Lucy sets sail on Hapag-Lloyd Cruise’s newest expedition ship
Here at Polar Routes, we are excited to launch our new ship review series Beyond The Bow, a blog aimed at taking a closer look through the porthole at the world’s finest expedition cruise ships, as experienced from the perspectives of our polar specialists.
Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or a curious traveler yearning for an extraordinary adventure on the polar seas, our features are designed to be your go-to resource for first-hand expert ship reviews.
We’re kicking things off with a thoroughly modern classic in the shape of Hapag-Lloyd’s formidable vessel, the HANSEATIC inspiration. Our senior polar specialist, Lucy Yeoman, let us know her thoughts after her Antarctic voyage on this ship.
Lucy’s shot of the HANSEATIC inspiration behind penguins and ice
The front of the ship seen from Lucy’s zodiac
What was your first impression of the HANSEATIC inspiration?
We arrived in Ushuaia and boarded the ship that afternoon, where we were greeted by the Expedition Team and crew and shown to the HanseAtrium for a welcome glass of champagne, before being taken to our cabin.
Champagne welcome for Lucy
The Hanse Atrium
Despite being an expedition ship, she offers a high degree of comfort and luxury onboard. I loved that she has been carefully designed and inspired by nature with natural colours throughout the ship, large windows in all the public areas so you don’t miss anything, and good outside deck space for wildlife viewing, including a walkout glass balcony.
Lucy’s view from the bow for wildlife and landscape views
What was your cabin like on board?
The cabin was spacious, light, and airy, and we had a walk-out balcony, which, although probably not essential for cruising in the polar regions proved a real bonus when the Captain detoured one evening to see the A23a iceberg. We reached it at 3:00 a.m. and I stepped out wearing just my dressing gown to have a look and was greeted by a pod of whales cruising along the edge of the iceberg. Not wanting to miss anything, I suffered the cold to enjoy this incredible spectacle without having to go up on deck.
A76a iceberg by Lucy
All the cabins have an ocean view, seating area with a coffee machine, and mini-bar (free of charge). Hapag Lloyd also provide binoculars & walking poles in the cabins for guests to borrow.
Lucy’s video tour of her balcony cabin
What was your favourite meal on board?
The ship has multiple dining options onboard serving a variety of international cuisine; the Hanseatic Restaurant serves a la carte meals during the day, the Lido Restaurant offers more buffet-style dining and if the weather is good the chance to sit outside and have a BBQ whilst watching the world drift by; or the speciality restaurant; The Nikkei which offers a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cooking. We were able to visit three times during our sailing and the food was exceptional.
Lido restaurant
What’s your favourite common/social area or special feature of the ship?
The Observation Lounge on deck 8 offered fantastic views. It was a place to keep warm, relax and have a coffee or something stronger from the bar and watch as the ship sails onto its next destination. It also had access to the outside deck if a whale appeared and was really close to the afternoon waffle station!
The spacious pool area on Deck 8 includes a heated swimming pool, water loungers, a whirlpool, and a bar
What are your top tips for future travellers on board HANSEATIC inspiration?
Make sure you spend some time in the Ocean Academy where the expedition team share their knowledge, answer your questions on biology and geology, and you also have the chance to use the microscopes.
The onboard lectures are always worth attending, and the talks range from Sir Ernest Shackleton and curious facts about whales to plastic in our oceans. All lectures are offered in both English and German.
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