Hapag-Lloyd Cruises have made an announcement stating that they will be adding two new expedition-class vessels to their growing fleet.
The two new ships will join the existing Hanseatic as they make their way towards the wonders of the Antarctic. TUI Group, the world’s number one tourism group and subsidiary of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, will invest in the new vessels. There will be a period of 20 months allowed for construction so the new vessels are ready to make their grand debut in April and October 2019, respectively.
CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, Karl J. Pojer, has commented on the latest announcement: “The former director Albert Ballin invented the modern cruise concept 125 years ago. We are perfectly positioned in the luxury market with our cruise ships “EUROPA” and “EUROPA 2”. In this anniversary year, we are charting the course for the future. Already we operate successfully in our expedition segment, which offers growth potential for 5-star cruises. Our new-builds will help us to develop further the expedition segment and offer a modern interpretation. They will also serve to strengthen our leading position in this market, in particular at the international level.”
The new expedition vessels will consist of environmental technology and state-of-the-art technological features. They will also have the highest Polar Class designation out of any passenger ship with a PC6 rating. Not only will they be able to cruise in polar regions in the Arctic and Antarctica, but also in warm water destinations including the Amazon. The new ships will be equipped with zodiacs that guests can use to discover inaccessible expedition areas to allow for optimum viewing and also a water sports marina.
Want to know more about these two new vessels? Please see below for more interesting facts:
• 5-star expedition segment
• One new-build to serve German-speaking markets (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
• Other new-build to serve German-speaking markets and in addition Belgium, the UK, Netherlands and the US.
Identical ships, data for each ship:
• GT 16,100
• Length: 138 metres
• Width: 22 metres
• Draught: 5.4 metres
• Passenger decks: 7
• Cabins and suites: 120
• Maximum passenger capacity: 240 persons
• Crew: Up to 170 crew members
• High ratio of balcony cabins
• Restaurants: 3
• Modern spa and fitness area
• Interior design: Architecture firm Oceanarchitects
For the very best fares on Hapag-Lloyd voyages, please contact The Sovereign Cruise Club for further details.