OceanLuxuryIndustry tier: Luxury Expedition ships

Hapag-Lloyd Cruises

PremiumSee how Hapag-Lloyd Cruises describes itself vs how we list it

Official site Deck plans (CruiseDeckPlans.com) Agent portal: AGENT COMPASS See where they sail

What to say on a call

Best for

Luxury travelers who want a small ship (400-500 guests) with near one-to-one crew and gratuities in the fareExpedition travelers heading to Antarctica, the Arctic, the Northwest Passage or the Amazon on PC 6 ice-class ships of 230 guests or fewerGuests comfortable on a bilingual German-and-English ship from a Hamburg-based lineFamilies on EUROPA 2 family cruises, and teens and children aged 6+ on expedition ships

1Two luxury ships (MS EUROPA, MS EUROPA 2) and three HANSEATIC expedition ships, all sailing with English and German on board.
2Gratuities, harbour fees, soft drinks, coffee and tea, sauna and one hour of Starlink Internet a day are in the fare; alcohol is extra (beverage package EUR 44 per person per day).
3Expedition fares include all Zodiac landings, an expert team, loaned parkas and boots, and on some cruises (such as Antarctica) charter flights.
4US representation through Kartagener Associates (toll-free 877-445-7447) and an International Sales Team in Hamburg.

Payments & cancellations

Final payment

No fixed balance due date published in English; bookings within 30 days of departure pay in full immediately

The English terms and FAQ give no fixed balance due date. Cruises booked within 30 days of departure are paid in full immediately. Final travel documents are sent from about four weeks before departure, after the final payment is received (never earlier than 30 days before the cruise).

Applies to: Bookings from December 2, 2025

Deposit

Per cruise line

PLATINUM: 20% (booked 365+ days out), 25% (364-181 days), 30% (within 180 days); SILVER: 40% / 45% / 50%; within 30 days: paid in full

Due when the written booking confirmation is received, as a % of the total cruise price. PLATINUM fare: 20% if booked up to the 365th day before the cruise, 25% if booked between the 364th and 181st day, 30% if booked within 180 days. SILVER fare: 40% / 45% / 50% for the same booking windows. Bookings within 30 days of the cruise: total amount payable immediately.

Applies to: Bookings from December 2, 2025 (Terms and Conditions of Travel 12/2025)

These Terms and Conditions apply only for bookings from 02 Dec 2025.

Cancellation penalties

Per cruise line

See details below

Percent of the travel price by days before the cruise, columns: PLATINUM (up to 22 days, standard categories) / PLATINUM (more than 22 days, or EUROPA cat. 9, EUROPA 2 cat. 10-11, expedition cat. 10) / SILVER / arrival-departure packages and pre/post programmes. Up to 365 days: one-time fee of EUR/CHF 300 (US$330, GBP 260) per person in every column. 364th-210th day: fee / fee / 25% / 15%. 209th-180th: fee / 20% / 25% / 25%. 179th-150th: 20% / 30% / 30% / 30%. 149th-90th: 25% / 35% / 35% / 40%. 89th-45th: 50% / 50% / 50% / 75%. 44th-30th: 60% / 60% / 60% / 75%. 29th-10th: 75% / 75% / 75% / 85%. 9th-1st: 85% in all columns. No-show or cancellation on the departure day: 95% in all columns. Fees are payable immediately; Hapag-Lloyd may charge more (up to the cruise fare) if supplier costs are higher; a solo passenger left in a double cabin pays at least 80% of the pro-rata price.

Applies to: Bookings from December 2, 2025 (Terms and Conditions of Travel 12/2025, clause 9)

Golf & Cruise packages: 95% if cancelled after the cruise starts. Travel concierge arrangements have their own rules. The rebooking fee is EUR 300 (US$330, GBP 260) per person.

Onboard extras & packages

Prices are approximate, per person per day unless noted. Always confirm the current price with the cruise line.

Gratuities (standard rooms): Included (all on-board gratuities)Per cruise line
Gratuities (suites): Included (all on-board gratuities)Per cruise line
Drink package: €44 pp/day (beverage package: alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks); otherwise drinks are extra except beer in the EUROPA/EUROPA 2 suite mini bar and welcome champagnePer cruise line
Premium drink package: Not published (one beverage package is sold; no separate premium package or bottle prices published)
Soda package: Included (selected soft drinks; suite/cabin mini bar soft drinks restocked daily)Per cruise line
Non-alcoholic package: Included (coffee and tea specialities, selected soft drinks; bottled water for shore excursions)Per cruise line
Wi-Fi (basic): Included: 60 minutes free per guest per day (Starlink)Per cruise line
Wi-Fi (premium): Data packages: 1 GB €19, 5 GB €69, 10 GB €119, 25 GB €259; Social Media package €6 per 24 hours. Free unlimited in top suites.Per cruise line
Specialty dining package: Not offered (all restaurants included in the fare)Per cruise line
Specialty dining (avg per meal): Not published (no specialty-restaurant cover charges published)
Fitness classes: Included (fitness course programme); personal training at a surchargePer cruise line
Spa / thermal pass: Included (sauna and steam bath free on all ships)Per cruise line
Air program: Arrival and departure packages sold with the cruise (Economy flights, transfers, luggage service, Hapag-Lloyd tour guide); advertised from/to Germany. Some expedition cruises (e.g. Antarctica) include charter flights.Per cruise line
Other fees & perks: Harbour and airport fees includedPer cruise line

Accessibility & special needs

Open the cruise line's accessibility pageThe Planning FAQ has a 'Travel without barriers' section (accessible suites per ship, wheelchairs, walking frames, tenders and Zodiacs), with a downloadable 'Travelling with mobility impairment' information sheet and form.

How to tell the cruise line: Send the 'Travelling with mobility impairment' forms with the booking (to salesteam@hl-cruises.com or via the travel agent) and describe the impairment before booking. The terms require mobility limitations to be notified at the time of booking. Walking frames: tell the sales team in advance (no charge). Per cruise line
Wheelchairs & scooters: Wheelchair users must travel with a companion and bring their own wheelchair (the ship's is for emergencies only). Fully accessible suites: two on MS EUROPA (733, 734), two on MS EUROPA 2 (811, 813), one cabin (404) on each HANSEATIC ship. Motorised wheelchairs/scooters: on request on EUROPA and EUROPA 2, not allowed on the expedition ships. Wheelchairs can't go in tenders or Zodiacs, and shore leave is not guaranteed for full-time wheelchair users. Per cruise line
Blind / low vision, deaf / hard of hearing: Tender transport can't be guaranteed for blind guests or guests with 5% or less vision in the better eye. For flights booked through Hapag-Lloyd, airport assistance can be requested for deaf/hard-of-hearing (DEAF) and blind/visually impaired (BLND) guests. No on-board hearing or vision services were found on the official pages checked. Per cruise line
Service animals: Not published (no service-animal policy found)
Medical equipment & pregnancy: Every ship has a hospital with a doctor (treatment billed to the on-board account; private international health insurance recommended). Only sleep-apnoea/respiration devices and oxygen concentrators working with ambient air (50-60 Hz) are allowed; register them at booking, at the latest four weeks before the cruise. Oxygen cylinders and liquid oxygen are not allowed. Antarctic guests must send a medical questionnaire. No sailing in or entering the 24th week of pregnancy. Per cruise line

Not on the line's site (or not confirmed yet): guests of size. Ask the cruise line's accessibility team.

Never promise an accommodation. Send the request to the line and let them confirm. How to handle these calls → Premium

Upgrade & suite ladder

entryMS EUROPA Outside Suites and Veranda Suites

Per cruise line

All-outside 27 m² suites (152 with veranda, 36 without); mini bar with soft drinks and beer refilled daily, 24-hour suite service.