New winter adventures for the HANSEATIC spirit
We are responding to the wishes expressed by many guests and are adapting our routes for the winter. Originally, our three expedition ships were to explore the Antarctic. Now the HANSEATIC spirit is heading north in November.
The pilot comes on a sled. In the immediate vicinity of the ship, a herd of reindeer wanders majestically across the frozen sea. At night, the Northern Lights dance in all colours across the sky. On a sunny, crisp and cold winter’s day, people enjoy nature on sleds, ice skates or snowshoes. And sometimes the support of an icebreaker is needed to clear the shipping channel. Because although the HANSEATIC spirit has the highest ice class for passenger ships, Bothnian Bay in the Baltic Sea freezes over completely time and again in winter. Guests experienced moments like these on our winter adventures in northern Scandinavia last winter – absolutely impressive images.
Expedition variety for the coming winter
Originally, all three ships in our new expedition class were to sail to the Antarctic. However, in response to many requests from our guests, the programme is now being changed – and expanded to include attractive cruises with the HANSEATIC spirit to the north of Scandinavia. While the HANSEATIC nature and the HANSEATIC inspiration will explore the Antarctic as planned, the HANSEATIC spirit will set off from Hamburg and Kiel on cruises to wintry Nordkapp or the icy beauty of the Gulf of Bothnia.
The HANSEATIC spirit first explored the beauty of Bothnian Bay in the winter of 2021/2022. Our expedition team developed this cruise. “The Baltic Sea is always perceived as extending from west to east, from Copenhagen via Stockholm to St Petersburg,” said Regina von Hesse, Product Manager Expedition Cruises, in an interview on the premiere. “That made us curious.” The expedition to the north of Scandinavia was an immediate surprise success with our guests.
Particularly impressive in winter: the Geirangerfjord
The same applies to our Northern Lights adventures. These expeditions commence in Kiel or Hamburg and venture all the way to northern Norway. The ship visits the lively Hanseatic city of Bergen, the lovingly restored art nouveau town of Alesund, the Geirangerfjord, which is particularly impressive in winter, and the striking, often snow-covered Lofoten Islands. Then it’s across the Arctic Circle to Tromso, also known as the “Paris of the north” because of its beautiful houses and bright lights, and up to Nordkapp. A cruise full of special moments – with snowshoes, on dog sleds and the outside decks of the ship, where the Northern Lights shimmer time and time again.
“We are delighted to be able to offer guests our popular winter cruises from northern Germany to Scandinavia once again this winter,” says Isolde Susset, Director Expedition Cruises and Travel. This also includes a short cruise with plenty of hygge to the Baltic Sea in the run-up to Christmas – from Hamburg to Kiel via Denmark, Sweden and Poland. And the Christmas adventure in Lapland with New Year’s Eve spent in Stockholm. This Voyage for Young Explorers aged 10 and 17 is also aimed at families with children.
Twelve new expeditions – bookable now
No less than ten new cruises are on the programme: six Northern Lights adventures from Hamburg to Norway, two winter adventures from Hamburg to Lapland, a short winter’s cruise with plenty of hygge, a Christmas adventure and two cruises on which the ship heads from the Canary Islands to Hamburg, or from Hamburg to the Azores, from where it returns back to its normal schedule. The new winter programme of the HANSEATIC spirit is now available for booking online and at our travel agency partners.
Fotos: Archiv, Text: Redaktion