QuirkyCruise News: Hapag-Lloyd’s New Expedition Ship Named

Oct 12, 2019 | 0

Hapag-Lloyd’s New Expedition Ship

By Ted Scull.

The naming ceremony for Hapag-Lloyd’s second of three expedition ships, HANSEATIC INSPIRATION, took place in Hamburg on October 11th.

Hapag-Lloyd's New Expedition Ship in Hamburg

The 230-passenger Hanseatic inspiration in Hamburg, Germany. * Photo: Hapag-Lloyd

The traditional Champagne bottle was sent on its way to collide with the ship’s hull by Godmother Laura Dekker, the youngest person (age 16) to circumnavigate the globe single-handed, aboard a two-masted ketch, completing her journey in January 2012.

Godmother Laura Dekker. * Photo: Hapag-Lloyd

Attending guests then watched an outdoor multimedia show that highlighted many of the remote destinations the new ship will visit.

This new class of expedition ship for Hapag-Lloyd, consisting of HANSEATIC NATURE, HANSEATIC INSPIRATION and still to come HANSEATIC SPIRIT, is financed by parent firm TUI Group.

The INSPIRATION, under command of Captain Ulf Wolter, then leaves Hamburg on Saturday, October 12th, for its first port of call at the inland Belgium city of Antwerp. Then it begins a 15-day voyage to the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic Isles, heading to Tenerife, with stops in La Coruna, Lisbon, Casablanca and Madeira, among others.

The 230-passenger Hanseatic Inspiration. * Photo: Hapag Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd’s new 465-foot expedition ship has a crew of 175 and passenger accommodations for 230, reduced to 199 for cruises to Antarctica and for Spitsbergen circumnavigations. The ship uses low-pollutant marine gas oil fuel.

And, great news, by July 2020, the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ fleet will cease using heavy fuel oil.

Contact Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for more info.

Hapag-Lloyd's New Expedition Ship's junior suite

A junior suite aboard the Hanseatic Inspiration. * Photo: Hapag Lloyd

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Hanseatic Inspiration
Ocean Spa. * Photo: Hapag-Lloyd

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About The Author

QuirkyCruise

Ted & Heidi are long-time travel writers with a penchant for small ship cruising. Between them they've traveled all over the world aboard hundreds and hundreds of small cruise ships of all kinds, from river boats to expedition vessels and sailing ships.

About Us

HEIDI SARNA

I'm up to 78 countries and 110+ cruises worldwide, and it's the small ship journeys that I love writing about most. And so QuirkyCruise.com was born, an excellent research tool for planning your own unforgettable small ship trip.

THEODORE W. SCULL

I have traveled between all continents by sea and cruised along three dozen rivers. Ships and travel are in my blood, and so is writing. My journeys have translated into many books and many hundreds of articles.

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So far, I’ve explored 78 countries around the world by boat, road, plane, foot, bicycle and camel. My first big journey was a six-month trip around the world back in the days when…

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I am happiest near water, over water or better still on a conveyance moving through water. When my brother Sandy and I were deemed old enough, mother took us to Europe by ship.

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