Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is a company with a tradition of progress. Back in 1890, Hapag Director Albert Ballin was the first person to think of sending a passenger ship on an “excursion” to sunnier climes in the winter months when the regular transatlantic service was suspended. In 1891, he sent the Augusta Victoria passenger ship to warmer waters on the first-ever “pleasure cruise”. The concept of the cruise was born. Over 133 years after the invention of the cruise, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises continues this tradition of innovation on the cruise market.

In the German-speaking region, Hamburg-based Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is the leading provider of luxury and expedition cruises. It has the only cruise ship fleet in the world with a 5-star rating according to Insight Guides 2025. Its five ships are small, individual and outstanding in their class: the EUROPA class is made up of the EUROPA and EUROPA 2, the world’s best luxury ships*. They offer the highest standard of cruise experiences with excellent service, varied cuisine and exceptional routes around the world. Between 2019 and 2021, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises launched three, state-of-the-art expedition ships: HANSEATIC nature, HANSEATIC inspiration and HANSEATIC spirit. The new expedition class has the highest ice class for passenger ships (PC 6) and a shallow draught, allowing the ships to navigate both the polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctic, as well as warmer destinations such as the Amazon up to Iquitos or the South Pacific.

 Over the last years, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has been focusing its marketing efforts more strongly towards attracting English-speaking guests. After initially offering bilingual cruises only on the EUROPA 2 and HANSEATIC inspiration, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has decided to operate its entire fleet bilingually from 2026 onwards**. This offers customers a maximum of choice when it comes to finding the perfect cruise.

*According to Insight Guides 2025.