The five English-speaking cruises include expeditions to the popular destinations of Antarctica and the Arctic, with BREMEN sailing through the North East Passage in the summer of 2018.
Both small ships – the 5-star*, 175-passenger HANSEATIC and 4-star*, 155-passenger BREMEN – are extremely manoeuvrable, with the highest ice class for passenger ships; sailing spectacular routes, which larger ships just cannot access.
The Antarctic is home traditionally to the HANSEATIC and BREMEN expedition ships in the winter months – the best time to traverse the world's southernmost waters. Guests can enjoy an unforgettable experience here: in select spots, they have the opportunity to camp ashore for the night. The adventure begins with a Zodiac landing, before passengers pitch their tents and spend the night surrounded by a world of ice (weather permitting). A total of two ‘international cruises’ will be offered to the Antarctic on board BREMEN in early 2019.
Sample cruises – Summer 2018:
An exciting ‘international cruise’ on board HANSEATIC will spend August and September sailing in the high Arctic, bound for the North Pole and exploring the very heart of the Northwest Passage.
MS HANSEATIC: Expedition course North Pole, from Kangerlussuaq to Kangerlussuaq, 7 August – 25 August 2018, 18 days, from €14,421 ($16,587, £12,265), per person, cruise only; this cruise includes: West coast of Greenland (e. g. Uummannaq, Ilulissat, Disko Bay), Northern Canadian Arctic (e. g. Baffin Island, Beechey Island, Ellesmere Island), Nares Strait, and Northwest Coast of Greenland – depending on the ice conditions (e. g. Pim Island, Hans Island, Siorapaluk, Old Thule). More information online at: www.hl-cruises.com/HAN1817
Leaving the high Arctic, the expedition ship HANSEATIC will then embark on an extraordinary journey: it will sail under the flag of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises for the last time. This final voyage will take it to Greenland – from Disko Bay in the west right round to the remote east before ending in Hamburg.
The BREMEN will embark on an especially ambitious and spectacular expedition. Journeying from Tromsø to Nome, it will traverse the Northeast Passage – a sea route stretching from Europe to Asia that crosses the Russian Arctic – for the second time since 2015. The Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ships are the only non-Russian passenger ships permitted to travel this route.
MS BREMEN: Expedition Northeast Passage, from Tromsø to Nome, 11 August – 7 September 2018, 28 days, from €21,632 ($24,881, £18,392), per person, cruise only; this cruise includes: Murmansk, Nowaja Semlja, Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya, Cape Chelyuskin, New Siberian Islands, Wrangel Islands, Kolyuchin Island, Chukchi Peninsula. More information online at: www.hl-cruises.com/BRE1817
Sample cruises – Winter 2019:
MS BREMEN: Expedition Antarctica, from Ushuaia to Ushuaia, 22 January – 10 February 2019, 19 days, from €14,934 ($17,176, £12,702), per person, cruise only; this cruise includes: Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, Weddell Sea, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula more online at: http://www.hl-cruises.com/BRE1902
MS BREMEN: Expedition Antarctica (incl. Antarctic circle), from Ushuaia to Ushuaia, 10 February – 1 March 2019, 19 days, from €13,690 ($15,751, £11,638), per person, cruise only; this cruise includes: South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, with crossing of the Antarctic Circle. More information online at: www.hl-cruises.com/BRE1903
* According to the Berlitz Cruise Guide 2017
Hamburg, April 2017