Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is looking ahead to the 2029 season with a programme that combines classic itineraries with new destinations and distinctive expedition experiences. EUROPA, EUROPA 2 and the expedition ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit will take guests to regions ranging from Hawaii, Oceania and the Far East to North and South America, the polar regions, the Amazon and the Northwest Passage.
A total of 129 itineraries are planned for the 2029 season. An initial overview is already available on the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises website, with guests able to register their interest without obligation. Official bookings open on 1 December 2026, when detailed information and prices will also be published. The printed route brochure will follow in March 2027.
Special Cruises for Body and Mind
The two luxury ships, EUROPA and EUROPA 2, combine a wide choice of destinations with sophisticated cuisine and entertainment. Selected sailings will see the return of established formats including IN 2 BALANCE aboard EUROPA 2 and EUROPA WELL-BEING on EUROPA. These themed cruises combine physical activity, knowledge and personal development with insights from medicine, science, sport, nutrition and mindfulness.
Talks featuring renowned hosts and experts will also form part of the programme, addressing subjects ranging from politics and history to current affairs. The cruises therefore offer opportunities for both relaxation and intellectual engagement.
EUROPA Between the Pacific, Patagonia and African Wilderness
In January 2029, EUROPA will return to Hawaii for the first time in nine years. From Panama City, the itinerary follows the national parks of Costa Rica and the Mexican coast, where historic cities, Pacific beaches and the legacy of Mayan culture come together. The ship then calls at Oahu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai before continuing along the North American West Coast towards Canada.
In February, a three-week voyage to the United States, Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica is followed by a journey south to South America. In Chile and Patagonia, guests can encounter fjords and glaciers, while Tierra del Fuego offers rugged landscapes. Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro provide a contrasting urban experience, combining culture, architecture and history. The itinerary also rounds Cape Horn, one of the world’s most historic maritime routes.
With a maximum of 400 guests on board, the luxury ship will then embark on an 18-day voyage towards the Canary Islands. The itinerary includes five Brazilian ports and the Cape Verdean islands of Santiago and São Vicente before continuing into the Mediterranean, with calls including Lisbon, Civitavecchia, Piraeus, Dubrovnik and Palma de Mallorca. Two shorter cruises will also offer an opportunity to experience EUROPA and its concept.
During the winter, EUROPA will once again head to southern Africa. Between the coasts of Namibia and South Africa and the natural landscapes of Madagascar, the itinerary showcases some of the continent’s varied scenery. The festive season will be spent in the tropical surroundings of the Seychelles, while Kenya and Tanzania offer opportunities to explore renowned national parks and game reserves.
EUROPA 2 from Oceania to the Caribbean
EUROPA 2 begins the season with a 16-day voyage from Singapore via Bali and the Indonesian archipelago to Australia. The ship then explores the continent’s southern and eastern coasts before heading to New Zealand, where the landscapes range from the fjords of the South Island to the geothermal scenery of the North Island. Oceania also returns to the programme.
In March, the focus shifts to the islands of the South Pacific. Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia combine traditional island cultures with volcanic landscapes and some of the world’s most biodiverse coral reefs.
In April, EUROPA 2 departs Ho Chi Minh City for Yokohama. Subsequent itineraries connect Asian metropolises such as Shanghai and Hong Kong with the island worlds of Southeast Asia and a range of destinations in Japan. Later voyages include Sri Lanka, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Zanzibar and Madagascar.
Following the European summer in the Mediterranean, EUROPA 2 will head to Canada’s eastern coast for the first time in autumn. Prince Edward Island, Gaspé, Saguenay and Halifax are among the destinations showcasing the region’s rugged coastlines, fjords and forests transformed by the colours of autumn.
Towards the end of the year, the ship heads for the Caribbean. Alongside familiar destinations such as the Bahamas and the ABC Islands, the itineraries include lesser-known places including Isla Tortuga, Bocas del Toro and Isla de Providencia. One special itinerary combines both coasts of Costa Rica with a transit of the Panama Canal and calls at several Caribbean destinations.
The season concludes with a 17-day festive voyage to and from Miami. The itinerary combines Key West, Tampa and New Orleans with Mayan sites on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, the reefs of Belize and Roatán, and Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Expedition Cruises from the Arctic to Antarctica
The three expedition ships begin 2029 between Antarctica and Scandinavia. While HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit head into Antarctic waters, HANSEATIC nature departs from northern Germany for winter voyages to Norway, offering opportunities to see the Northern Lights. This is followed by winter itineraries across the Baltic Sea and the Baltic states.
Later, HANSEATIC nature moves into the Mediterranean, where combinable short cruises explore European coasts, rivers and destinations around the Mediterranean.
HANSEATIC inspiration continues its expedition season in Central America, with a new destination in Baja California timed to coincide with the annual migration of grey whales. The ship then transits the Panama Canal and ventures deep into the Amazon. Expeditions as far as Iquitos reach regions accessible to only a limited number of vessels and requiring a high degree of nautical expertise.
In late summer, HANSEATIC nature and HANSEATIC spirit turn their attention to Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. Between Eureka, Disko Bay and Sisimiut, guests can experience vast ice landscapes and remote settlements. The voyages then continue through the Northwest Passage, including inaugural calls at Iqaluit, the Button Islands and Torngat Mountains National Park.
Meanwhile, HANSEATIC inspiration heads towards Svalbard for several circumnavigations from Longyearbyen and Tromsø. These ten-day expeditions provide an introduction to the Arctic landscape, with the exact routes determined by local ice and weather conditions. Glaciers and Arctic wildlife therefore help shape each individual voyage.
A two-night stay in London adds another dimension to the programme. Thanks to their compact size, the expedition ships can sail up the Thames and pass beneath Tower Bridge, an experience reserved for only a limited number of vessels.
At the end of the year, HANSEATIC nature and HANSEATIC spirit return to Antarctica, sailing from the Falkland Islands via the Weddell Sea to the Antarctic Peninsula. HANSEATIC inspiration, meanwhile, heads for warmer waters, following the West African coast via South Africa and the Seychelles to Mauritius.
For the expedition fleet, the focus extends beyond reaching remote destinations. Experts from a range of disciplines accompany the voyages, providing context on natural phenomena, wildlife encounters and cultural discoveries.
Photo credit Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
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