Hapag-Lloyd to add two new expedition ships to fleet

TUI Group has ordered two expedition cruise ships for its Hamburg-based subsidiary Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, which are expected to enter service in April and October 2019.

One newbuild will serve German-speaking markets in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, while the other will serve German-speaking markets and also Belgium, the UK, Netherlands and the US.

“The cruise business is one of the key elements of TUI’s growth strategy,” said Sebastian Ebel, member of the executive board of TUI Group. “Our ambitions are underpinned by our investment in the two new ships for Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. The company’s luxury and expedition cruise segments serve as world-class benchmarks.”

To be constructed at Vard shipyard in Norway, the 16,100gt newbuilds will be equipped with state-of-the-art technological features and environmental technology and be built to Polar Class 6 standards, allowing them to cruise in both the Arctic and Antarctica and in warm waters like the Amazon. Onboard Zodiacs will allow landings in otherwise inaccessible expedition areas.

Featuring interiors designed by Oceanarchitects, each newbuild will be able to accommodate 240 passengers and up to 170 crew members and also have a high number of balcony cabins, three restaurants, a modern spa and fitness area, and a watersports marina.

“The former director Albert Ballin invented the modern cruise concept 125 years ago,” said Karl Pojer, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises. “We are perfectly positioned in the luxury market with our cruise ships Europa and Europa 2. In this anniversary year, we are charting the course for the future. Already we operate successfully in our expedition segment, which offers growth potential for five-star cruises. Our newbuilds will help us to develop further the expedition segment and offer a modern interpretation. They will also serve to strengthen our leading position in this market, in particular at the international level.”