Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is a German luxury and expedition cruise line based in Hamburg. It traces its cruising history to 22 January 1891, when HAPAG's Augusta Victoria set out on what the company calls the first pleasure cruise, and took its present form after the 1970 merger of HAPAG and Norddeutscher Lloyd. TUI integrated the business in 2008, and in 2020 it was sold to TUI Cruises, the joint venture of TUI and Royal Caribbean.
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About Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
The fleet is five small ships: the classic luxury ship Europa (1999), the larger and more casual Europa 2 (2013), and the expedition trio Hanseatic Nature, Hanseatic Inspiration and Hanseatic Spirit, built by Vard between 2019 and 2021 to the PC6 polar ice class. The older expedition ships Bremen and Hanseatic left the fleet in 2020 and 2018.
Europa and Europa 2 carry no more than 400 and 500 guests and sail worldwide, including a world tour split between them, while the expedition ships carry up to 230 guests to polar and remote regions. The line describes itself as the market leader in luxury and expedition cruising in German-speaking countries.
What Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is known for
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is regarded as one of the leading luxury brands in German-speaking Europe. Europa was rated the best cruise ship in the world by the Berlitz guide twelve years running, and the small size of all five ships, with a crew-to-guest ratio near one to one on Europa 2, supports very personal service. Its expedition ships are modern, purpose-built and capable of polar voyages, and the line has a long expedition record that includes the Northwest Passage.
The trade-offs are cost and language. Fares are high, as the line's advertised combination discounts of up to €22,000 per person on its world tour suggest, and its club charges a membership fee, unlike the free loyalty programs of many lines. The line's home market is German-speaking, so English-speaking travelers should check whether a sailing is offered in English before booking.
Who it's for
Luxury · small ships, a high crew-to-guest ratio, most extras included
- Couples
- Food lovers
- History and culture
- Adventure seekers
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises suits experienced, well-traveled guests, often German-speaking couples, who want a small luxury ship with fine dining and a quiet atmosphere, or a comfortable expedition voyage to Antarctica, the Arctic and other remote regions. Long voyages and the world tour on Europa and Europa 2 suit travelers with time to spare.
Budget travelers, families looking for kids' clubs and big-ship entertainment, and travelers who want an all-English environment without checking the sailing language will be better served by other lines.
Cruising solo on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises suits a solo traveler who wants a very small, very well-staffed luxury or expedition ship and is comfortable in a mostly German-speaking environment. No single cabins, but selected cruises carry no or only a small single-occupancy surcharge. Pick a sailing offered in English on Europa 2 or a Hanseatic ship.
- Single supplement
- Suites are priced per person on double occupancy. Hapag-Lloyd publishes offers for solo travelers with no or only a small surcharge for single occupancy on selected cruises, listed through a filter on its cruise finder; otherwise a surcharge applies and varies by cruise and suite.
- Meeting other solo guests
- No formal solo program. Small ships (400 to 500 guests on Europa and Europa 2, about 230 on the Hanseatic expedition ships), restaurant staff who will seat solo guests together on request, and expedition-team lectures and Zodiac outings are where solo guests meet. German is the main language on board; check whether a sailing is offered in English.
How it rates
- Cabins
- 4.8/5
- Dining
- 5/5
- Entertainment
- 3/5
- Service
- 5/5
- Pools & decks
- 5/5
- Value
- 3/5
The fleet's average on each metric, across 5 rated ships in service. Each ship is scored 1 to 5 by Cruise Frog's editors; these are not reader reviews.
Rankings and comparisons
Where Hapag-Lloyd Cruises sails
Ships
Best rated
#14.3 ★Europa 22013 · 42,830 GT · 516 guests · World cruisesEuropa 2 is the largest ship of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, built by STX Europe at Saint-Nazaire, France, and in service since her maiden voyage in May 2013. She measures 42,830 gross…
#24.3 ★Hanseatic Inspiration2019 · 15,651 GT · 230 guests · AntarcticaHanseatic Inspiration is the second of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' expedition ships, built by the Vard group and launched in February 2019. She was christened in October 2019, with…
#34.3 ★Hanseatic Nature2019 · 15,651 GT · 230 guests · AntarcticaHanseatic Nature is the lead ship of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' three-ship expedition class, with a hull built in Tulcea, Romania, and fitted out by Vard at Tomrefjord, Norway…Every ship, by class
Hanseatic class
3 ships · 2019–2021 · 15,651 GT · avg 4.3 ★
Other ships
2 ships · 1999–2013 · 28,890–42,830 GT · avg 4.3 ★
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bremen | 1993–2020 | 6,752 | October 2020 |
Quick answers
What is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises known for?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is regarded as one of the leading luxury brands in German-speaking Europe. Europa was rated the best cruise ship in the world by the Berlitz guide twelve years running, and the small size of all five ships, with a crew-to-guest ratio near one to one on Europa 2, supports very personal service. Its expedition ships are modern, purpose-built and capable of polar voyages, and the line has a long expedition record that includes the Northwest Passage.
Who is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises best for?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises suits experienced, well-traveled guests, often German-speaking couples, who want a small luxury ship with fine dining and a quiet atmosphere, or a comfortable expedition voyage to Antarctica, the Arctic and other remote regions. Long voyages and the world tour on Europa and Europa 2 suit travelers with time to spare.
Is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises good for solo travellers?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises suits a solo traveler who wants a very small, very well-staffed luxury or expedition ship and is comfortable in a mostly German-speaking environment. No single cabins, but selected cruises carry no or only a small single-occupancy surcharge. Pick a sailing offered in English on Europa 2 or a Hanseatic ship.
Where does Hapag-Lloyd Cruises sail?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises's ships in service sail Antarctica (3 ships) and World cruises (2 ships).
How is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises rated?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises's fleet averages 4.3 out of 5 on Cruise Frog, across 5 rated ships. Its best-rated ship is Europa 2 at 4.3.
How many ships does Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has 5 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Europa, Europa 2, Hanseatic Inspiration, Hanseatic Nature and Hanseatic Spirit.
What ship classes does Hapag-Lloyd Cruises sail?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises sails 1 class of ship in service: Hanseatic class (3 ships), plus 2 ships not in a named class.
Who owns Hapag-Lloyd Cruises?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is part of TUI Cruises.
Where is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises based?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. It has operated since 1970.
What is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises's loyalty program called?
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Club.
What is the largest Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ship?
Europa 2 is Hapag-Lloyd Cruises's largest ship at 42,830 gross tons, carrying 516 guests.
Cruising with children
Hapag-Lloyd’s family options are especially worth checking ship by ship. A family apartment and a children’s program can make the experience very different from another voyage within the same fleet.
Read the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises family guide →Is a drinks package worth it?
Thinking about a drinks package on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises? The average drink starts at what a glass of house wine costs on board, about $4.92; change it to what you usually order, and enter the package price Hapag-Lloyd Cruises quotes.
A 100 ml glass of house wine costs about €4.40 on board, roughly $4.92. Hapag-Lloyd EUROPA 2 wine list (PDF) ↗
Per person, a day, as the line quotes it.
A glass of house wine on Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
Optional. Count coffees and sodas if the package covers them.
The days the package is charged for.
To make the drinks package pay for itself
16drinks a day
A $75-a-day package costs the same as 15.2 drinks at $4.92. Over 7 days that's $525, or 107 drinks for the cruise.
Pay as you go
At 5 drinks a day, buying drinks one at a time costs about $352.80 less than the package.
- Drinks package, 7 days
- $525
- Drink by drink, 5 drinks a day
- $172.20
Needing 16 drinks a day to break even isn't a plan, it's a dare. Your liver politely declines.
Traveller reviews
What people who've been say. One review each; you can update yours.
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