.

Which Destinations Does HANSEATIC spirit Visit?

Current sailings on sale through Cruise1st cover Alaska, the Arctic, South America, the South Pacific, Japan, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, South Africa, Portugal and Transpacific routings. Departure ports include Ushuaia, Seward, Darwin, Vancouver, Bali (Benoa), Cape Town, Noumea, Hong Kong and others.

What Dining Is Included in the Fare on HANSEATIC spirit?

Several restaurants are included in the cruise fare: the EUROPA Restaurant, Restaurant Weltmeere, Lido Café and the Yacht Club Restaurant all operate on an included basis. Speciality venues — including The Globe by Kevin Fehling, Pearls, Venezia, Restaurant Elements, Restaurant Sakura, Restaurant Tarragon and Restaurant GRANDE Réserve — operate on à la carte pricing or carry a cover charge, and should be budgeted for separately.

How Long Are HANSEATIC spirit Sailings?

Sailings on sale through Cruise1st currently run up to 32 nights, with prices from £2,455pp*. The range reflects the diversity of itineraries: shorter expedition segments as well as longer voyages that cross entire ocean basins.

Do I Need to Fly to Join HANSEATIC spirit?

For the vast majority of sailings, yes — departures from Argentina, the United States, Australia and New Zealand all require international flights. A small number of sailings depart from European ports. A Cruise1st Package can include flights, hotels and transfers alongside the cruise itself, making the logistics of reaching a distant embarkation port considerably simpler.