planing your cruise

In this case, it is possible to create a waiting list. Please take into account the following distinction:

Non-binding waiting list: We accept this type of waiting list by phone or in writing. If the requested waiting list is confirmed, we will prepare an offer for you. You can make a firm booking on the basis of this offer within the reservation period or cancel it free of charge.

Binding waiting list:This type of waiting list is the equivalent of a booking form and you must send it to us in writing and signed by fax, email or through the post at:

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58 
20097 Hamburg 
Germany 
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
Fax     +49 40 307031 - 70
Email  salesteam@hl-cruises.com

We will also be happy to accept a non-binding waiting list in advance by phone, and will then change it to the status of a binding waiting list upon receipt of your signature.

A binding waiting list has higher priority and takes precedence over non-binding waiting lists. If we are able to confirm your request, we will not prepare an offer with a reservation period. Instead, your firm booking will be made immediately and the confirmation and invoice sent to you.

For guaranteed cabins or suites, we accept only binding waiting lists.

If you are already planning cruises that are not yet in the current catalogue, it is possible to create a pre-booking. You can send your requests to us in writing (for example, same cruise as XY in the year, cabin and flight requests).

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58 
20097 Hamburg 
Germany 
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
Fax      +49 40 307031 - 70
Email  salesteam@hl-cruises.com

We will refer to this when the preview folder or main catalogue appears in order to prepare a non-binding offer based on availability.

A distinction is made in our published prices between cruise only and cruise including arrival and departure package.

Please note that for selected expedition cruises (for example, the Antarctic) the cruise price (cruise only – from/to the pier) may additionally include charter flights.

You will find details about charter flights and individual services included in the arrival and departure packages in the itinerary for the cruise concerned.

The cruise price (cruise only) for our expedition ships HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit includes the following:

• Expedition in the booked category
• International gourmet cuisine – full board (early-bird breakfast, breakfast, bouillon, afternoon coffee/tea time, lunch and dinner (three restaurants to choose from in the evening with flexible opening hours)
• All landings and rides in the ship’s own Zodiacs
• Experienced experts from various disciplines accompany every cruise, give presentations and multimedia lectures, provide well-informed answers to questions about the cruising area and take part in the Zodiac landings/rides
• Use of the interactive Ocean Academy with individual knowledge formats
• Extensive sports programme: fitness area with ocean view, course programme, additional sports activities on shore depending on the destination (booking a personal training is subject to a surcharge)
• Equipment for loan: one pair of binoculars and two sets of Nordic Walking poles in the cabin itself, furthermore warm parkas, rubber boots, snorkelling equipment
• German- and English-speaking ship and expedition management as well as German- and English- speaking service crew
• OCEAN SPA with Finnish sauna with an ocean view, steam sauna, indoor and outdoor relaxation area (spa treatments and hairdresser at a surcharge)
• In every cabin: welcome champagne, mini bar restocked daily with a selection of softdrinks (additional selection of spirits in the Junior and Grand Suites), coffee machine (tea on request), 24-hour cabin service
• Flat-screen television with information and entertainment programme
• Personal email account (including your own email address on board), Internet free of charge for one hour per guest and day; service depends on satellite positioning, especially in polar regions)
• Comprehensive pre-cruise information – for example handbooks about the Arctic, the Antarctic, the Amazon and the South Seas, as well as expedition maps
• Information about harbours and destinations (where available) in the cabin
• Harbour and airport fees
• Cancellation fee insurance (20% excess) in the fares PLATINUM and GOLD

The cruise price (cruise only) for our luxury ships MS EUROPA und MS EUROPA 2 includes the following:

• Cruise in the booked category
• International gourmet cuisine – full board: breakfast, late breakfast, lunch and dinner, afternoon tea and coffee with a baked treat, and midnight snack
• 24 hour suite service
• Champagne in your suite on the day you arrive
• A mini bar in the suite with soft drinks and beer which is refilled on a daily basis
• A different entertainment programme every day with presentations, concerts, seminars and a high-quality evening programme which includes live shows and readings
• On-board facilities and equipment: library, spa and fitness area, golf simulator, Tablet PCs, guest portal (information and entertainment programme) and internet (free of charge for one hour per guest per day, snorkelling equipment and bicycles (subject to official approval)
• Personal email account (including your own email address on board), Internet free of charge for one hour per guest and day
• Flat-screen television in every suite also with a wide range of entertainment and news channels
• Zodiac rides (depending on routes and weather conditions), and landings or rides in the ship’s own zodiacs or tenders
• Comprehensive cruise material with country information, a document pouch and luggage tags 
• German ship and cruise manager and a German-speaking service crew with a travel concierge, guest relations manager, cruise sales service, tour office, tour guides, etc.; on board EUROPA 2 English and German-speaking service
• Harbour and airport fees
• Cancellation fee insurance (20% excess) in the fares PLATINUM and GOLD

The table below gives you an overview of the prices for children (the age of the child on the day of departure is relevant):

Cruises for young explorers (10-17 years):
€ 250 per night/ € 270 from October 2025

Prices for accompanying adults are calculated according to our published prices or for "single travellers" (single with child) (with the exception of a family apartment on MS EUROPA 2).

For prices for single travellers, please refer to the relevant price section in the main catalogue or the price table for your desired cruise on our website. You are also welcome to search for specials specifically for single travellers.

Find current offers for single travellers here.

All gratuities on board are included in the price of the cruise. Acknowledgement of particularly good service is at the discretion of each guest.

If the contract is concluded – that is, if the Passenger receives the written booking confirmation – the following deposit (in relation to the total cruise price) is payable:

For bookings made within 30 days before start of the cruise the total amount is payable immediately. 

The total amount will be payable immediately for cruises booked within 30 days of the departure date. Hapag-Lloyd Cruises shall send out the travel documents after receiving the balance of the fare and the full particulars of the passport documents (passenger manifest details) of all participating passengers to whom the booking relates, provided, however, that no travel documents shall be sent out earlier than 30 days prior to the scheduled cruise start date. 

We offer you two multi-cover packages* underwritten by ERGO Reiseversicherung AG:

These services are only available as a package and may be booked at any time prior to departure. Information about prices and booking conditions may be obtained by phone on +49 40 307030 - 70.

*Applies to the PLATINUM tariff and GOLD tariff for passengers residing within the European Economic Area.

Should you become ill prior to your cruise and are not sure whether you should cancel your trip, please contact the Telephone Cancellation Advisory Service at ERGO Reiseversicherung AG. An independent travel doctor will advise you as to whether you should cancel or wait for the cruise to start, when, if all is well, you might be fit to travel after all.

Hotline: +49 89 4166 -11839
(Mon. – Fri. 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Sat. 9:00 am – 1:00 pm)
Web: www.reiseversicherung.de/en/

The Telephone Cancellation Advisory Service is automatically included in each cancellation cost insurance policy from ERGO Reiseversicherung AG.

Preliminary travel information includes the following:

- important travel information such as

• Immigration and visa requirements (designed for passengers of German, Austrian and Swiss nationality)
• Vaccination and health requirements  
• Addresses and telephone numbers of local agencies

- additional enclosures (depending on the ship, route and cruise theme) 

• Shore excursion brochure with booking form 
• Personal details report - for final check of customer details 
• Where applicable, reference for visa application 

Final travel documents include the following information: 

• Itinerary and important information about the booked travel arrangements to the cruise departure point and from the cruise arrival point 
• Flight and luggage information 
• Itinerary for individually booked services 
• Luggage tags 
• Flight confirmation  
• Ship ID cards

All excursion fees will be charged to your on-board account.

Please refer to the information in your shore excursion brochure: 

• Shore excursions that are not marked with * can usually be cancelled free of charge up to 48 hours before the excursion begins. You will be informed of any different cancellation deadlines on board.
• Shore excursions that are marked with * have individual conditions of cancellation. Please contact your travel agency for details or contact Hapag-Lloyd Cruises on +49 40 307030 - 70.

In general, it is possible for children to participate in all of our published shore excursions. Please refer to our information relating to age restrictions and our general recommendations in your shore excursion brochure.

Discounts for children on all regular excursions:
Children up to and including the age of three years are free of charge. Children from four up to and including the age of 11 years receive 50 % reduction on the excursion price (except for flight excursions and overland tours). Children aged 12 years and older pay the full excursion price.

Family cruises on MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2:
On published family cruises, in addition to the regular shore excursions in our shore excursion brochure, you will also find accompanied children's and teens' excursions. Children's excursions accompanied by a nanny and accompanied teens' excursions are subject to a charge and take place without the company of parents or grandparents.

The special family excursions are likewise subject to a charge and take place in the company of parents and grandparents or another accompanying adult.

Some prices are worked out on a graduated scale and are listed separately for each family, teens' or children's excursion.

Please refer beforehand to our information relating to disabled guests (see previous item).

To ensure the smooth processing of your booking, please submit the forms "Bringing your own wheelchair" and "Information and requirements for disabled passengers" (see previous item) together with your booking form.

You can send the forms to us by email, fax or through the post at:

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58 
20097 Hamburg 
Germany 
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
Fax     +49 40 307031 - 70
Email  salesteam@hl-cruises.com

Please also refer to our information under the item "Arrival and departure".

If you are bringing a walking frame with you, please inform us in advance at:

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58
20097 Hamburg
Germany 
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
Fax     +49 40 307031 - 70
Email  salesteam@hl-cruises.com

You will not incur any additional costs. For flights, the walking frame will be considered as hand luggage.

Please note that participating in shore activities and going out in the Zodiacs (subject to weather conditions) may not be possible for guests with physical limitations. We reserve the right to restrict participation in group activities to guests who can manage the entire activity without problem and without external assistance. Unfortunately, guests who are dependent on a wheelchair cannot travel in the Zodiacs. To ensure that you experience a relaxing cruise where everything goes smoothly, before booking please provide us with details of your physical impair¬ment and enquire as to whether we can meet your individual nee

Please note that participating in shore activities and going out in the Zodiacs (subject to weather conditions) may not be possible for guests with physical limitations. We reserve the right to restrict participation in group activities to guests who can manage the entire activity without problem and without external assistance. To ensure that you experience a relaxing cruise where everything goes smoothly, before booking please provide us with details of your physical impairment and enquire as to whether we can meet your individual needs.

MS EUROPA 2:
On this ship, we offer our family apartments - 2 × 20 m²/215 ft² suites with connecting doors, Deck 8 - ideal for parents or grandparents with two or three children (depending on age).

As an alternative to Category 12, we offer suites with connecting doors in Categories 2 and 3. We will be happy to advise you by phone about the cruise of your choice (+49 40 3070-3070).

MS EUROPA:
Suites are available on this ship for occupancy by up to two adults and two children in Categories 1-7. We also offer suites with connecting doors in Categories 4 and 6. We will be happy to advise you by phone about the cruise of your choice (+49 40 3070-3070).

HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration & HANSEATIC spirit:
In Categories 9 and 10, triple occupancy (quadruple occupancy in category 10) is possible. Furthermore we offer suites/cabins with connecting doors.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises offers a range of themed cruises, including family cruises (MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2) and cruises for young discoverers (HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration & HANSEATIS spirit). Please click here to view all family cruises.

On MS EUROPA and MS EUROPA 2, you can ask for the following equipment to be placed in your suite: 

• Changing mat 
• Baby monitor 
• Travel cot (can also be used as playpen) 
• High chair 
• Baby bath 
• Toilet seat insert 
• Nappy bin with vacuum closing.

For our small guests aged two to three years old, we additionally offer the Knopf Club (subject to a surcharge) on the EUROPA 2.

BABY WELCOME package

We require a completed medical questionnaire from all guests travelling to the Antarctic with the HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration or HANSEATIC spirit. Please find the mandatory questionnaire under the following link: www.hl-cruises.com/questionnaire

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58 
20097 Hamburg 
Germany  
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
Fax     +49 40 307031 - 70
Email  salesteam@hl-cruises.com

The questionnaire is essential for the following reasons:

There is no medical care network in the Antarctic. All our ships feature a hospital with a qualified doctor, a good inventory of medications and medical equipment. This is for your own safety and the information will be treated with strict confidentiality.

Please note the deadlines for returning the questionnaire as cancellation costs may be incurred.

The bed linen is 100 % cotton. We can provide hypoallergenic linen on request:

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58 
20097 Hamburg 
Germany 
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
Fax     +49 40 307031 - 70
Email  salesteam@hl-cruises.com

Sleep apnoea, inhalation and ventilator devices as well as oxygen concentrators that work with ambient air and do not require a separate oxygen supply are permitted. It is important that the devices work on 220/230 volts (V)/16 amperes (A)/ 50/60 hertz (Hz). Depending on the type of device, any deviations may cause the device to malfunction. No repairs can or may be carried out on board. Such devices must be registered at the time of booking or no later than four weeks prior to the cruise departure.

Please register your medical devices by e-mail or through the post at:

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58 
20097 Hamburg 
Germany 
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
E-Mail salesteam@hl-cruises.com

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises ships have a ship's hospital equipped with modern medical facilities which is under the direction of an experienced ship's doctor.  

If you suffer from allergies or have special dietary requirements, please let us know in advance so that we can pass this information on to the relevant people.

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises,
a TUI Cruises GmbH company
Heidenkampsweg 58 
20097 Hamburg 
Germany 
Phone +49 40 307030 - 70
Fax     +49 40 307031 - 70
Email  salesteam@hl-cruises.com