Photo: Wolfgang Fricke — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Hanseatic Spirit completed Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' trio of modern expedition ships, following her sisters Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Inspiration into service. Delivered in 2021 from the VARD group's yards in Romania and Norway at a cost of roughly US$155 million, she arrived amid the disruption of the global pandemic that had upended cruising, and her introduction rounded out the fleet renewal Hapag-Lloyd had begun two years earlier. Like her siblings she was built for only about 230 guests, small enough to reach the most protected corners of the planet while delivering the line's uncompromising luxury.
She carried the full expedition specification of the class: a PC6 ice-strengthened hull certified to the Polar Code for Arctic and Antarctic waters, Zodiacs for shore landings, extendable glass viewing balconies cantilevered over the sea, and a forward observation deck for close encounters with wildlife and scenery. Designed for Hapag-Lloyd's luxury clientele, she blended genuine polar capability with the fine dining, spacious accommodation, and expert expedition guidance that define the modern Hanseatic ships.
Her christening struck an unusual and fitting note for an expedition vessel: rather than a public figure, her named godmother was Nemi, a rescued grey seal, an emblem of the marine conservation ethos central to the ship's purpose. Registered in Valletta, Malta, under the call sign 9HA5400 and based in the German market at Hamburg, she took her place as the newest of the three sisters.
Hanseatic Spirit operates premium expedition voyages to polar regions and remote coastlines, ranging from Northern Europe across the globe as the expedition seasons dictate. She remains in active service with Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the final piece of a class that brought purpose-built, five-star expedition cruising to the line's storied name.
Onboard Highlights
Signature attractions, dining, bars and entertainment aboard HANSEATIC spirit.
Specialty dining
- Hanseatic Restaurant
The main restaurant, with a changing menu blending the line's German roots and international cuisine. - Nikkei
A specialty restaurant serving Nikkei cuisine, the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors. - The Lido
A casual venue with breakfast, lunch and evening buffets in a relaxed yacht-club setting.
Bars and lounges
- Lobby Bar
A central bar in the ship's atrium for coffee, cocktails and drinks. - Pool Bar
A poolside bar serving refreshments on the open deck. - Observation Lounge
A panoramic forward lounge with 24-hour refreshments plus afternoon sweets and snacks.
Specifications
| Status | In service |
|---|---|
| Entered service | 2021 |
| Cruise line | Hapag-Lloyd Cruises |
| Class | Hanseatic class |
| Gross tonnage | 15,650 GT |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 192 |
| Guests (maximum) | 230 |
| Crew | 170 |
| Est. annual guests | ≈ 5,000 / year (estimated) |
| Length | 138 m (453 ft) |
| Beam | 22 m (72 ft) moulded |
| Decks | 9 |
| Staterooms | 120 |
| Shipyard | Vard (Romania / Norway) |
| Build cost | ≈ US$155 million |
| Christened by | Nemi (a rescued grey seal) |
| Flag | Malta |
| Port of registry | Valletta, Malta |
| IMO number | 9857640 |
| Call sign | 9HA5400 |
| Home port | Hamburg, Germany |
| Region | Expedition / Northern Europe |
About the Hanseatic class class
Modern five-star expedition ships (HANSEATIC nature, inspiration and spirit) for polar and remote-destination cruising.
Ownership & loyalty
Part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL).
Sister brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises.
Runs a separate (German-market) loyalty program, outside the Royal Caribbean Group status match.
References
Descriptions on Cruise Ship Wiki are original write-ups paraphrased from public sources; facts are compiled from the references below and cross-checked. How we source our information.
- Photograph by Wolfgang Fricke (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons - Primary ship photograph