Hapag-Lloyd Christens Hanseatic Inspiration in Hamburg – Other Cruise News: Inaugural Voyage, Hamburg to Antwerp – Inspiration’s Maiden Voyage From Antwerp
by Kevin Griffin
This weekend saw The Cruise Examiner on board Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ newest expedition ship, the Hanseatic Inspiration, on a 2-night Shakedown cruise from Hamburg, where she was christened on Friday night, to Antwerp, the boarding point for today’s 15-day maiden voyage to Tenerife.
THIS WEEK’S STORY
Hapag-Lloyd Christens Hanseatic Inspiration in Hamburg
The second of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ three new 230-berth “Hanseatic” class vessels, Hanseatic Inspiration, was named in Hamburg on Friday.
PASSAGEN.tv Folge 148: HANSEATIC inspiration – Schiffstaufe
Godmother Laura Dekker, the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe single-handedly, released the mechanism for the traditional champagne bottle from a pontoon placed in the water for the occasion.
Guests were treated to a spectacular multimedia show that took them on a virtual cruise to the most remote corners of the world, from the Arctic and Antarctica, to the Amazon – all destinations which the new expedition class ship will visit.
Icy landscapes, whales, penguins, green jungle, colourful birds and many other scenes were projected onto the side of the ship, lighting up the Hamburg sky and leaving the audience truly engaged.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Inspiration
The new expedition ship offers five-star service, with a 175-strong crew looking after a maximum of 230 guests (or 199 guests in the case of Antarctic voyages or Spitbergen circumnavigations.
OTHER CRUISE NEWS
Inaugural Voyage, Hamburg to Antwerp
On what Hapag-Lloyd called a “shakedown” cruise, it ran the new Hanseatic Inspiration from Hamburg on October 12 to Antwerp on October 14, a positioning voyage that was used to break in the new ship and her new crew.
A number of trade and media guests got to sample the new vessel with its three dining rooms (main, lido and specialty) and very spacious public areas.
Hanseatic Inspiration: the ‘suite life’ on board. A lunchtime scene in the Lifo Cafe. A corner of the main dining room (Photo credit Kevin Griffin)
· Main Lounge (deck 4) with a tech suite capable of media presentations, lectures and debriefings, with full bar.
· Observation Lounge (deck 8), with full bar.
· Pool deck area with swimming pool, jacuzzi, pool bar.
· Spacious top-deck Sun Deck with flexible canopy for shaded seating.
· The Ocean Academy, an Interactive Knowledge Studio enabling passengers to do their own research whenever they wish.
· Fitness area (1,076 sq ft) with modern exercise equipment, and a separate course room for classes.
· Spa area (2,314 sq ft) with ocean view.
Hanseatic Inspiration: passengers are allowed right up to the bow to enjoy the scenery and wildlife. The boot washer in the ‘mud room’ for those returning from landings. The swivelling bridge wings that can be swung onboard to avoid the steep lock walls of the St Lawrence Seaway (Photo credit Kevin Griffin)
Inspiration’s Maiden Voyage From Antwerp
The Hanseatic Inspiration finally left Antwerp today on a 15-night maiden voyage to Tenerife that will include visits to Honfleur, Guernsey, La Coruna, Lisbon, Portimao, Casablanca and Madeira at both Funchal and Porto Santo.
All stops except Antwerp (for embarkation) and Tenerife (for disembarkation) will be made at anchorage, something that is par for the course for expedition ships.
Hanseatic Inspiration: the main reception area. The lab corner of the Ocean Academy. The pool area up top is not far from the Zodiacs, some off which are electric (Photo credit Kevin Griffin)
Hanseatic Inspiration: the Observation Lounge forward. A typical cosy ocean liner like area on board. It also rocks in the ship’s main lounge (Photo credit Kevin Griffin)
(Kevin Griffin is managing director of specialist cruise agency The Cruise People Ltd in London, England. For further information concerning cruises mentioned in this article readers can visit his blog)
