The Hanseatic Spirit recently marked five years of service for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises having been delivered on June 29, 2021.
Built by Fincantieri’s subsidiary Vard, the 230-passenger ship was constructed in two different shipyards in Europe.
While major technical and steel work was done in Vard’s Tulcea Yards in Romania, outfitting was completed at the shipbuilder’s yard in Langsten, Norway.
As the third ship in a new series of luxury expedition cruise vessels built for Hapag-Lloyd, the vessel was designed as a sister to the Hanseatic Inspiration and the Hanseatic Nature, which were delivered in 2019.
According to Vard, the Spirit’s project was tailored to allow passengers to access remote regions, ranging from the Arctic and Antarctic to the Amazon.
After spending a few months in layup due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ship embarked on its maiden voyage on August 26, 2021.
Sailing roundtrip from the German port of Hamburg, the nine-night inaugural cruise included visits to destinations in Sweden and Denmark.
The Hanseatic Spirit was also named during the sailing, following a ceremony off the island of Helgoland on the German coastline.
Veterinarian Ulrike Meinfelder represented the ship’s godmother, a seal named Nemi, for the event on August 27, 2021.
Spending the summer in the Arctic, the Hanseatic Spirit is currently offering itineraries to Greenland, which will be followed by fall cruises in the British Isles and Western Europe.
The vessel is also scheduled to offer cruises in Africa and Cape Verde before repositioning to Ushuaia for expeditions to Antarctica.
Earlier this year, the Hanseatic Spirit underwent its first scheduled drydocking, spending 10 days at Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven, Germany.
According to Hapag-Lloyd, the project included technical work, in addition to a fresh coat of paint and public spaces refreshments.
The updates were also extended to the ship’s staterooms, with some showers in the cabins and suites being renewed.
